PWC 1876 -1899 Newspaper Transcripts

Prince William County Virginia 1876 -1899 Newspaper Transcripts Ronald Ray Turner Prince William County Virginia 1876 -1899 Newspaper Transcripts Ronald Ray Turner Prince William County Virginia 1876 - 1899 Newspaper Transcripts Copyright 2001 by Ronald Ray Turner 9901 Greenview Lane Manassas, Virginia 20109 Printed in the United States of America The Prince William County Virginia Newspaper Transcripts 1876 - 1899 were transcribed from microfilmed newspapers at the Bull Run Library, Manassas, VA, and privately owned clippings from early Manassas Newspapers. Ronald Ray Turner Alexandria Gazette 22 Jan 1876 TEMPERANCE MEETING at MANASSAS At a grand temperance mass meeting held at the M. E. Church, at Manassas, on Tuesday, the night of the 18th of January, pursuant to the call of the pastors of the churches, Rev. Charles King, of the Methodist Church, and Rev. J. A. Carmichael, of the Presbyterian Church, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted by a rising vote. Nearly every man, woman and child has endorsed the same by the signing of petitions to the Court, and the General Assembly. Remarks were made by the pastors above named, and by Rev. J. W. Marsh, Rev. Wm. Round, Dr. W. G. Hancock, Isaac P. Baldwin, and Geo. C. Round. The executive committee, to carry out the wishes of the people, were as follows: Gentlemen - Geo. C. Round, C. A. Snowball, Robert C. Weir, Samuel Wolverton, Charles H. Wittington. Ladies - Mrs. Ada Merchant, Mrs. S. A. Whitman, Mrs. Harriet M. Hixson, Mrs. Estell Cross, and Miss Nellie Hixson: Whereas, The public use of intoxicating liquors has seriously injured our prosperity and reputation as a village and has proved a course alike to the bodies and souls of men. Therefore, Be it resolved, by the citizens of Manassas, in mass meeting assembled. 1st. That we submit to our fellow citizens who are now engaged in the sale of liquors our earnest protest against the farther continuance of this traffic in our community, and respectfully ask them in deference to the common interest to make no applications for license during the coming year. 2nd. That we respectfully submit to the Honorable Judge of this county that in our opinion there is no suitable, proper and convenient place for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Manassas, except at the drug stores for medicinal, mechanical and sacramental purposes: That we protest against any license being issued for the sale of intoxicating liquors except at those places, and for the aforesaid purposes; that we protest against the issuing of hotel or ordinary licenses to persons who do not keep a public house; and we protest against issuing such license to any person keeping a place of amusement or a store for general merchandise, or to any person who heretofore has broken the laws of the commonwealth by selling or giving away liquors on Sundays, on election days, or to minors. 3rd. That we respectfully submit to the General Assembly of Virginia that the charter of the Corporation of Manassas should be amended to correspond with the charter of Falls Church, and many other towns of the State, allowing no license to be issued by the County Court except with the approval of the Council of the Corporation, and also allowing said Council the right to lay a suitable tax for Corporation purposes upon said licenses if issued. And that we respectfully ask our Senators and Delegates in the General Assembly to procure the passage of said amendments. 4th. That the pastors of the churches of Manassas acting as Joint Presidents of this mass meeting be requested to appoint an executive committee to consist of five gentlemen and five ladies, whose duty it shall be to prepare suitable petitions to the County Court and to the General Assembly, to circulate the same for signatures to present said petitions at the proper time with such farther statements as may seem proper, to arrange for future meetings to which they shall report, and in general to perform any duty which may seem necessary to carry out the objects of those resolutions, and the pastors of the churches of Manassas are hereby requested to act as ex-office members of said committee. 5th That copies of these resolutions suitably attested be sent to the Manassas Gazette and to the Alexandria and Washington papers for publication. 