Evening star., 1933-12-19
IS OYSTER PIRATES
LANGU|SH IN CELLS
Wilmer Keeps in Readiness
for Any Attempt to Free
Prisoners.
By Stan Correspondent of The star.

By Stan Correspondent of The Star
POPES CREEK, Md, December 19.-
All was quiet on the oyster war" front
toCay.
Under the calm. however, the bot
tied up resentment of the comrades
of IS oyster pirates" arrested yester-
day constituted a constant threat of
more disorder AS a large portion Of
the armed forces responsible for the
arrests patrolled the area.
Deputy Sheriff Bruce Wilmer. leader
of yesterdays round up-the largest in
the history of this section-today an
nounced that he and his men are pre-
pared for any development.
There will be no overt acts on our
part" he said My house is guarded,
the boats we seized yesterday are
guarded, and there will be no trouble
unless somebody tries to get the boats
away from us, sink my boat-as they
did last year-or attack me-"
OFF on Scouting Cruise.
Accompanied by two State policemen.
Deputy Wilmer cruiSed along the Po-
tonlac this morning ito look the situ-
alton over"
Meanwhile. States Attorney Edward
Edelen of Charles County made ar
rangements to give the 18 pirates"
in the La Plata jail a preliminary near
ing tomorrow morning, the days delay
having been granted to permit the
prisoners to obtain counsel.
dorf substation all night in case Of a
disturbance, but the oystermen re-
manned quiet in their cells.
fnI hot of
Eastern Shore oystermen, friends and
companions of those arrested yester-
day. were on dredge boats in the Lower
Potomac, and arrangements were mace
to bring reinforcements of State troop
ers here again within an hour II
trouble develops.
PIRATES" Captured.
Reinforced by the flying squad" OF
the State police force. heavily armed
group of grim Charles County rivermen
and deputy sheriffS yesterday captured
25 oyster "pirates" after a lO-mlle
battle and chase on the Potomac River
off Pope's Creek
One man was wounded slightly
during the encounter, while members
of the armed force had many narrow
escapes when the pirates trleo TO ram
their speed boat.
Two shots were fired during the foray,
one bullet grazing the shoulder of A. l..
Evans. 35, of Smith Island, on the
Eastern Shore, and the other dlsaphng
the motor of pirate" boat.
Seven prisoners were released on tne
Virginia shore after being identlhed.
The 18 others were lodged last nlgnt IN
the La Plata Jail, where 10 extra peas
had been installed for their accommo-
dation.
Shotguns Seized.
Seven shotguns were taken from the
boats brought to the Pope's Creek
wharf. All of the vessels were heaVlly
laden with oysters.
A hurry call for the State troopers
was sent out yesterday morning Wnen
Deputy Wilmer, who has been taxing
the lead in efforts to enforce the anti
dredging laws, sighted a fleet of 18
boats working 300 yards off shore at
Popes Greek.
Two officers rushed to Rock Point,
where the State Conservation Commls-
sion boat Kent. armed with machine
gun, was stationed and started with
that craft toward Popes Greek.
The flying squad" commanded by
Lieut.. r. M Ridgely, sped from Baltl-
more to Popes Greek, where they met
Deputy Wilmer. Sheriff Robert V.
Cooksey and several other Charles
County officers, all armed with rifles:
Additional cartridge belts and rifles
were distributed among the State
troopers. 1t was a new and exciting
duty, this sea-patrolling, for men ac-
customed to patrolling the highways.
Deputy Wilmer planned to have the
Kent apd his own boat, the Mary
Virginia, get behind the dredgers and
force them to submit to arrest or be
driven ashore in the face of awaiting
policemen.
However. the oy-' 'o-!1l@7 recognized
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