Peninsula Enterprise, September 26, 1885

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - MusicAfrican-Americans -- Work - Other

Blind Tom, the renowned negro pianist, will give an entertainment in the Town Hall of Onancock, next Monday night.

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Mental illness

Celia Poulson, colored, a lunatic, was confined in our fail last Tuesday.

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Moral -- Other violent crime

John H. Fisher, committed to jail for cutting John W. Savage has been released on bail.

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Excursions

The last grand excursion to Fortress Monroe from stations on New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk R.R., will be given October 1st at the low rate of two dollars, good for the two days for the round trip.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PlantingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Postal serviceSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PricesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Real estateInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Public : ChurchesTransportation -- Water - Sailboats

Marsh Market.

Many of the oystermen are planting oysters on account of the low prices, and hope to secure better prices by sending them to market this winter.

The schooner Oriental has been engaged as a police boat by Capt. John S. Gaskins at $90 per month, and started on her first cruise on the 15th inst. On the 16th inst., the Marylanders were chased from our rocks by Capt. Gaskins.

Mr. C. W. Feddeman, shipped the first oysters from Messongo this season on the 15th inst. He bought them at 60 and 70 cents per bushel. Bulk oysters are worth from 30 to 40 cents a bushel.

Our mail accommodations are abominable. Our section with population of two thousand or more has only a tri-weekly mail. Large shipments of oysters and produce are shipped daily by us and the failure to get the mails oftener causes us to be unable to fill many orders to the great detriment of our people. A daily mail from Hallwood to the center of Messongo is a great public need and Mr. Croxton should see to it, that the mail facilities so much needed be given us and that speedily.

Mr. E. T. Churn has purchased an acre of land of Mr. Robert Hall for $150 and will have a dwelling erected thereon.

Work is progressing finely on the Baptist church, and the committee of the Methodist church meets next week to make arrangements to complete their church.

One-half of schooner American Eagle bought by Mr. Edward T. Churn about 3 months ago for the sum of $800, was recently sold for $1,200 to Justice, Barnes & Co., Guilford.

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Transportation -- Water - SailboatsTransportation -- Railroad - Personal injuryMoral -- Other violent crime

Northampton County.

N. F. Cobb has sold his sloop Edward Holmes to Walter W. Wessells of Accomac.

Haven Bell was run over by railroad near Cheriton station, on 19th inst., and has since died of his injuries received.

Henry Payne, colored, has been committed to jail by Justice of Peace for 6 months for assaulting his wife.

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DiseaseTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders

Temperanceville.

Mumps now afflict some member of nearly every family in town.

The corner-stone of the Masonic Temple was not laid according to announcement, and Rev. Geo. H. Ray also failed to put in an appearance. The crowd assembled however, did not on account of these mishaps disperse, but stayed to partake of the elegant dinner prepared for them and to hear an eloquent discourse on Masonry by Rev. J. H. Amiss P. E., substituted in place of Bro. Ray. The corner-stone will be laid at some future day.

Farmers Meeting.

Farmers -- Farmers' organizations

By authority from the Farmer's Assembly of Virginia, the undersigned has been appointed to hold an election to send delegates to represent Accomac county at its meeting on the 19th day of October, in the city of Richmond -- and also to elect an executive committee for this county. There will be a meeting of the farmers from all parts of the county at Drummondtown in the Masonic Hall at 11 a.m. Sept. 28th 1885, court-day to carry out the objects mentioned above. As Master of Metompkin Grange, I especially call the members together at that to help in this work. The objects in view are worthy ones, to advance, elevate and protect the whole body of farmers.

ORRIS A BROWNE.

Board of Supervisors.

Infrasturcture -- Public - Government : CountyArchitecture -- Courthouses

At the meeting on the 21st inst., the bid of A. Frank Byrd, agent for the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Co., of Richmond, Va., to insure the Poorhouse for $5,000 for five years for 2 1-4 per cent. accepted.

Thomas C. Kellam, D. Frank White and Alfred J. Lilliston were appointed a committee to have the court-house suitably repaired; in the discharge of which duty, the committee is directed to have a new roof of slate or tin put on the old building, and to make such alterations in the interior of the same as may be necessary to promote the public comfort and convenience.

Dr. Pitts' Second Trial.

Moral -- Murder

Dr. James D. Pitts was arraigned in the Norfolk county court last Monday, for the murder of Dr. L. T. Walter on Tangier Island.

The court-room was crowded. Dr. Barton Pitts and Mr. Edward Pitts, brothers of the prisoner, were present. Mrs. Walter, wife of the murdered man, and her brother from Accomac were also there. John Neely appeared for the defense.

Hon. John Goode, with Capt. Geo. D. Parker, Commonwealth's attorney, represented the prosecution. Twenty-six witnesses were present from Tangier Island.

One very important witness for the Commonwealth -- Capt. Geo. Thomas, an invalid from rheumatism, of Tangier Island -- was not in court, but a messenger was sent after him.

Capt. Parker, the Commonwealth's attorney, asked the court to continue the opening of the trial until Wednesday, owing to the absence of Capt. Geo. Thomas. Mr. Neely objected to a postponement, and said that the defense would agree to submit to the jury the testimony of Capt. Thomas as already written down and let it go. If the trial opened on Wednesday it would hardly conclude by Saturday, and he had to attend an important criminal trial in Accomac on Monday next.

It was finally agreed to let the testimony of Capt. Thomas as written down go before the jury, and, if he arrives before the jury takes the case, to examine him orally also.

When the prisoner was arraigned Mr. Neely, his counsel, submitted a plea that the court ought not to proceed further with the prosecution, on the ground that four regular terms of court had passed, during which the prisoner had not been brought to trial, and that such failure to try was not caused by the accused or his defense. He then read the statute and sundry certificates of S. E. Brickford, clerk of the County Court of Elizabeth City County, and asked that the prisoner be "forever discharged."

The matter was argued by the respective counsel and overruled by the court. A second plea was entered and overruled. The clerk then proceeded to impanel the jury, but out of a panel of twenty-four only eleven jurors were found qualified to try the case. The court then adjourned to allow the sheriff to summon a new panel.

The second day's trial of Dr. James D. Pitts opened Tuesday with the eleven jurors, secured, present. Out of the number summoned Monday a panel of sixteen was secured, but owing to the sickness of Mr. John Neely, counsel for the prisoner, the case was continued until Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the jury was sworn and examination of witnesses begun.

On the fourth day the evidence on both sides was closed and the argument was commenced.