Evening star., 1895-10-10
SUBURBAN NEWS
ANACOSTIA.

A daring highway robbery, in which two
ladies were the victims, was perpetrated
about noon yesteI day short distance from
Anacostia, by two colored men, and the
police authorities. are determined to run
down the mscreants, If possible and place
them where they cannot soon repeat their
crime.
The ladies who were so unfortunate as to
have such a thrilling experience were Mrs.
Edith Roberts Of No. 715 G street south
east. Washington. and her granddaughter,
Miss Meta Roberts. daughter of Justice
John Roberts of Oxon Hill, Md.
Mrs. Roberts had beensvisiting her rela-
tives at Oxon- HILL and was being taken
to her home in Washington by her grand
daughter in carriage. While quietly pro-
cesding along the road just inside the Dis
trict line, they saw burly colored man
approaching them.
Mrs. Roberts today told a Star reporter
that she and her granddaughter paid 70
attention to The fellow until he gave
Iecul1ar whistle, when almost Immediately
a second colored man came out of a woods
near by and Joined the first The latter
then ordered the ladies to stop. and pre-
senting pistol. told the ladies to give
shoot
Mrs. and Miss Roberts were by this
time, of course, greatly frightened, but
Mrs. Roberts convinced the scoundrels
that she had no funds about her. Miss
Roberts: however. handed over her pocket
hook. which contained between one and two
Dollars. and taking this, the fellows quick
u left the neighborhood.
AS speedily as possible, the ladies drove
to the Anacostia substation and reported
the matter to Sergeant Anderson, who at
once detailed Officers Green and Branson
to work. up the. case. There was but little
Information Of value that the ladies could
rerved,. and all they could tell was that
the man who presented the pistol had on
a light drab hat and wore a dark muller
about his throat. With this slight clue, the
policemen tracked the robbers to Twining
City. where. from information received it
is believed they used part of Miss Rob-
erts' money to purchase drinks for them
selves. Later In the afternoon two men
who are thought to have been the guilty
parties were seen on Monroe street. but
catching sight of a policeman who was
some distance away. they hurried across
the navy yard bridge, and no trace of
them has since been found.
After reporting the occurrence to Sergt.
Anderson. the ladies went to the home of
Mrs. Roberts. and after remaining there
scme time. Miss Roberts. accompanied by
q male friend. returned to her home in
Maryland. The affair has created intense
excitement in the vicinity Of its occurrence.
Justice Carroll W. Smith, who has been
Ill for several weeks, as heretofore stated
in The Star. has sufficiently recovered to be
about. and he expresses his readiness to
attend to the business of the office of mag
lstrate which has been interrupted at much
inconvenience to the citizens of .the town
for a considerable period. From all that
oan be learned in reference to the move
ment to supplant Justice Smith, 1t appears
az though the attempt Is not likely to
amount to anything, no charges having
been filed against the present magistrate.
In the absence Of this and proof of their
truth, it is the general impression that the
Department of Justice will take no steps
in the matter, and that Justice Smith will
rot be disturbed in his position.
Laura Matthews, the little colored girl
who, as stated in The Star of yesterday,
was fatally burned while playing with a
lighted lamp at her home on Morris road,
Hillsdale, Tuesday, died yesterday after
neon.
Rev. NJ. Porter Smell. chief clerk in the
office of Postmaster General Wilson, is
seriously i'll at his home on Harrison
street extended. Two of Mr.. Snelfs chill
dI en- are also quite sick. But for his inabil-
ity from this cause to attend the meeting
of the Washington presbytery at kensing-
ton, Mr.. Smell would, it Is thought, then
have asked to be relieved of the charge of
the Presbyterian Church near Manassas,
Va, over which he has presided for several
years. much of the time at great incon-
Venience to himself and personal sacrifice.
Messrs. Norman North, who is attached
to the medical department of St. Eliza
beth's Asyl and Joseph Cannon, who
has a responsible position at the Executive
Mansion, have entered the Medical School
of the Columbian University.