Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-06-03

w.atner, variable winds generally eastery,
stationary temperature. The same condi-
lions will prevail tomorrow.
DETE5TABLE CRIaE.-About two or
three months ago Frenchman, calling him
self Pietro Leone, came to this city from
Norfolk, and renting two rooms in a build
ing on north Royal street, near the Market
House, stocked it with tropical fruits, nuts,
,yc and soon secured fair share of public
patronage. Though mild and courteous to
his customers, there was something in the
mans eountenance and actions which SEEM
ed TO indicate that his cipility was more as
.umed than real. Of late he has had in his
Partial employ small girl child, between
eleven and twelve years OF age. named
Mrivina Robey, whose parents reside In this
rtv and at whose house be took his meals.
TITS child was occasionally employed by
Leone TO wait upon the shop, but recent &C.
curreuces have caused some to think that
the mans real purpose in having her in the
SHOP was for reasons far more base. AGjoin-
Ing and over the fruit shop is the printing
osl,e of Mr.. J. NJ. Hill. the rooms of which
ure separated only by wooden parti
t,ou. For several days past persons
At work there and in the room above have
that the relations between him and his little
female clerk were anything but proper.
subs. quent events serving to strengthen this
conjecture, holes were bored through the
door in order that, if their surmises proved
corr ect, they could have the man arrested.
Ii WAS not long before they had an opportu-
atty of strengthening their suspicious in the
culpabiity OF Leone, as between five and
SIX o'clock yesterday evening, hearing the
latter and his victim in the room back OF
the shop, they peered through the orihces in
the floor and soon witnessed enough to sat
lsfy them OF the bestial and depraved nature
of the girls employer. The persons III the
printing Office called to Leone to release the
child, which be refused to do, and threaten
ed to kill them should they interfere. John
Mills, one of the young men who had wit
messed the transaction, FASTENED around to
the Mayors office, procured a warrant aud
in Il short time the Frenchman was in the
hands of policemen. The crowd on Royal
street when the officers arrived at Leone's
shop was dense, as by that time the nature
of the latter's offence had been passed from
mouth to mouth, and threats of lynching
were more than once heard. The girl had
gone to her home, and Leone was as speed
liy as possible secured in cell in the sta
ton house. The accused is a low-set man,
specimen of the genus homo in whom
phrenoogist would Immediately determine
the sensual exceeds the intellectual nature.
He landed here, a. above stated, from Nor
folk, out of which city, it is said by some,
he was run for offences similar 10 that Tor
which he has been arrested here.
The trial was set for twelve o'clock to-
day before the Mayor, and the precincts OF
= cd tnn IT.
ed for the crowd which desired admission ;
hence it was concluded to try the case III
the Corporation Court room. A few mln-
utes after the doors were opened the room
was packed 10 sutiocation-so much so that
en-. doors were locked to prevent any Others
euterng-while an equally large coucourse
was without clamoriDg for admlttance.
The young men employed in the printing
office, together with others who happened
to be there at the time, testified substan-
tally and positively what has been reclted
above. DR.. r. Marshall Jones, who made
the necessary examination of the girl, how.
ever, testified that so far as he had been
able to discover no traces of assault existed.
The girl, too, denied IN toto everything that
had been urged against Leone, saying the
latter was not only innocent of the charge
of assault, hut Of taking any other liberty
with her Upon this testimony the prison
er was released upon the charge of assault,
but rearrested on the charge Of attempted
outrage, aud held in the sum of 81 900 for
his appearance before the grand jury of the
Corporation Court. Leone was defended
by Mr.. George A. Mushbach.
While being taken down the Court House
steps, after the trial, Leone was struck by
the brother of another little girl who, 1t was
stated at the trial, the prisoner had been
tanpering with He was not hurt, however,
eud soon after lodged safely 10 Jail.