The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-27
Petersburg
TALK OF NEW POSTMASTER
Friends Of Assistant Circulate Pett-
lions In His Rehalf


Friends Of Assistant Circulate Peti-
tons in His Behalf.
Petersburg, Va, June 26.-Notwith-
standing the fact that Petersburg s
new postmaster will be selected from
the eligible list by the civil service
commission, instead OF being ap-
pointed by the president, friends of
John Arthur Johnston, who has for
number of years served efficiently
in the capacity of assistant-postmas-
ter, are voluntarily circulating petit
tons In his behalf
The late postmaster, Richard P.
Barham. would have been exempt
from examination under the civil ser
vice rules. but his successor will be
appointed from the eligible list
John Arthur Johnston. though a
young man, has had extensive expert
ence In the Petersburg postoffice and
Is regarded as an able and obliging Of
f1cial Of the local ONCE. He was
highly esteemed by the late postmas-
ter and is held in high regard by
the employees of the ONCE as well as
by the hundreds OF Petersburg citi-
zens whom he has served courte ously
during the last several years.
Camp WOrkmcn Arrive.
Several hundred men attracted here
by advertise for 1000 men were
put to work at the Lakemont canton
ment today and others are arriving
on nearly every train. Work on the
camp Is being rushed with all possible
speed. More than 1000 men are now
engaged in construction work and this
number will be increased to 5000 as
quickly as possible.
Division Superintendent Nicholson
announced late this afternoon that the
Norfolk and Western had completed
more than mile of the ten miles of
track. which will be lafd especially
for the use Of the camp contractors
and troops Major Coe. who has I'm
mediate supervision of all construc-
ton work for the government. is com
pletfng ARRANGEMENTS to establish an
ONCE on the camp site, where the pay
roll and other details will be han
died.
Jimmy" Found ON Suspect
Patrolnlan Claytor and King placed
under arrest last night c. L. Tatum
young white man. who Is being held
as suspicious character. During the
last few weeks several stores In the
business district have been entered
and robbed Systematically by thief
or thieves. In each instance the
burglars gained entrance to the build
ings by saving bars from windows or
BY breaking locks
Last night shortly before II O'Clock
Patrolman Ciaytor noticed white
man enter an alley leading from Hall
fax street back OF the StocsdeN- Myers
Hardware Co. He followed him and
placed him under arrest. When taken
n hA
long chisel known as "3tmmy." was
found on Tatum,s person He refused
to make any statement and officers
were sent to his boarding house at 200
Perry street for his trunk A search
Of the trunk revealed two hackeaws
two new suits Of clothes, a number OF
silk shirts valued at IS each and a
quantity of silk hosiery. clothing re-
garded by the authorities as entirely
too expensive for a labortnE man. and
1t was afterward learned that Tatum
had recently made disposition OF sew
erai silk skirts and quantity OF high
grade hosiery at about half price
Tatum refused to say where he wa.
from. but It Is stated that he was orig.
fnally from North Carolina and has
only lived In Petersburg a short while
having recently been employed at the
Appomattox Box Shook factory as a
lahorer
His arrest Is regarded a. one OF
the most important made by members
OF the local department. in recent
months In the police court this morn
ing trial Of the case VISA postponed
until Saturday
Noel R-gin. Prison Term.
James T. Noel, former drug clerk
convicted In the hustings court some
months ago OF the murder Of Mrs
Lottie NJ. Robertson on May II Of la s,
year and given eighteen years in the
penitentiary. was taken to Richmond
yesterday to begin serving his term
Noel was FOR several years prior to the
murder engaged as manager Of ioca'
drug store. He has a wife and several
children living In Maryland
pcter<1Arx Scouts Get Home.
Thirty-hve members of Petersburs
council. Boy Scouts. who recently
went to the Eastern shore to aid the
farmers OF that section IN saving their
potato crop. returned TO their home.
here last night unon the advice O,
health officers in the camp where thu
boys were located. All Of the Peters
burg boys. who returned home, wer,
under fourteen years or age.
New Form Of Government pfrnnei
Petitions which have recently beer
circulated by the Young Mems Bust
ness club. requesting that a specia
election he held on August to enable
the electorate Of Petersburg to vote or
a change in the form OF municipa
government, will be presented Il
Judge Robert c. Southall, OF the cir
cult court within the next two OF
three days. Only about 400 sigma
lures were necessary to have the cal
for the election issued. but more thar
500 names have been secured Neari,
every voter approached signed the pc
tition without hesitation.
LiRh thing Strikes Houses.
Especial to The Richmond vfrzinian
Harrisonburg. Va. June es.-Severa
houses were struck by lightning her,
l. -.