Norfolk Landmark, September 17, 1902

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : LitigationSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Planting

Eastville, Va., September 16. -- A very exciting case of larceny of planted oysters was tried here yesterday before Justice John R. Nottingham. The complainants in the case are Floyd Bros., of Bridgetown, and the defendant is Lee Lewis, of Bird's Nest. Captain Lewis is an oysterman of the seaside. He went to work raking oysters on the planted ground of Floyd Bros., for which he was arrested. Lewis claimed that the ground on which he was working is natural rock and the Floyd Bros., has no rights on it. The case was discussed at some length and then continued until Monday week. The case attracted a great deal on interest and some hundred seaside oystermen came to town to see how it was going. In the last two or three years several thousand acres of the old seaside oyster flats have been taken up by private persons and planted. The tongers have met this with fierce opposition and it is causing some trouble.

Jim Floyd, a young negro living near Onley, in Accomac county killed Tony Guillette, another negro, in a quarrel over a game of craps. The murderer has not been caught.