Evening star., 1897-04-28
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
Incendiaries in Fairfax Caught in Alex
andria.
Interest I'm the Lewis Trla1-Inqulry
Into the Lynchins Fails-sev-
eral Small Fires.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. so King St,
Bell Telephone, No. JOG.


Richard, alias Dick Burnett, George
Chichester and Edward Jamerson, colored,
were this morning held by the mayor for
the Fairfax county authorities upon the
charge of arson. Last night, as Sergt
James T. Smith was posting his squad for
the night. he was met by George Cniches-
ter, who told him that Burnett and Jamer-
sen had set fire to the stable of Constant
Ponnett in West End, about one-half mile
southwest of this city, in Fairfax county.
The sergeant Immediately began a search
for Jamerson, and in short while succeed
ed in locating him. He placed him under
arrest and locked him up at the station
house. Sergt. Smith, accompanied by Chi
chester, proceeded to the scene of the fire.
where he found everything Chichester
had described it. Upon returning to the sta
ton house, Jamerson made a full and COM
pete confession, in which he said that
Burnett, Chichester and himself yesterday
afternoon went to the dyke, about three
miles west of this city, on a fish fry On
the way they stopped at the home of Bur-
Eetts father-in-.aw, Henry Englehart, just
tie otner side of Ponnetts, to get some
thing to drink. While there Burnett had
fuss with Mr.. Englehart. They then pro-
eeeded to the dyke. While there. Burnett
made the plan to burn Ponnetts place.
which adjoins that of his father-n-law's s.
and secured the services of Chichester and
himself
They then returned to Burnetts place.
near the stone bridge. and shortly after s
o clock last night they left there and went
up the track of the Southern Railway
Company. When they arrived near Pom
netts place Burnett went to q railroad car
and secured a lot of oily waste and gave il
to Chichester and himself. He described
the route taken to reach the stable. The
i,rst match went out. he sa!d, and Chiches-
ter gave him another, and he lit that with
better success. for in a second the whole
place was abiaze. They were given pre-
iiminary examination before the mayor
this morning, but owing to the stable be-
ing situated in Fairfax county they were
held fer the Fairfax county authorities
SerSt- Smith, in his testimony, described
meeting Chichester, his arrest of Jamerson
and Burnett and his Investigators Chi
chester, who had been summoned as a wit
ness. was then put on the stand He de-
MED having assisted Jamerson in setting
fire to the place. He said that he went up
the railroad with Burnett and ,Jamerson,
and that ne sew Burnett get the waste
ana ne also saw Jamerson Set fire to the
stable He said that he was afraid to give
any alarm, as Jamerson was heavily arm
ed, and he was afraid of his life. He then
tod OF having come to the city and told
MI William BraIner and Mr.. Richard Al
kin!on Of what mad been done. These gen
tlemen. he SAID, advised him to report the
case TO the police, which he did
Janierson IS a well-known negro charac-
ter. having only short while ago COM
pieted sentence in the penitentiary for an
assault and robbing Sefer Blouse. a saloon
Keeper at the head of King street Both
Chichester and Burnett are well known to
me police, faving been arrested on several
5, serleus charges Burnett was not put on
the stand at all. Commonwealth Attorney
NJ Marbuiy looked after the states end of
the case and Mr.. Sam'l G. Brent and John
H. Green represented Chichester and Bur
nett. Jamerson had no attorney.
Interest in the Lewis Case.
A great deal of interest is being taken in
this city in the case of James Lewis. who
assaulted Mrs. Riedel on Rose Hill farm.
five miles southwest of this city All dav
yes erday and late into the light the streets
in and around The Evening Star bureau
were thronged with persons reading the
bulletins from Fairfax Court House. which
were received and displayed every half
hour. While the case. waSrfn progress since
early morning the crowd has been as great
as that OF Yesterday ard a great deal of
81 rprise and Indignation is openly exnress
ed at the two juries not being able to reach
a decision. When the bulletin was posted
this morning that an unsuccessful aItemnt
mad been made to lynch Lewis the excite
ment was intense. A large crowd has loft
here today to be in attendance on the third
trial which commenced at . o'clock TODAY.
The Star is being highly complimented on
all sides Tor the manner in which it has
given the public the only reliable news di-
rect from the court room.
Fires Yesterday
The ire department were kept quite busy
yesterday responding to fire alarms, none
CT which. however, did much damage. The
flrst alarm was sounded at u o'clock and
was caused by the partial burning of a
house on Henry street between Queen and
IDr;n y,
ly burned off. The second alarm at 3:3O
o clock was caused by the burning of a
stable in West End. belonging to Mr. c. w
Millen. This fire had gained such headway
before the fire department arrived, how
ever, that it was entirely DESTROYED The
apartment did splendid work in preventing
the flames from spreading to the adjoining
buildings. The third alarm at 0 O'clock last
night was caused by the burning of the sta
BILE of Constant Ponnett, which was only
partially destroyed. Damage about $50.
Corporation Court.
The following business was transacted in
the corporation court yesterday. Judge J.K.
NJ. Norton presiding:
Administration upon the estate Of the
late W. II. Laycock was granted to w. o.
Laycock.
Administration on the estate OF Glenn
Dorsey, colored, who committed suicide in
this city short while ago, an account of
which appeared in The Star, was granted
TO r. II. Lyles, colored.
Three liquor licenses were granted
Met With Little or No Success.
AS stated. Col. G. Percy Hawes and Mr..
Brown, his stenographer, reached this city
Monday night for the purpose of investi-
eating Thursday nights lynching. He was
sent here by Gov. O'Ferrall. The colonel
had interviews with Mayor Thompson. the
heads of the police department, Common
wealth's Attorney Marbury and others.
Nothing further than what has already
been published was obtained. 1t Is said
that he became thoroughly convinced that
he would be unable to obtain any further
Information than that already published.
and that he has gone back to Richmond.
Died Mt the Inhrmary.
Henry Brown, a weil-known old coIored
man. died at the Alexandria Infirmary last
night He was found at his home on North
st. Asaph street yesterday afternoon, about
3:3O O'Clock, In an unconscious condition
The police were notified, and they in turn
notified DR.. Julian Miller who had him re-
moved to the infirmary. 1t is thought that
Brown received a stroke of paralysis, al
though the doctors were unable to say
what was the matter with him. He never
regained consciousness from the time he