The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-01
|Bl6 llQUl|! AIDl II
COLONIAL BEACH
Captain Of River Steamer . Taken
Into Custody On Two
Serious CHARGES.

Fredericksburg, June zS-Colonial
Beach and its summer colony were
thrown into excitement "wednesday
with the news that Captain John
Bruce. pilot OF the government mail
boat which pixies between Popes
Creek and the vacation resort. had
been arrested. charged with bringing
whiskey into virginia.
What caused the CONSERVATION was
the fact that, rumors has II. the con-
traband liquor was intended for the
tables and decantcrs OF some Of the
best known families at the beach.
Captain Bruce and colored helper
known as John Pendleton. II Is said.
were taken to Montrcss, the county
seat OF Westmoreland to await the ac-
tion of the grand jury. Postmaster
General Burleson. who has vacation
cottage near the beach, il expected to
make = personal investigation, mas
much ~ ono of his subordinate en-
ployes and . postofilcs contractor are
involved.
odlciAls Of the navy department
are believed to have been responsible
for the Investigation which illuminated
In the arrests In the still hours OF
Tuesday morning. when It II charged
the attempt was made to smuggle In
some forty-eight cases pf whiskey for
distribution among beach residents.
Sergeant Ernest Wilksrson. Of the
Colonial Beach police department
made the arrests. He received 4 quiet
Tip" that Captain Bruce had been
commissioned by certain folks At the
beach to slip up the river to Popes
Creek and there take on hoard the
|consignment of wet goods. 1t il said
that hus f~ir
for some time.
According to the police. everything
went according to schedule until the
arrests Captain Bruce 10 alleged to
have left Colonel Beach without either
Ia port of starboard light burning on
the little craft and picked up his
shipment at Popes Creek.
On the journey back. he Is accused
|of stopping his boat in midstream and
hurriedly transferring portion of the
liquor to men in another boat says
the Free Lance.
When the launch drew up to the
landing at Colonel Beach, Pendleton,
the colored helper. had a wagon near
BY and proceeded to unload the re-
mainder of the booze, IL il charged.
Before he had transferred the liquor
from truck to his wagon, Sergeant
Wilkinson appeared upon the scene
and placed him and Captain Bruce
under arrest.
These reported incidents while In
iteresttnE to beach residents. paled into
insfgnificance when it was learned
that the police had the names of the
beach folks to whom the goods were
consigned
When the cases OF Captain Bruce
and Pendleton are called to the atten-
ton of the grand jury interesting de-
selopments are expected.
The navy department has big
proving ground at Persimmon Point.
a few miles from the beach, and some
OF the employees have been accus-
toned to visiting the beach for recrca-
ton.
Recently some OF the men have
come back TO-, the proving grounds
much the wose as to appearances
and bearing evidences OF prolonged
session with John Barieycorn. This
tact leo TO the probe by navy ofYic,ais,
Iit IL believed.
What effect It win have upon the
mai service at the beach IL another
interesting point Captain Bruce. II
u said, has four year contract for
carrying the mail between Popes
Creek and Colonial Beach. He is I'M
derstood to receive $1,000 a year ON
= contract that has still two years 10
run
Should he be convicted Of tot,nr
liquor into dry Virginia. his contract
would undoubtedly be voided and
there IL talk OF further charges OF
running his boat without lights.