Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-03
The Louisville ''straight-out' Democratic
Convention met to day.

A VMLAINoUs PLoT--Several times dur
ing the last few weeks track-viewer OF the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac rail
road has discovered Instructions on the track
which had they not been discovered would un
doubtedly have been the cause Of considerable
destruction of life and property. The frequency
of the occurrence and the nature of the obstruc-
tions led the officers of the company to believe
that there was an evil design IN the matter.
Accordingly Detective Pat Woods was sent up
the road to work up the case. The result seems
to have been the uuearthlng OF vlllaluous plot
to throw passenger trains from the track for the
purpose of plunder W. l. Rogers young white
man residing at or near Brooke station, was ar
rested at Occoouan as one of the parties to the
plot. When accosted by Detective Woods he
was about taking passage on the steamer tor
Baltimore He was tide hand and foot prepar-
atory to being brought to Richmond, and while
in custody confessed to the officer that he, his
brother, and one John Billiard, reputed horse
thief. had concocted the plot at Bullard's sug-
gestion, he representing to his accomplices that
many people might be killed, their perS ons
plundered, and the thieves escape detection.
The vigilance of negro man named Morgan,
the track viewer, prevented the accomplishment
of their purpose on either OF several occasions
The last time they attempted it was ednes-
day night the 18th ultimo, when they laid bar
OF railroad iron across the track Morgan saw
and removed it, and the murderous villains,
lying in wait for the approaching train, seeing
their scheme thus often thwarted gave chase to
the faithful servant of the railroad company,
intending to put him to death. He ran for his
life, and saved it by seeking refuge III farmer S
house.
Rogers was brought to this city Saturday and
on the same day he was before Justice Crew
for hearing, but as his brother and Billiard
had not been apprchendcd it was thought best
to continue the case until the 10th of September
with the understanding that it will be fully in
vcstigated sooner if necessary. The case will be
tried, however, in Stafford.
The last attempt to throw train from the
track was made near Accokeck bridge. The
track-yieWers name is Morgan Minor The
men proposed that he should aid them and share
10 the spoils but he positively declined to assist
10 or conDive at their wickedness. After be left
them they gave chase, and followed him to the
farmers house, which he reached just in time
to avoid capture. Richmond Dispatch.
THE FADING DECLARATION OF INDEpEN-
DENcE.-The New York Times remarks that
''of all documents ever made by the hand of
man, the Declaration of independence is per-
haps the most precious Certainly there is none
SO dear to American hearts, and there is some
thing very painful In the assurance which comes
from Washington that the manuscript is fast
fading away, and that in few years the parch-
ment bids fair to become mere blank Near
ly all the signatures are said to be already eff
faced, and unless some remedy is adopted, it is
easy to calculate the time when all those
memorable names will disappear Surely,
however, this can and ought to be prevented"
1t is much more painful that the principles
announced 10 the Declaration of Independence
seem to have faded away from the minds Of
many of our countrymen even before the man.
uscript upon which they-were written gave out,
and that the people whose great statesmen first
announced them to America are not looked up
on as worthy to share the blessings which they
proclaim. Certainly, to mourn over the effac,
lug of the document, and to exult in the en-
croachment by the central power at Washing
ton upon all that gives it significance, is attach.
ing more value.to the casket than to the gems
which it was made to hold Why should the
parchment of the Declaration be aught but
blank after its spirit and essence, so far as
large portion of the American people is con-
cerncd, have ceased to be ?-Baho San.
THE FALMOUTH STORE ROBBERY. The
store Of Robert Limerick, in Falmouth, Stat
ford county, was entered at night few weeks
ago and $3.50 in money stolen thereform. Last
week Messrs Jack Sullivan and James Graves
residents of Stafford, were arrested in Alexan-
dria, charged with the robbery The former
finally confessed, and implicated negro NAM
ed Dudley Pendletou, living still in Falmouth.
He also gave an order on his wife for 1914,
which we understand has since been recovered.
The two first named were brought here from
Alexandra, and were lodged iu Jail yesterday
Pendleton was also arrested and placed in con-
finemeut in the Fredericksburg jail. This
morning all the parties were carried to Fal-
mouth for an examination before a magistrate,
and will doubtless be sent on for trial. The
$G4 is all the money we believe that has thus
far beer recovered. fredericksburg He,uM
Tbo Cornoons in Naw York Yesterday cele.