Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-19
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRtWsEKLY By
EDGAR SNOwDEN.
WEDNESDAY EvEN1NG, sEPTR. !
The aclou OF the authorities ct Alexandra

WEDNESDAY EvENING, SEPTR 10.
The aclou OF the authorities ct Alexandria
county 10 arresting, trying and convictiug gang
Of Washington city roughs, for committing dep"
redat,ous and generally violating the laws regu-
la;ing the observance OF the Sabbath day ID
that county, has been the subject OF adverse
and just criticism by the Washington press.
The Star Of yesterday says:
1.-The shooting into party of WASHINGTON
ians at the Ariiopton Sprlogs by persons claim
ing to be sheriff posse, on Sunday last looks
like al outrage that ought not to 70 uorebuked
The Virginia authorities, OF course, have rls hs
to preserve order Within their limits, but II does
not appear tba, the party fired upon we're dis
turbipg the peace. They We're fired upon with
gu. word of wal1in4. aoi the wonder Is that
:, no one Was killed. We cannot believe that the
sheriff f AsxaudrIa has authorized the shoot
ing down OF unotfendips persons before calling
1poU them to surrender.
4 The assumptions Of the Star are summary
of the first account Of the affair published in
the Naiiooal Republican, which that paper III
its issue Of this moroi3g cofrccts Is fellows:
~ IA ope sided account of sn encouoter be.
tween WashiDgtonsparty aud a posse OF Fir-
gipia officers, across the Potomac last Sunday,
bias been prioted Tie residents Of Alexandra
county do not like to have the impression 20
out that q patty OF gentlemen vlsitirg thel.
shores would be 10 danger Of uoIestatioD. The
following facts 10 reference to the encounter
are esroed from Dir J. Z. Bartlett, a magis
trate of Alexandra county: The Washington
party was party of armed roughs, who came
to the Virginia shore. as ooe Of their Eumber
afterwards svowed, tor the purpose Of having q
fight ADD "cleaoiog out the ID Tigers 10
Alexardra c1urty" The party were armed
person who gave his name as john Hay.
'On the Snuday before Hay beat couoty
officer who attempted to arrest bin. There
were not forty men 10 the posse, but only
constable and se7en special police officers. Tue
Virginia Legislature has provided for twenty
four special police officers for Alexandria COUP
ty. The constable ADD special police captured
the whole party and carried them before mag
istrate. Three of those arrested, who, 1t ap.
peared, did not belong TO the armed gang OF
rouehs. were released. The others were COM
mitted to all, one for trial aud the rest 10 dc.
fault of fue. fbe only person wounded 10 the
encounter was one of the special officers.
THE Washington party began the firing,
and the constable and his assistants did not re
turu the fire until sfer they had ordered the
Invaders TO surrender and the latter had re.
fused. The residents Of AleXaodria county
have had constant cause to complain Oh &C.
count Of the conduct Of gaugs Of men aud boys
who visit the Virg mia shore from this city
every Sunday. Some Of them take guDs, and
under the prcteoce of hunliug seriously disturb
the peace and quiet Of the Sabbath. There is
also crowd winch cross the I,oog bridge every
Sunday to play base bali, Knowing that they
would not be allowed to play in the city. Last
Sunday they We're dispersed, but went away
threatening 10 come back the next Sunday pre-
pared to defy the County officers. Last week
two women were accidentally shot by guuoing
parties Oh the road between the Long bridge
and Fort Runyon. aud one woman was shot on
the Long bridge. All persons found on private
lands could be arrested ior trespassue, but
neither the ciiz4us uor authorities Of the coun
ty are disposed to disturb persons who conduct
themselves ia gentiemany manner"
Thus by the Republican statement it will
be seen that the action of the authorities 10 the
premises was not only proper but highly COM
meudsbIe, as they would have been chargeable
with dereIiction of duty had they not executed
the laws relating to the Sabbath, ADD adopted
efcctual measures for tho preservation Of the
lives Of persons travelling upon the public high
way. The iucursions from time to time into
the county of roughs, rioters, shoulder hltters,
dog fighters, thieves and pluoderc1s. from Wash
iugton, have made necessary the appointment
of an extra for3e Of special policemen to protect
residents near the District border, especially 80
since the action of Mr.. Miller, attorney of the
Police Court of the District of Columbia, 10 op-
posing the transfer to the Virginia authorities
of sneak thieves who usually take refuge with
their plumber under the jurisdiction Of that
court. The parties who were fined for last Sun
days offence have all paid their fines and been
discharged from all except John Hay, who is
held for the grand jury upon charge of felony
for shooting one Ct the officers who assisted in
making the arrest.