0. P. Merritt c. F. Tansil! Secretaries 1 Alexandria Gazette 26 Jan 1876 To the editor of the Alexandria Gazette: I see by the card signed "A. Nicol, " dated January 21st, 1876, and circulated with the last issue of the Manassas Gazette, in which "A. Nicol" pronounces any and all who had preferred before the Legislature charges of fraud and corruption in his official conduct, or those who had endorsed them or any who circulated them, liars, slanderers, cowards and scoundrels. He also stated that this card ''was stuck up and read in the presence of Wm. E. Lipscomb, the reputed author of the charges and that he was as dumb as an oyster." I presume the impression rested upon the minds of all who have read this card, that I cowered in the presence of this august Judge. In order to correct such an impression, I beg leave to state that the card was not read by Nicol, nor by any other person on my hearing, nor was I aware of the contents of the card, nor do I consider myself the author of the charges which have been preferred against this judge. Upon reading the supplement of the Manassas Gazette, I consulted with friends upon whose representations I became satisfied that this unnecessary attack on me needed no vindication at my hands. The truth or falsity of these charges will be determined by the proper tribunal and no wager of battle can vindicate or damn the character of the acx:used, William E. Lipscomb Brentsville, Prince William County January 24th, 1876 Alexandria Gazette 29 Jan 1876 Judge Nlcol's Case The Manassas Gazette says: "It was not known by either Judge Nicol or anyone else in this county, save the parties to the attempt, and those to whom they confided the matter, that proceedings were instituted in the Legislature to impeach him until Monday last, on the reception of the Richmond papers giving a report of the presentation in the House of Delegate from this county, of the impeachment papers. It, of course, created a profound sensation with all except those who were cognizant of what was being done. Judge Nicol has been twice elected to the position of Judge; the first time over a popular young lawyer backed by influential relatives and friends, and the last time, we believe, without opposition. For ability, fairness and purity of character Judge Nicol, up to the present time, has stood the equal of any 90nt1emen wearing the judicial ermine in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and no one of his fnends or the public where he is known, have ever dreamt that a breath of suspicion rested upon his character as a gentleman, or as a judge. "Judge Nicol assures his friends that he is innocent of the charges against him, and asserts that it is an attempt of his enemies to drag him down. The case goes before the Committee on the Judiciary of the House next Wednesday, and until that tribunal shall have proved the truth or falsity of the serious charges, let public opinion withhold its verdict." The Richmond Enquirer says: "Judge Nicol, of the County Court of Prince William, against whom grave charges have been brought by a lawyer of that county, was in the House of Delegates yesterday, and was confident of his ability to meet successfully every charge affecting his judicial integrity. He is quiet looking and has not by any means the appearance of a State officer who would be guilty of corrupt practices. His case will be inquired into without unnecessary delay." The Richmond correspondent of the Petersburg News says: "Judge Nicol, of Prince William County Court, is here. He demands the most searching investigation into his official record. Everybody hopes and many believe he will establish his innocence, which will be more to his credit than the prosecution failing to make out his case. 2 Alexandria Gazette 7 Feb 1876 JUDGE NICOL'S CASE This morning the House Committee for Courts of Justice, Mr. Coghill chairman, entered upon the regular investigation of the charges brought by Mr. James J. Davies against Aylett Nicol, judge of the Court of Prince William County. The charges made and sworn to by Mr. Davies as "true so far as it rested upon his own information, and so far as made upon the information of others he believes the said charges to be true," have been expurgated by the committee so as to omit the following, which, if true, should be brought to the attention of the Circuit Court of Prince William County, and Judge Nicol would be disbarred: "That the said Aylett Nicol instituted a suit in the Circuit Court of the said county of Prince William in the name of Rachel Carter, administratrix of Thomas Carter, deceased, against the estate of Charles E. Norman, deceased, in which he obtained a decree in the said court against the said Norman's estate; that the said decree or judgment so obtained and used in April 1875, to the sum of $1,629; that in the said month of April, 1875, he advised his said client, Rachel Carter, to sign a blank assignment for the consideration of $300, one-third of which said sum was to be retained by the said Nicol as his fee in the said suit; that the said Nicol, at the time he advised the said Rachel Carter, his client, to assign the said daim against the said Norman's estate for the sum aforesaid had in his hands, as commissioner of sale in the suit of Cole vs.

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