Peninsula Enterprise, March 21, 1885

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Transportation -- Railroad - Steamboats

The steamer Eastern Shore has taken the place of the Jane Moseley in the service of the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad, between Norfolk and Cape Charles City, and will remain on the route until the new steamer now being finished at Wilmington for the company is completed, which, it is expected, will be in a few weeks.

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Farmers -- Farmers' organizationsTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fairs

Messrs. T. T. Wescott, Wm. T. Killman, Wm. T. Mason and N. J. Kellam of the Pungoteague Grange and Messrs. Geo. H. Adair, Wm. T. Johnson, Fred Boone and W. F. Flemming of the Belle Haven Grange were elected at their regular meeting in February as members of the Eastern Shore Agricultural Association. Another meeting of the Grangers was held at Belle Haven on Thursday last for the purpose of perfecting arrangements for the Fair to be held under supervision this year.

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Infrastructure -- Public : TownsProfessionals -- Surveyors

Mr. F. R. White is making a topographical survey of the Parkes' farm [Parksley], recently sold by Messrs. Browne, Jacob & Co.

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Professionals -- Doctors

Dr. John T. B. Hyslop, of Craddockville is a graduate in medicine at the University of Maryland this session and being thoroughly posted in his profession, we bespeak for him a liberal patronage at an early day. He has our thanks for an invitation to the commencement and best wishes.

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Fields -- Livestock - Diseases and pestsDiseaseInfrastructure -- Public : ChurchesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionForests -- Forest products - Stove Wood

Atlantic.

The hog cholera, so destructive in our community this winter, has spent its force. Mumps now prevail to the affliction of many of our citizens.

Two new dwellings are to be erected in our village this spring, by Dr. Thos. T. Taylor and Mr. T. G. Nock, dealer in cord wood. A new church will be built soon also, on land denoted by Mr. Nock.

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Moral -- Property crimeTransportation -- Water - FreightSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeedTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Horse racing

Hawk's Nest.

A trap gun set by our watchful merchant, Mr. T. G. Elliot last week has let to the detection of two thieves and the arrest of one of them. Kiah Powell, colored, the thief who sprung the trap gun is now nursing the wounds received in haunts unknown to the constable, by whom he is wanted. His accomplice, one Edmund Coleburn, colored, and receiver of the stolen goods, taken from the warehouse of Mr. Elliot at divers times, is lodged in jail to wait the action of the grand jury.

Capt. John E. Mears is again loading his schooner in our waters with oysters for Morris river and the cash thereby put in circulation in this community gives the mercantile business something of a boom.

The black pony of Mr. Wm. C. Mapp made a mile this week in 2:40 and his "Orphan Boy" is also fast developing into a trotter of rare promise.

Northampton County.

Infrastructure -- Commercial - Real estateTransportation -- Water - SailboatsTransportation -- Water - Channel and harbor dredgingFields -- Livestock - Horses

Transfers of real estate.

Bayly Bell and wife to James Bell, 98 acres near Marionville; $1,000.

James Smith to Asa Dix, 9 1-3 acres near Franktown; $200.

Shepard Roberts to Luther N. Boggs, 46 17-100 acres near Birds Nest Station; $9.23.

Wm. L. Scott to J. Kate Smith of Norfolk, 5 lots at Cape Charles; $825.

Transfers of personal property.

Thomas Parsons to Frank Parsons of Capeville, schooner Julia S. Brown.

Wm. S. Cruser of Norfolk to O. Lawson Rooks of Capeville, schooner C. C. Cruser.

Court notes, etc.

P. W. Savage appointed guardian of J. A. Simpkins.

John R. Nottingham appointed guardian of Susan Abrams.

Geo. W. Widgeon, seriously injured by being tripped by a rope at Cape Charles, recently, is convalescent.

A horse of Nathaniel Schroeder, fell dead on road near Eastville this week.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement

TANGIER, MARCH 16th, 1885.

EDITOR OF ENTERPRISE: -- Will you be kind enough to allow me a small space in your valuable paper to reply to some articles reflecting on the "Oyster Police Force." In answer to charges made, I beg leave to submit, that the oyster interests have been protected in as thorough manner as possible. A few isolated cases of the Maryland vessels trespassing in Virginia waters there have been, but they have been very few. I have been steadily engaged every day in cruising the waters of Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds and only in two instances have I been able to find any violators of our oyster law. On Monday the 2nd day of March, while sailing up Tangier Sound I discovered several Maryland vessels dredging on Fox Island oyster rock and immediately pursued them, but before I could get to them, they all succeeded but one in getting back into Maryland waters. As soon as I got in rifle range of that one I opened fire and drove all of his crew below decks. The wind being fair however, that boat drifted over the line into Maryland before I could get to her and I only succeeded in firing one hundred round of cartridge into her, almost ruining her sail and yawl boat. Again on Monday, March the 9th I discovered a schooner which from his appearance I was satisfied did not belong to our Virginia fleet at work on Thoroughfare Rock in Tangier Sound. I started after her and chased her into Maryland, and we had a running fight of it and I kept up a constant fire upon her and could plainly see the splinters fly from her stern and cabin doors when my bullets struck her. I have been informed that the owners of the Crisfield and Smith Island vessels feel very much aggrieved over the loss of the privilege of robbing Tangier Sound as they have always done heretofore, and consequently have feelings of enmity toward me in proportion to the loss of the privileges I have deprived them of. By publishing the foregoing facts you will confer a favor on your

Humble Servant,

E. J. CORBIN,

Capt. Police Schooner W. S. Rodgers.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement

MR. EDITOR: The Matthews county authorities "fail to see any injustice done" to captains Reed and Richardson whom they declared to be "really guilty" of violating the oyster law and yet "allowed to go free" -- after payment of costs. It is more than doubtful if any "unprejudiced and fair minded man" can be found who "will say no wrong has been done in the premises." These men were either guilty or innocent. If there was a reasonable suspicion of guilt the only thing for that court was to send them on for indictment; if not so, then to discharge them. It had no right to try them. But declaring them to be "really guilty" they "were allowed to go free" as innocent -- taking due care to mulct them in costs they were not required to pay. The justices required $4.50 as their fee, and compelled them to pay the Commonwealth's attorney a fee of $10.00. If any costs accrued they were due by the Commonwealth -- and the Commonwealth pays no fees to its prosecuting attorney in a Justice's Court. Was there no wrong in compelling these men to pay the costs -- costs illegal in any event for the accused to pay? The letter of these authorities justifying their course will make "the public believe" more than everything else that "their money was extorted from them -- they being entirely powerless to resist or protect themselves." If these men were "really guilty" as stated by these authorities they could not without "wrong to the Commonwealth" be discharged by them, guilty or innocent, gross "injustice" and "wrong" was also done them in forcing them to pay illegal costs and such will be the verdict of "all unprejudiced and fairminded men."

Virginius.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
March 21, 1885