Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-25
LEXANDRIA AFFAIR S
Two Young Men Charged With Taking a
Watch.
Held for the Grand Jury-L0ral Notes
of All Sorts From Down
the River.

his gold watch in the White Chapel dis
trlct. The police went to work on the
case. and Wednesday arrested Ernest
Travers. After being locked up for some
time he told the officers that he had pawned
the watch at Hugh Strider's secondhand
store for 81. and that ]. T. Beckham. ir.,
had given him the watch in Fleischman's
saloon Wednesday, and had asked him to
secure 81 Oh it for Mr. Smoot. which he did.
The case came up for trial last night in the
police court. which was crowded. The COM
mOnweaith attorney looked after the in
terest Of the commonwealth. John NJ. John
son represented Mr.. Beckham and John H.
Green Mr.. Travers.
The first witness called was Mr.. Smoot,
who stated that Tuesday he had been
drinking, and at the salotn OF Daniel Hen
~, on North Fairfax street, he was in
company with Beckham, Travers. Berthe
Stokes and a number Of other men and
women. after which he went to the house
of frankie Folsom and went upstairs. Some
time after he missed his watch, and he re-
ported 1t Immediately to Lieut.. Smith. He
further said that he was drinking at the
time and could not say who took the watch.
Officer Ferguson then testified that Joseph
Ewall had told him that he had seen TRAY
ers looking for the watch in the yard OF
the Folsom woman. and that upon mat
information he arrested Trayers. He fur
II er said that rravers told him while he
was taking him to the station house that
he would get the watch provided he gave
Kim SO Lieut.. Smith was then called. He
stated that between II and l O'Clock Tues
dy night he was awakened at MIS- nome by
a knock on his door. He raised the window
and saw Mr.. Smoot. who told him that he
had lost his watch.
He got up and went out, and at Dan.
Henry's he saw Travers and had talk
with him. He then searched for Bcckham.
Lut cid not see anything Of him. He then
went home. The next morning ne again
saw Travers. who told him that Mr.. Stri-
der had the watch. He went to Dir. Stfi-
der's place. and was told by MIR. Strider
that he haC given the watch to Capt. Web
Ster.
Officer knight stated that Travers had
told him that he had pawned the watch at
Strider's place for 81. BERTHE Stokes testi-
fled to TIE fact that Smoot. Be- khan.
Travers and herself were at Henry.s sa-
Icon, and that she had seen Mr.. Smoot
with his watch while there. She stated
that the above named parties left Henry
saloon to go to her house. She said that
on the way to the house Beckham had
pulled her away from Mr.. Smoot. saying
that he was friend of Shoots. When the
house vas reached she, Smoot and Travers
vent upstairs. and Beckham left. and she
did not see anything more of him.
After they had been up stairs for some
time, Mr.. Smoot sent Travers after a pint
of cocktail" Mr.. Shoots coat and vest
we're then on the chair. Mr. Smoot asked
her what time 1t was. When she went to
look at his watch it was gone. She went
and secured the assistance of Officer Will
kerson. Upon her return to the house
TTavcrS was about to strike SmOOt with a
bottle and she took it away from him.
Mr. Harry Fleischman, Fora Hill and
Norfolk Kirby testified that they were in
Fleisc hmans saloon with Beckham and
Travers on Wednesday morning. but did not
see any private conversation. Travers then
took the stand in his own behalf. He said
that Tuesday night last he was in Danl
Henrys saloon with Smoot. Beckham and
the two women. drinking. All left together
to go to the Folsom WOman'S house. Some
time after they arrived at the house Beck
ham told him that he had thrown Mr..
Shoots watch in the grass. He then went
up stairs. where Mr.. Smoot was. The rext
morning he met Beckham at The Fleisc;,-
man saloon about II o'clock, and Reckham
asked MIN to pawn the watch for him.
which he did. giving Beckham the ST. He
said he gave the watch to Hugh Strider.
MIR. Beckham then took the stand. He
said that on Tuesday afternoon, at the
corner Of King and Washington streets Mr..
SmoOt approached him and said that he
was going to house on North Lee street,
and asked Beckham to come after him in
about an hour and bring him up the street.
He did as SmoOt requested him When he
arrived at the house beer was ordered.
Mr.. Smoot. who was drinking good deal,
said he was tired, and went upstairs and
laid upon the bed. He then left and went
to Henrys saloon. About two three
hours later Mr.. Smoot came to the saloon.
Two women began fussing over Smoot. and
he endeavored to get Mr.. Smoot to go
home. He would not do so, and left with
Trayers and the two women. He then
said that he followed them and endeavored
again to get Mr.. Smoot to go up the street
with him
He went as far as the house. but Smoot
would not leave with him. He said he did
not go into'the house. but proceeded to the
station house. where he requested Sergt.
Smith 10 go with him and bring SmOot up
town. He then said that ne went up the
street and did not know anything of the
watch being gone until the next day when
he went to the station and went with the
officers on a searching tour. He said that
he had met Travers by accident the next
morning at Fleishman's saloon. but did
not have any conversation with him. Left
with Fora Hin and did not see Travers
again until last night at the station house.
Hugh Strider. who Is charged with re-
ceiving the watch. said that Travers came
to his place on Wednesday morning abou,
s O'Clock and asked him If he wanted to
buy good watch and wanted to borrow ~
cents He left, and later he came into mis-
piacs again and had several bills in his
hand and asked If he had q set of harness
Ter sale. After hearing all the evidence the
mayor sent Travers. Beckham and StrideI
| on to the grand jury. They were release.
on $50 bond each.
Police Report.
Mayor Thompson disposed of the follow.
| ing cases last night and today: Thomas
| Cupid. charged with assault on Reuben Nc
| CURE, was fined 50: Jno. H. Ballard, as
| sault on George Haney. fined s.; Thomas
| Rouse. drunk and disorderly conduct, fined
| 81: Turner Jackson. assault upon Jno
| Green fined s..
Notes.
| Mr.. Chancellor the bookkeeper of E. I
| Miller & Co, in passing through the alley
| adjoining their store, recently damaged b,
| fire. was struck on the head by q crat,
| thrown from an upper story by workmeI
| engaged in repairing and cleaning up tn,
building. Mr.. Chancellor fell insensibl
| from the blow. He was taken up and car
ried to his home and medical assistance
| rendered by DR.. Miller. The injury is no
l considered serious.
An alarm of fire was sounded last nigh
1 at 9:30. The entire department responded
| The report soon started that the new tow
| of West End. occupied by the employees O
| the glass factory. was on fire. This proved
| however, untrue. The dwelling of Mr.
| John Cats proved to be the building
There were no fire plugs to which the en-
| gines could be attached and. therefore, the,
| rould render little no assistance sTh