Norfolk Virginian, May 13, 1890

Untitled

Laborers -- FarmInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Chain gang

Onancock, Accomac county, Va., May 12.

J. C. Asbury, Commonwealth's Attorney for Norfolk county, came over to Eastville, together with Levina Garrett, of Norfolk county, a colored woman, and sued out a writ of habeas corpus before Judge Gilmore S. Kendall against Thomas W. Scott, Esq., a prominent citizen of Northampton county, alleging that Mr. Scott unlawfully detained on his farm a son of Levina's the other day. Both sides made good argument, Mr. Scott conducting his own defense. Judge Kendall entered a rule in the latter's favor.

The Accomac chain gang will be put under the control of a Captain and Deputy, and worked for eight hours each day during their confinement, in the months of October, November, December, January, February and March, and ten hours during other months.