Evening star., 1897-01-22
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Police Commissioner Trying to Keep News
paper Men From Headquarters.
Considerable Criticism ON the Hesolu-
Other Interesting News.
Evening Star Bureau.
No. 12l North WaehinRton street.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. January 20, 1897.
There was a star chamber meeting Of the
police commissioners last night to transact
routine business and to investigate the ale
CATION In a Washington morning paper that
Chief Webster had refused to issue war
rants against policy shops when so re-
quested by Sergt. Smith some time before
the raids of last week were made. No one
was allowed to hear the proceedings except
Capt. Webster. Sergt Smith, Mayor Thomp-
son, Police Commissioners Strauss, Bryant
Lindsay and Talbot and the witnesses
Capt. Webster had asked to have the in
vesisation made publicly, but his request
was not granted. Ex-Mayors Beckham
Downham and Strauss, ]. B. Watkins, Jas
Patterson, George A. Mushbach, Herbert
Samuel B. Brent were summoned as wit
nesses- Sergt. Smith denied ever having
said anything similar to the allegation pub
nshed. The reporter stated that he had
made the assertion unwittingly and had de-
MED 1t In a subsequent issue
The outcome of the investigation COM
pletely vindicated Chief Webster
rule making all officers responsible for
passed.
sergt. Smith was commended for his re-
cent raid.
An order was issued that in future all
'mavOr
office and must be filled in by either the
mayor. chief, lieutenant or sergeant OF no.
nee Ihls order is said to have been made
because Sergt. Smith had his warrants
filled in by Justice Pelton.
A resolution calling the attention Of the
officers TO the rule excluding members of
the press ard others from police head
quarters except during trials was passed
Ihis rule has never been strictly enforced.
This Will work a hardship on some of
I fhoy- =
deal OF news by remaining at the station
house All deaths, accidents, fires and mat
ters of the like kind are telephoned to
headquarters, and in this way the reporters
are able to get many bits of news that
they might otherwise miss. No action was
taken toward keeping newspaper men out
OF the headquarters until The Stars very
effective scoop on the Alexandria papers
in the matter of the big policy raid
Newspaper men talking over the matter
this morning say that as Mayor Thompson
Is foreman of ar Alexandria newspaper
composing room and also acts as one of
It's reporters the order should also be made
10 apply to him. and that he should either
resign as mayor give up his connec-
uon with the press. AS it is. the rule works
against only certain members of the press
and not against all.
There is a good deal Of adverse crti-
cism of this action of the commissioners
which was taken. It Is said at the suKges-
tion of Mayor Thompson
prominent city official said to Star
reporter this morning: Il can see through
that order. They are mad because The Star
got ahead in that policy business the other
day They won't keep me from going in
there whenever I want to- and don't you
forget it,
Death of Rev. Fields Cook.
Rev. Fields Cock, a welhknown colored
minister of this city, died at his home on
Prince street near Fairfax yesterday after
noon. after short illness.
The deceased was born in King William
county, Virginia, where he resided until
after the war, when he went to Richmond,
where he was ordained a minister. He
moved to this city about twenty-five years
ago, where he has resided ever since. He
vas pastor Of Ebenezer Baptist Church at
the time of his death. The deceased was
In the eightieth year of his age. and a
brother of Jim Cook, the famous barkeeper
of Richmond. who was well and favorably
known throughout Virginia.
A Case of Destitution.
Late yesterday afternoon information
John Williams and his wife, who live in
the cabin Of a pungy boat near Hunting
Creek bridge, were sick and in destitute
Officer Roberts was detail
ed to investigate the case, and when he
arrived at the habitation Of the couple he
found them without food or fuel and the
woman Ill with pneumonia. Williams stat
ed to the officer that they had been without
food for several days. and that he had been
urable to secure the services of a physician
or obtain medicine for his wife. Officer
Roberts reported the case to the authori-
ties. and their Immediate wants were re-
heved As the couple live outside OF the
city limits. the case will be reported to the
Fairfax county authorities.
Charter Granted
Judge ]. K. NJ. Norton Of the corporation
court yesterday granted a charter Of in
corporation to the New Era Mineral Com
psny, the objects of which are to buy and
operate minss and quarries and to carry on
business of dressing and selling stone
The capital stock is $4,000. Mr. T. c.
Ste wart of Washington is named as presi-
dent and Mr.. X. Kemper Of this city was
named as local agent of the company.
Police Court.
Mayor Thompson this morning disposed
OF the following cases in the police court:
Camp Sillings, charge. drunk and disorder
ly: forfeited s. collateral. Turner Jackson,
colored, charge. promoting policy. contin-
ued until o'clock tonight. Randolph
Javins, charge. suspicion of robbinR Car
roll Wood; dismissed for want Of evidence.
Charles Lucas. colored, charge, disorderly
conduct; dismissed for want of evidence
Death of Mrs. Summers.
Mrs. Amanda Summers. wife of John W.
Summers. and daughter of the late David
G. Watkins, formerly the best-known mil
Ter Of this section. died about o'clock last
night. in the f1fty-third year Of her age.
She leaves three children. The cause of
her death was pneumonia
HOdnett Again.
John Pope Hodnett. who figured In Wash
II gton for several years as founder Of the
United Labor League OF America, has be-
gun suit in Brooklyn. N. Y, against City
Clerk Benjamin for e 800 alleged to be due
TO him for services as worker in the cam
paign In which former Mayor Schteren was
elected.
Van Rlswick VIII Case.
The trial Of the Van Riswick will case
was adjourned yesterday afternoon nv