Dispatch, August 30, 1889
Untitled
Moral -- Other violent crimeMoral -- GamblingTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - FairsProfessionals -- Teachers
Onancock, August 28, 1889.
The people living in Pocomoke Neck, in the northeastern part of Accomack, are considerably stirred up over the reported attempt of Jefferson D. Mears to make a criminal assault on Mrs. William Marshall. Both the parties are of good families and have hitherto borne good reputation. Mears is a married man and about twenty-one years old, and Mrs. Marshall, about eighteen and quite good looking. The evidence before the magistrate showed that Mears had been an admirer of Mrs. Marshall before she was married and has been paying her occasional attentions since her marriage. This was seriously objected to by Mears's wife, who threatened to take matters in her own hands if her husband did not stop paying his attentions to Mrs. Marshall.
WOMEN AT WAR.
One day last week Mrs. Mears met Mrs. Marshall on the road and sharp words brought on a collision, in which Mrs. Marshall was badly worsted. On Saturday Mrs. Marshall swore out a warrant against Mears charging him with an attempt to assault her.
The trial attracted an immense crowd from the surrounding section. The justice of the peace after hearing the evidence put Mears under a bond of $500 to appear before the next grand jury of the County Court. There is a wide diversity of sentiment in the community in regard to the affair.
AN AGED PARTY.
Among the persons in attendance on Accomack County Court, now in session, is Mr. Edward W. Taylor, probably the oldest man on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Mr. Taylor resides at Assawaman, in the northeastern part of Accomack, and is one of the largest landholders in the county. He was born in the autumn of 1803, and will soon be eighty-six years old. In spite of his advanced age he is active and energetic, having ridden all the way from his home, eighteen miles from the court-house, in a carriage twenty-five years old, drawn by a horse twenty-eight years old. Mr. Taylor boasts of being the oldest man and owning the oldest horse and carriage in this section of the State. He informed your correspondent that this would probably be his last visit to the Courthouse, as he says he cannot in the nature of things live much longer. He has been rendered somewhat feebler than he would otherwise be by having been knocked down and run over by a young colt several months ago.
FAKIRS AT WORK.
The swindlers that usually infest this region during the week of the Eastern Shore Fair put in their appearance at Accomack Courthouse last Monday, and gullible countrymen were not wanting to fall into the snares set for them. One of these sweat-blanket swindlers won about $100 from a young Accomackian, who came here yesterday and swore out a warrant before Justice Revel Nelson for his arrest. The swindler compromised by returning the larger part of the money he had won and then shook the dust of Accomack from his feet.
The periodical northeast rain that visits this region about this time began yesterday, and is now in full blast. It will seriously interfere with the success of the Eastern Shore Fair, which began yesterday to last four days. In spite of the rain a large crowd was on the grounds for the first day, and the exhibits are unusually good. From present indications the rain will probably cause the fair to be postponed till next week.
PERSONAL.
Miss Maggie Upshur Quinby and Mr. Rhodes Hundley left Onancock yesterday, the former to resume her duties as teacher of instrumental music in the Female College at Bonham, Texas, the latter to take charge of a flourishing academy at Batesburg, S.C. Both are gifted and talented young teachers, of whom Accomack is justly proud.