The morning times., 1896-06-23
GIFTS FIVE TEARS
Sentences Passed on the Would Be
Alexandra Murderer.
wAsiilngton and Alexandria Excar-
slonists In u Riot at Giyment
Other tity News.

The Jury In the case OF Nike Thomas /
tho corporation court ut O'Clock yestei
day brought in u verdict OF guilty and IKE,
his term OF impriscBment at five years an
I six months In the penitentiary.
Thomas, on February 81 last, went +
his hofnc on South Lee street, assaulted hi
wife with an AZ several times, and thei
shot her three times. There were no wit
| ncsses to the decd. -,
Thomas left the almost Ifeless body o
his wife lying on the floor and made hi
escape to Fairfax county, south OF tbi
city, where he was subsequently arrested
When discovered by the authorities Thomai
bad a terrible ga ss m his throat, hayin at
tempted TO take his'6wni lie after realizing
tho horrible deed he had committed.
He was brought to tbfs city and placed
10 the Alexandria Tnfftmary under guard
1t was some weeks before he was declared
city Jail. 81 ! g
On May 8 Thomas,in Company with foui
other prisoners, escaped from the Jai, by
cutting a hole through the roof. He was
| subsequently, arrested frp WasbIn rton and
returned to Ills old quarters. The in iuries
inflicted upon Mrs. Thomas by her inhuman
husband were OF u most serious nature and
her life held by thread for months. Her
| skull was fricturcd. and DR.. Jones yesterday
testified that her health was permanently
| injured
Mrs. Thomas testified in courtptliat on
the morning of the trouble her husband ha d
called 10 get his clothes. and that while ON
the second floor OF their home, he had
accused her OF Being ubtrre To him, a nd
| repeated statements which he said he had
| heard rega riding her intimacy with Charles
| Cochran.
He slapped her and then DISCHARGED a
pistol at her, after which she knew i,uthing
more. Thomas, In LIS testimony, stated
| tnat he had been repeatedly advised
| that his wife was untrue to him. He
stated that he went 10 New Jersey in De-
ccnber last and returned home about the
loth OF February. That when his wife
first saw him she said:
Il cau't see what brought yuu b,ck.~
On the second night after his arrival she
said: why don't you get an oyster boat
and go down the riverr'
Tie also claimed IL have caught her
hugging and kissing Cochran, anu that sne
washed the iatter's clothes, while she re-
fused 10 wash her husbands. He accused
his wife OF drinking and using snuff.
Though be had heard all these things
about his wife, he testified that he was
not mad or excited when he visited his
home on the fatal February morning. ana
had no recollection of what occurred, in
their bed room after he grabbed hold of
her arm and struck her with his haHc.
The only other important witness in the
case was Mrs. Lucinda Dean. who heard
the blows struck and the pistol shots. She
was on the lower floor and ran iuto the
street. Mrs. Thomas, when she appeared
III court yesterday. was in a very weak
condition. while her husband seemed to be
in excellent health and laughed and chatted
Ia n a H~l-.
inonwealth was represented by Mr.. Leonard
Aarbury. while afr. Gardner l.. Boothe ap-
penred for the prisoner. The jury was
out for about three hours when they
came in and reported that they had
agreed upon the guilt OF the prisoner
but were divided as to the term OF i'm
prisonment between five and seven years.
They were returned to their room, ar:
In about two hours fixed the punishment
at five years and six months.
In the corporation court yesterday the
case gaiDst John Nelson. for the theft of
gambling parnpiIernaiia. which had been
captured In AFRAID at bis place. in the
county. and storrdfin the Old courthouse
in this city,, was -ebnsinned until July &. j.
R. Flanagan OF wRyhington was admitted
10 practice in tits COURT and liquor licenses
were granted to j. sTt Cook. and tile
steamer Harry Randall.
The closing exercises OF wasbin gton
Public SciioOl tUok gplaoe. yesterday. In
the tenth grade. certificates OF dietinc>
ton were warded, TO-. David Graham,
Harry b. Quinn. William Rodgers, and
Eiwin c. Schneider ninth grade. Erwin
Bruce, Carlin r. Cxeightou, Charles W.
EDtwtsic. Harris FEankiin, r. Winfield
Jones, JOHN A. LannUn, Samuel Martin
George c. Minnigerode. Lawrence wush-
ington. and Maurice wilkins; eighth Grade.
Robert Bartlett Harry, L. Beach, william
Butler. Augustus Creighton. Carleton L.
Crymes. q. Bra wDer, FISHER, Frank HeisIey,
Courtney e. Houck ENieibcrt Mfihurp.
Benjamin McBurney. Samuel W. Pitts,
Frank Pollard. and Frank williamson. The
uperintendent'smedaif for '98 was awarded
TO David Ora nam. and that OF 80 to Mel
vilic W. LINDSEY. In Washington school
the CarliD medal for greatest Improvement
in mathematics was awarded to Harry L.
Peyton. Honurably mentioned; Charles
Wbeatcy. Ben iamin WEeaticy, Milton Carlir,
Robbins Simpson. Henry Steiner, nd Abram
Smytlie.
writ OF certiorari In the case OF the WASH
ington Southern Railway Company VS.. the
city council OF Alexandria. This was an
,ction TO force the city council to reduce
he assessment on the company's tracks
which had besu placedas Sl2 900 per mile. |
I'M which that body had refused to do.
The Judge iE rendering his opinion called |
itsentien to the separate assessment by |
,he State and city, and said there was no |
aw to warrant this procedure, and called |
ittention to 500 OF the code, which pro-
tides for the entry OF both assessments in |
me book
In the police court yesterday william |
for assariting a man na,ne5 /
,arter. was fined So; Richard Fay, for
conduct and contempt OF court.
vas fined SIP; Joseph Level, coIored.
or assaulting his father, was fined SO.
In the county court yesterday the case
u John Nelson, charged with the murder |
u Deputy Hines, at Jackson City, was
,ostponed, oD account OF the illness of |
Attorney johnson. No
late was fixed for the trial
The closing exercises of St. Mary's
academy will take place at Lyceum Hail
his morning.
The tug Eva Belle Caine broke her shaft
While on her way from Washington to
his city yesterday evening.
The report circulated that the late George
Washington committed suicide Is indiS.
lantly denied by his family and friends.
1t fs understood that the local trains on |
he Pennsylvania railway between this
ity and WashingtoB will be discontinued
fter July 1. -se
Nine tramps were arrested last night by
'fficers Beach and Young and Special
'fficers Turner and Loving for disorderIy
onduct and trcspassing on the Southern
ailway Company. The hobos had keg
4 beer. and were having Large evening,
'hen surprised by the officers.