Peninsula Enterprise, December 14, 1882

JIM BAYLY, ALIAS "TEXAS."

Moral -- Property crime

An Account of his Remarkable but Short Criminal Career in Accomac.

Editor of the Enterprise:

On Friday last a negro boy of a very suspicious appearance, apparently about sixteen years old, was seen loitering around the store of Mr. J. W. Elliott. Afterwards the key of the store being missed from the door, an attempt was made to "interview" the boy, but he escaped. He then went down to Head-of-the-neck store, and was there when Mr. Kellam closed up that night. Coming back towards Locustmount, he found Dr. LeCato's horse and carriage tied at Temperance Hall, which he took and drove up to Locustmount, ransacked his medicine chest on the way, but was careful to abstain from sampling its contents. He tied the horse to the doctor's gate, putting the blanket on him, and appropriated the robe to his own use, taking refuge in an outhouse. About 8 o'clock that night he made an attempt to enter Mr. Elliott's store, but woke him up, when he fired upon him and drove him away. In an hour he returned to the store and offered Mr. E. the stolen key, saying he had received it from another party, who had asked him to return it. About daylight he was discovered purloining eatables from Mr. T. E. Custis' dairy. He was then captured, when an examination, together with the other circumstances of the case, developed the above history of his night's work. He has told several stories in regard to the affair: sometimes asserting and sometimes denying that he had accomplices with him. Among other things he confessed that he was one of the gang that robbed Mr. S. Byrd's house several Sundays ago, and says it was his party who broke into A. J. Mears' residence while the family were away. He claims that the leader of this party was one Henry Baily, who he says was lately from Baltimore, and fully up to such tricks. The other man he names as Sam Bunting.

The boy has been identified as Jim Baily, alias "Texas" son of Ann Texas, near our town. He seems to be a notorious character, and to have had connection with a check obtained from the Hopkins Brothers, under false pretenses. He had no money and was nearly half naked, but had a bundle of stolen underclothing, which he had hidden away with Dr. LeCato's buffalo robe.

I am under the impression that there was no one with him in his operations around here, but have reason to suppose he expected to meet assistance in this neighborhood by appointment. He says he last lived with a negro named Bagwell, near Pungoteague.

Locustmount, Dec. 11

Drummondtown's Past and Future.

Infrastructure -- Public : TownsDevelopment -- BoosterismInfrastructure -- Commercial - NewspapersInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial construction

Editor of THE ENTERPRISE:

I have been for some months watching with great interest the growth of our county, and I must confess I see with surprise its strides to pecuniary and industrial wealth. Not only this, but the general tone of the people seems to be largely changed for the better in every respect. Especially do I observe this in and about our little village. But a few years ago everybody said, and we take it, of course, believed that Drummondtown was finished --and would grow no more. Yet, within three years she has shown that she then merely slumbered --dreaming mayhap of the future to come. Within that time not less than fourteen dwelling houses, comfortable and neat, have been built; a fine saw planing and grist mill erected and doing a large business; a handsome drug store built; and last, though not least, an enterprising newspaper, having, I am told, a circulation of over twelve hundred and doing in its office a large job printing business, has been established. And it seems the end is not yet. In the near future the railroad will come with its smoking iron horse, and then --well, I have not the courage to prophecy. But, I may safely say a "boom" will result. There are many things to indicate increased prosperity --and there are many things needed to aid it. Among the latter is the need of relaxation to be found now only at points where little good results, and where many congregate for want of other places; and in addition a new departure among those who are said to rule the "brute man," and that in such a way as to give to him a new and better impetus. We need these, but how to be attained I, for the present, at least, leave to the wholesome thought and sincere reflection of others. That the social circle can and must come to the rescue none can well or reasonably doubt. I appeal to that element to aid us in our march to better things --and if we fail the goal it will not do for them to draw aside and say "It was not us --we are free from guilt." The true verdict will be otherwise. But I mean not now to moralise. I wish simply to call attention, and thus give encouragement to our brave workers, to the fact of our growth and limit at some of our needs. If it suits you, and them, I wish to speak further hereafter --not of this place alone but our whole county.

I hear that my old master, Prof. J. J. Martyne, who taught me in my callow youth to "trip the light fantastic toe," proposes to open a dancing school among you. He has few superiors in his art, and I only "wish I were a boy again" that I might "swing partners" and whirl in "the misty mazes" of the waltz once more under his able teaching.

KING CRAB.

Near Drummondtown. Dec 11th.