Evening star., 1897-02-24
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
The Webstsr-Smith Case stirs Up Feel
ing.
The Citizens of Alexandria Severely
Mayor Thompson.
Evening Star Bureau.
No 121 North WASHINGTON St,


Alexandria, Va. February "a, 1897.
in the police court yesterday. when Sergt.
James T. Smith and Officer William Fergu-
son were suspended from the police force
for thirty days each. has caused a great
stir among Alexandria people. The result
of the trial of William Webster was pub
lished in The Star yesterday. 1t was gen.
orally understood that while Constable
Webster was the accused. Sergt. Smith and
Officer Ferguson were really trial.
The last words of Officer Ferguson had
hardly left his mouth before Mayor Thomp-
son announced that the case against
Webster was dismissed, and Sergt. Smith
and Officer Ferguson were suspended for
thirty days each. The commemorative at
torney was not even allowed to sum up
the evidence, and no witnesses were put on
the stand TO refute the testimony offered.
While 1t was predicted in The Star at
the time of the recent effective policy raid
by Sergt. Smith that that officer would
lose his lead" the people generally did
not think it would come in such a manner.
and on every street corner the matter is
being discussed and the mayor harshly
criticised.
There is a movement on foot by several
prominent citizens to take the matter up
before the city council, and 1t is rumored
that an effort will be made to impeach the
mayor for 'ncompetency, as, 1t Is alleged,
the police affairs have been in a turmoil
ever since he has been at the head of the
office.
The police commissioners are non-com-
initial in talking of the matter, though 1t
has leaked out that there will be called
meeting of this body as soon as Commis-
sioner Tackett returns to the city. Com
missioner Lindsay said: IF the men could
be tried on the charge of characterization
why can't Chief Webster be tried for con-
duct unbecoming an officer?'
The police force in this city. as has been
stated many times in The Star. is in
very much disorganized condition, and
prominent citizens on all sides express
themselves as being tired of the whole mat
ter, and want 1t settled If every officer
on the force from the mayor down has to
be discharged.
County Board of Supervisors.
special meeting of the board Of super
visors of Alexandria county was held in
the county court house in this city yester-
day. The meeting was called to consider
the matter of making an appropriation for
opening a new road for the proposed ex-
tension of Prince street to the Leesburg
pike. the county court having already
ordered the new road to be opened. Col
onel Francis l.. Smith and Mr.. A. w. Arm
sci for those who desired the new road. and
Mr.. John NJ. johnson for those who op
posed 1t. After long session. during
which the matter was fully discussed, the
decided that they would make the neces-
sary appropriation upon the condition that
the city council order the extension of
Prince street.
VIII Go to the Penitentiary.
Joseph Clark, the young man who was
recently convicted in the corporation court
for an attempted assault on his twelve
year-old sister-in-law, Ida Jenkins, and
who was sentenced to nine years in the
penitentiary, and who was granted stay
of sixty days in which to carry his case
drawn his application for the stay and
viii! go to the penitentiary as soon a
guard from that institution comes for him.
City Council.
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the
city council was held last night with a
bare quorum in each body. Little or no
business was transacted, and the meeting
adjourned without any new business be-
ing introduced
Police Court.
Mayor Thompson this morning disposed
of the following cases: Frank Payne, ar
rested upon the charge of stealing a pis-
tai from Charley Keys; dismissed. Chis:
Muciatti. an Italian fruit vender was fined
81 for pushing his cart on the sidewalk.
General and Personal Notes.
the manse of the Presbyterian Church,
for the benefit Of the organ fund OF that
church. Quite neat little sum was real
lied.
A large delegation of the Daughters Of
America of this city went to Washington
last night and visited Mespeh Council of
that order.
The regular meeting Of NJ. B. Corse Camp.
Sons of Confederate Veterans, was held
in their hall on South Fairfax street last
night. Only business of a routine nature
vas transacted.
Prof. Dobbins and wife of Boston will
give gospel song service illustrated with
stereopticon views on Friday night next
In the lecture room Of the NJ. p Church.
The Home Telephone Company Yesterday
opened communication between this city
and Manassas.
Mr.. Joseph Iden, well-known citizen.
died at his home on Oronoko street YES
terday.
Misses Lydia and Della Gotch of STAN
ton, ILL.,. are the guests of Mrs. ]. II. Nav
ior at her home on Duke street
A slight fire occurred last night at the
residence of Mr.. Robert Elliott on South
st. Asaph street, caused by the oyerturn-
ing OF lamp The damage was very
slight. way