Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-15
ROCKVILLE NEWS.
A Brutal Father In Court-The Towpath
shooting-General Notes


Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ROCKVILLE. July IA. 1891.
A large and somewhat excited crowd of peo-
pie congregated this afternoon at the Office of
Justice Morgan. drawn hither by the expecta-
ton of hearing the disclosures in the prelimi-
nary trial of David Edwards an old soldier
charged with the commission of an outrage on
his daughter near Dickerson station about two
weeks ago, and who has recently been captured
and lodged in Jail at this place. At 2.30 the
sheriff made his appearance, accompanied by
the warden of the Jail aud the prisoner. who
was ornamented with the regulation hand cuffs
Accompanying the party was the young girl
aged fourteen years, who had previously pre-
ferred the serious charge against her father
She Is a modest appearing young girl,
was attired in a neat fitting plaid dress
and appeared to be embarrassed at her trying
situation. The father acted with as much stolid
indifference rs if he but spectator and
not the central figure in the drama that NAV
consign him to the gallows or the penitentiary
After consultation with the states attorney the
case was called. and upon motion of Alex Kill
gour, counsel Tor the prisoner. preliminary
hearing was waived and the prisoner remanded
to Jail to await the action of the grand jury at
November term Of the circuit court. The two
witnesses IN the case, Seymour and Elizabeth
Edwards, were also held as witnesses the
former on his own recognizance in the sum of
c1OJ. and the latter, the victim of the alleged
outrage. in the sum of $500 The main reason
for holding the young girl in this sum was the
fact that the sheriff learned a day or two ago
that efforts were being made to induce her to
leave the state. and upon receiving this
information he Immediately repaired to her
home and yesterday brought her to this
place. Not being able to at once give the nee
essary security she was sent to Jail where she
N of no rHa uif INIT
will not be allowed to see or converse with her
father should ne desire her to do SO. After the
case lad been disposed of Edwards called his
son Seymour to him and in a rough and threat
eninS manner inquired of him in regard to
COW, some bees. vegetables and other articles
left at home, ordering him in a peremptory
manner to sell them all and send the money at
once to him at this place. From the actions of
the boy he evidently is afraid of the father
and breads his anger. He promised to do as
directed. but what is in the meantime to sup
port the balance of the motherless children did
not appear for once to strike the mind Of the
father. Those who heard the conversation
were indignant and Disguised with such heart
lessness.
This morning Sheriff A. F. FairaIl returned
here from Herndon. Va. having in charge John
Voletti. the Italian charged with shooting John
Cook on the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal, near Great Falls, on Thursday last. He
was captured near the above place by a gentle
man who had seen the description of HIM pub
Eshed in The STAR of Saturday evening last
and who recognized him at once from that de-
scription. Upon being confronted by revolver
he at once surrendered and afterward acknowl-
edged that he was the man wanted. but claimed
that the shooting was done in self-defense. and
consented to come without a requisition. When
captured he had no arms upon his person, and
claims that the pistol with which the shooting
was done did not belong to him. but to another
person, and had been left In a coat pocket in
the wagon from which the shot was fired. Since
his arrival here he appears to be in good spirits
and says he will employ the best counsel he can
procure IN the county. and that he will also be
defended by an able New York attorney.
The latest intelligence from Cook, the
wounded man, is to the effect that he is some
what easier and able to sit up portion OF the
day, but is suffering from flow of blood from
his left lung. where the bali from the pistol has
evidently lodged. So long the blood comes
up freely he does not suffer much pain, but
when this stops he Is III much agony. His ply
sicians consider him i'll a very precarious con-
dition with but slight hopes of recovery.
In the orphans court %; today the wills Of
Edwin VI. Corrick were admitted to probate.
Letters Of administration on the personal
estate of Evelina Beall, deceased. were granted
to Elizabeth Z. Offutt. bond, Sl0O; same on the
personal estate of Jas. E. Matthew were
granted to Philip F. Mossburg, bond. 81 900.
Letters testamentary on the personal estate of
Nicholas ID. Offutt were granted to Lee Offutt.
bond. S110.0 900.
Yesterday afternoon Deputy Sheriff Embrey
brought to this place and lodged in Jail a
colored man named Joseph Baugh, who has
recently been in the employ of Contractor Ken
needy at Glen Echo. Baugh is wanted in Ches-
terrified county, Va, where he is charged with
shooting man. The officials of that county
have been notified that the prisoner is willing
to return without requisitiOn, and that they