Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-04
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An EnEunaan Father.

received at his hands. The miserable old ras
cal was arrested thia morning by Patrolman
Grant, Of the Sccood precinct. aud doomed up
the observed Of ell observers in he Police Court
dock Charles p. Patkmsp, with whom sevc-
raj Of the girls have of late resided, procured
warrant against Mechlin yesterday, charging
him With ao assault on his daughter, Madeline,
on The - h of October, 1876. This was ontya
formal warrant, and was obtained simply 10
pIace! hiln 10 the hands OF the law. This morn
log Ratrofmah Graat visited his house and
took him into custody. " - ..'".,'. ...,.
"Iicxpected this said Mecnlio, when sr-.
rcstep aud quietly accompanied the officer. "
Whcn Meoniio. arrived at the Police Court
90 one appeared TO knoW who he, was. aud no
more uollc, Vas taken of him than if bis case
had been that of a simple drunk" Tall, with
bent shoulders. a pale coultenalce, gray hair,
| with sunken eyes. and wearing gold trimmed
spectactcS, aud attired in plain clothing, Mech
Ito had more the appearance OF Methodist
mi oibter than the brute that he is. He was
taken back aud at oDce placed 10 the dock " here
he stood towering above The Dizzy, dirty iookiog
'grvup, Of. thieves, trsnps and other rascals.
As soon as it became klGw1 who he Was every
body began to Stare towards the dock and
| tcmark upon his appearance. Silent and
reserved lie ttood there, saying not a word
and showing 10 sign ct rem0rsc' or fear.
His victims, The four daughters, attended by a
ouui Der oi lrieods, arrived at the building at
I'D ciook. Taey were escorted upstairs and
sboRuioto he private roou of,the eIeI where,
| later, DISTRICT Attorney Csy aud Others visited
them. e rte o koUt of spectators had col
ecttd abuut the court hops, By that time, and
when the girls walked up rhc steps seus.tioo
| was created. Willie, The ;yjuogest,. aud the
pretty :llc maid who, through her father $
| bIu. alftp sonaiine ago., attempted to commit
| suicide near UoiootemD, attracted particular
Doace FROM the palor that overspread her
countenacce, and as she entered the court house
E.doer, ieiI lorSai1 Ia an epileptlc. fit, which
surprised every body. ;SIfirlog from the most
palnfdl c3Dvu!:ous, she was carried bodily up
| stairs and wien medicine was. offered her, she
re- fused il. apd acted iustlike an insane person,
| dee ariQg lbatit gas poison, aud they wanted
t to xiii her. =. 49,. s.. l.. i.
The slaleucats ofthe othcrgitls wcr. taken,
| Which Vas ID substance similar TO- what has
been' pre- uiuusy published, aud showed how
I MechIin had been1trom time to tlme contlo'
| uaI'y beating and tpaitreatug them for the
most trivial Offences. Marks ADD great bruises
upon their persons we're txilblred to substan
tiite their stories. and those who were present
10; the clerk room at -the-tima fully agreed
that MechIo fully desc1Tedto be burnt. at the
stake ,'tr published worse. "a the state.
menfs made fvs wlrrau's were issued,
each =: charging him, With assaults. Mr.
lWm-, 3. Webb was retaioed as cau,s Il tsr
| Aechin, but being: engaged 10 the upper
| cpur,ssy Transferred :.the =: matter to Ilngh
/ ~ MA G, I.
ttict cases in the Police Court. Mr.. TsggaH
Vss~ approached by, reportal OF TIE Crltlc,
I tsl n.reaponeeto certain questions, said, ~ gu
| tDtows=are ms king these Cases out to be gres
| dcsl.wo:se thsn they: are. These girls baVe
gotten d lot.of sym path zlng people about taem
+ f.lher. The neighbors don't like him because
h. is retired, secluded man, a sort OF recluse,
| IS is were 4 Hs donsnot mlng'eW With them. ana
\ becahse;of his Tetirement they have yereuAted
/ al sorts CT stories about him. These girls when
they came home from; sohoolin Pennsylvania,
very wild an d, ,unce Rtro1sb!e. ana Of course
worried the old gentlemsp- '!Ihe oldest aaug1 :
ter; Ella, naturally appr eoisting her father
| troubles, * dad with and cared TOR plur"
'W'hlie'this: conv ersation WAS IN progress, -
hsmc up the stsps and said. something 70 Mr.
!Tsggart! Az ahetlrnad TO- SO sway two men
stahditS iAthe hail exclaimed hats the NO
msn now."" Upon. inqairy Aay, ststedr TO the
]ireporter thHt: on two occasions rec sntly, they
lisaw this girl and her father INDUCING in such
dsgifstfny fami ~ at tho paslor windows OF
\ Mcchlln's 'house asto sloc!l' them! beyond DO
/ When the matter was bIought to lho notioo Of
Judge Shell, the. District. Attorney expressed
! himself very sn xous to- 60 to- trial 1t once MI.
fagSart fOr!tbo deEsnse.. however Asked LOT
postp5nouient end. Gually the hearing was sat
| for Saturday next, bonds being fixed at S5JO.-
| WASH Critic.
CoxciL1AroRY TS P5fhRi1r::.. :GG'sneral George
Washington Castls Lee, a son, OF that Robert
Il. Lee, who was educated ct West Point at
the exDcusc Cf the natioD, and who, being sl7.
| en- high rank 10 tho army, deserted from lis
ranks AID sold his sEord;sto the enemy, has
been trying, before Congress and before the
courts, ever since the close of the rebellion, 10
which IS q rebel he VOL hia rack Of genera, to
| wrest Arlington from the United Ststes. As he
has JUST tried the case 10 a Soutberu court, be,
fore Southern judge eud iqry, ard has Won a
lccAnical verdict on side Issue, there may we'll
| be c1.ertaiued fears OF his 6ol success, unless
| tee Federal Law officers maintain shreWl and
persistent defense. Whatever mIy'bc said Of
tie merits OF the original or present ownership
it should be pretty clear TO every one except
Gaocral Lee aud Dis friends, that he at least
1'hss no. part ,or oWnc5shipi o Arlington.
This estate, situated near Alexandria, with
10 sisLt of the; Capitol at Washington, be.
logged technically, to Mrs. Robert =. LIE, but
in reality to General Lee. Before The war be-
gan, Mrs Lee was one Of the most pestilent
secessiopiss 10 Vrgiria, aud used to the X.
treme point all the vast social ithueuoe she
possess d TO: have Virginia carried out Of the
Uoon, aud it is believed by those who best
knew her aud her potency IN controlling her
husband, that sac alone was the cause of his
turning traitor 10 and takiug up arms against
the county, to which he had sworn life long
duty and service. When Lee deserted from
the F4deraI army to joiu that of its enemies
he and all his family deserted Arlington also.
"Aviiogton being das2rted, was taken pos
session Of BY the government, and it soon be:
,ooma the s(pu!cbre of the brave men who died
fighting for the Union. Finally the govern.
meut purchased it at tax sale, thu. securing a
bona 6de title to it. and by az act OF Congress
liz was made -pational cemetery for the burial
!: Of our Northcro heroes. Now this rebel gene
r., ,ot, oloip,o hat