42 
I was notified of the raid and at once came down to the scene. 
I got in my launch and went out to the scene immediately. I 
did not know all of the oystermen, so went up for Capt. Jesse 
Rider and brought him back with me and we took the names 
of those we knew. When Captain Rider appeared they went 
into cabins and in various other ways tried to hide, but we 
were able to identify nearly all of them. We started to go to 
Leonardtown to swear out warrants, but in the meantime they 
followed us on up and raided Captain Rider’s beds. We then 
went through the boats that came up there and took their 
names. We then went to Leonardtown to swear out the 
warrants. 
The Sheriff reached us late the next evening and by that 
time the oystermen had seen the State boat “Folly” coming 
and they had all scattered except six, for whom we happened 
to have warrants. By this time the “Folly” had arrived and 
when we went out to the lot with the Sheriff we found Captain 
Miles, of the “Folly,” in his launch going around among the 
boats. 
At this time these men were still working on my brother’s 
bed and Captain Miles knew it to be leased ground and knew 
that the oysters on it were seeded, but he was making no effort 
to stop the raid and had not made any arrests. When the 
Sheriff boarded the first boat Captain Miles brought his launch 
alongside of the raiding oyster boat and advised the men to go 
quietly with the Sheriff, remarking that it was only a test case. 
Captain Rider then said: “Captain Miles is mistaken, Sheriff 
Dent. We have offered them a test case, but this is robbery.” 
Captain Miles then said: “I’m with you, boys; I’ll take care 
of your boats.” 
We started back to Sand Gates, after arresting the six, and 
we could hear the prisoners talking. ‘They said that 
had a barrel and a half of money and that he would back them. 
The men were then taken before the Magistrate and released 
on bail of $100, although the damage through the destruction 
of the young growth as well as the marketable oysters repre- 
sented to me thousands of dollars. 
Rosert H. SpEpDDEN. 
Test: 
Howard D. Adams. 
