Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-20
Tho Lale Washington Robbery.

lives n-Butfalo, WAS recently in Washington en-
business connected with the Frc ,sufy Depart
mept, and there learned that rnbb ~ Of some
kind had been committed. He did ai Obtain
much information in regard to the natter, but
lust enough to know that somebody had stolen
something.
Mr. Thnmpson came 10 New York few
DAYS ago, and while walking up Broadway yes.
trrdpy afternoon met Mr. Edward Edmonds
and Mr.. H. N. Mason, both CT Washington.
Mutual handshaking cnsued, and II was pro-
posed that the party adjourn to ne!ghboI!ug
saloon and partake OF some VINE. Inc Wine
was partaken of, after which Mr.. Edmouds
invited Mr.. Thompson to sleigh ride up the
road" MIR. Thompson accepted, and, leaving
MIR. Mason at the Gilscy House, the Two other
gentlemen stepped into utter and were soon
flying over the road at handsome pace. The
ride was exhilcratiug, as was also the VINE
which the party had drank before starting. Mr.
Elmonds became ,akatlve and had Consider
able to say abuut Washington and lis various
attractions.
After an hours drive the two returned to
the GilScy House, and on going to the clerk S
office MIR. Edmonds remarked that nc was out
of money, but had treasury warrant about
the clerk that Mr. Thompson would vouch tor
him. and he was right, for MIR. Thompson
knew the clerk, and assured him that Mr.. I'D
monds was gentleman Of standing, and was
perfectly reliable. The warrant was handed
over to the clerk, who cashrd it, and Just ut
this moment MIR. Thompson remembered some
thing about what he had heard q Washington
10 regard to The theft Of some treasury war
rants or something else. He ,houghtit strange
that Edmonds should have such things Instead
of money, but of course he said nothing about
it. In the course of fifteen or twenty minutes
the two gentlemen parted, Mr.. Edmonds TO 60
w town, and Mr.. Tompson to return to his
hotel. =,
While on his Way to his abiding p lace MIR.
Thomson CHANGED to meet hlr Chapman,
whom he, as in the case Of Elmonds and Ma
son, had last seen in Washington. Chapman SAID
something about being in New York Oh very
important official business, and this reminded
Thompson of the little incident in regard 10 the
treasury warrant just left by E'lmouds at the
Gisey House He mentioned the matter to
CHAPMAN, who 1T once came 10 the CONCLUSION
the warrant in question must be one Ui those
stolen The two gentlemen went direct to the
Gisvy House, where the clerk exhibited the
mysterious document which Chapman instant
ly recognized as one OF the lost.
The hotel detective was called and put on
the case. Elo went to Mason room and found
that gentleman rather the worse for liquor.
Without much circumlocution he arrested him
aud took him, together with small travelling
bag, to the Central Office, where he was de-
tanned The officer then went to the Fifth
avenue theatre aud got Detective Goldlng, and
together the two set out to look for Edmoads.
He was found about ulne O'Clock in house III
| fray hp
driven in carriage to police headquarters.
Here he was searched, aud in leather pocket.
book which. he carried were found some half
dozen of the stolen warrants lie was as ked II
he had any more None, was his laconc
reply. Have you any baggage p None,
Not even a little black travelling bag :?
swell, yes, | have something OF that Kind.
"What's ia it?" "Nothing but wash list "
The wash list turned out to be 1911 treasury war,
rants, amounting III the aggregate to little
over $4,000. -,
The two prisoners were locked up. They
are both said to be respectfully connected, and
Edmouds had considerable to say while 10 the
inspector office about the Influence he had
with one of the ''reform' judges, with whom
he claimed relationship.
The Tribune says: Mason Is said upon
Trustworthy authority TO be the step-son OF AT
torney General Williams. His name was
Benny l.. Mason. which is the name he regis
tered at the Gilscy House, but some time ago, it
il said. he formally assumed the surname OF his
step-f.ther" Mason, who is himself a lawyer,
has secured the services OF Mr.. Leo Schwab as
counsel
WASHINGTON, Jan. 49, Mason, alias E. A.
Williams and j. Knox Moore, arrested in con-
nection with the stealing Of about $4,000
worth of treasury warrants from the office OF
the commissioner Of internal revenue, arrived
| here to hight. The robbery was committed on
Wednesday, January I, it is alleged, by Moore.
Ir is stated he was seen while going away with
the tin box containing the warrants by three
women, who were cleaning up the rooms at
the time This morning when Detective NC
Dewitt and Mr. Il r. Chapman, the chief
clerk of the oternal revenue bureau, applied
at the police headquarters in New York, arm.
cd with the proper papers Tor the custody OF
the narties. they we're refused by the New
York officers. MIR. Henry Smith, president Of
the board of police commissioners, was appeal
cd to. and he decided that Detectives Golden
and Corcoran, who arrested them, were the
nroner pcrsons to deliver them to the authorl-
ties in Washington, and accordingly they were
brought to this city in their charge. They
will have hearing in the Police Court to-mor-
row morning.
| A New MODE OF ELECTING PRESIDENT
The Senate Committee on Privileges aud Eec-
tons yesterday met and considered Senator
Mortou's proposed constitutional amendment
to provide better mode OF elcclng the frcS-
dent, Without reaching formal conclusion.
the following propositions were CONSIDERED
First to abolish the electoral college; second,
| the President and Vice President to be voted
for directly by the people, third, each State to
he divided into as many districts as it has re-
representatives., and the candidates having the
highest vote for President in the district to re,
ccivc the vote Of that district, which shall
count one presidential vote; each State to be
also entitled to two presidential votes at large,
which shall be counted for the candidates
having the highest number Of votes III