Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-17
,ppr-T OF SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS

,,rr-T OF SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS.
,tn.i1e.ab!e sensation was occasioDed
1o his c;ty this morning by statement
- Washington paper to the effect
u. .sot TWO burglars had attempted 10
ta1s an entrance into Mr.. VIM. Rod
, ,Y,; store, at the corner of Commerce
"a Favette streets, about twelve
S s,niock last night; that Mr.. Rodgers
lord S, them. raised a window, fired two
llibarsand kept them at bay until Off
sa~. arrived and took them in charge;
not long hladed knives and improvised
; ;r"r we're found on them, &c, &c.
The The facts in the case are as follows:
TOO "g tromns-.Tohn Martin, of Rich
., "" and Frank Edwards, of New
V Vol citv-were in this city yesterday,
Martin on begging expedition, and
TJwards enGeavoring to collect few
nickeIs by giving dancing exhibitions
IN bar rooms. About eleven O'Clock at
riobt after the Mr.. Rodgers had closed
his sore. they endeavored to enter
, ,i,[ qeptleman's front door on Fayette
erect Mr.. Rodgers heard them and
had reason to suppose they We're about
10 force an entrance, and raising his
window asked them what they were
after Edwards made an indecent re-
NV when Mr.. Rodgers fired two shots
At the men. They took refuge behind
trees. and the pistol shots having been
heard BY Special Waterman Genzberg-
or he blew his whistle and Officers
reach Sherwood and Howson re-
soonded and arrested Martin and Ed
wards in the neighlsorhood. Both men
had been drinking and were very abu-
Give 10 the officers When locked up
Edwards began to talk to negro
locked up in an adjoining cell
and from what he said it was inferred
that others were in the party and that
one of the bullets from Mr.. Rogers's
nstol had struck one of the gang.
When brought into the dock in the Po-
lice Court this NOR ting Martin, who by
liberal use Of soap and water could be
metaphosed into good looking man,
testified that he had been in Alexandria
on another occasion and had bought
whisky from Mr.. Rogers yesterday
morning: that he had met Edwards
during the day and had formed a sort
of partnership in business with him
Edwards guaranteeing to dance pro-
yided Martin would sing and take up
the collection. Bar rooms were to be
the theatre for their exhibitions, and
about eleven o'clock they proceeded to
Mr.. Rogers's for the purpose OF giving
a performance in his house, and after
knocking they were shot at by the pro,
pretor. Edwards merely corroborated
The statement his partner had made. A
railroad spike and ''cheeser" were
found on him. The latter instrument
Is a corset steel, and is used for two
purposes by tramps. They sharpen
them to razor's edge and use them for
shaving, and also to slide the fastenings
of blinds when they desire to commit
burglary. Edwards said he carried the
spike for the purpose of opening the
doors of freight cars when locked up
in them. Mayor Strauss ordered them
to be held for further examination.
They were placed in an up
oer room and had not been in
ihere more than ten minutes when Ed
wards pretended he had been taken
i'll and clasped both hands on
his abdomen. His partner banged at
the door for assistance and an officer
the alarm. Being convinced
it was game of "possum, he locked
the door, when Martin again Knocked
on the door with all his strength. Off
Ger Davis was ordered to take both men
down stairs and put them in separate
cells. AS soon as the officer had re-
opened the door Martin grappled with
him with what intention is not known,
though it looked as if he was about to
make dash for liberty, and it was
only after receiving a severe pummel-
ing that he became submissive. He was
double quicked down stairs and locked
up, and a few minutes later Edwards
was placed in cell adjoining him.
While the charge of burglary could not
be sustained, it is believed the men are
crooks and are wanted elsewhere.