The times., 1897-07-24
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA
Verdict for the Defendants in the
Webster Damage Suit.
Remains of Mena Kersey Taken To
Her Late Home-Leg Broken
in Street Fight.

Today's session of the corporation court
was consumed in the tIiai OF the suit Of
William Webster against William 3. SmOOt,
SeIet. Smith and officer Ferguson for S10.-
000 for alleged defamation of character.
The plaintiff was represented by Messrs.
John H. Green and Edmund Burke and
the defendants by Messrs. John NJ. john
son and s. G. Brent. The circumstances
leading up to the suit have been hereto
fore fully published in The Times, 4 copy
OF the paper containing the accounthav
been presented by plaintiffs counsel in
court today.
The prosecution placed a number OF
witnesses on the stand 20 prove that from
statements H,ade by Sergeant Smith, Mr.
William B. Smoot was lead to believe that
a watch, which had been stolen from his
brother, Harry Smoot, was in the pos
session OF Mr.. Webster, who was CON
stable, aud who had been working to
recover the lost property. 1t was alleged
that on the information furnished by the
sergeant, Mr.. Smoot wrote a letter to tue
former, in which he stated (referring TO
previous oonversationl, that "he believed
Smith was right when he said that Webster
had the watch After argument, the
case was given to the jury at 7;45. After
being out about an hour a verdict for the
defendants was rendered. An appeal was
noted by counsel for Mr.. Webster.
The body of Mena Kersey, who died at
the Alexandria Infirmary last night from
the effects of being burned by the explosion
of a can of coal oil, was removed from
Undertaken Wheatleys establishment this
evening 70 the home of her parents, on
South Royal street. The funeral Will take
place from the Second Pres byterian
Church Saturday afternoon at O'Clock
Mrs K erscy, the mother of the little victim,
is Frustrated by the shock. Engineer
Charles Kersey, who was down the river
at the time of the accident, was advised of
theoccurrence today when his boat ached
GlyInont by Mrs. E. s. Randall. who went
down in the Lowe Randall to break the
sad news to the father. The meeting be-
tween the mother and father of the child
this evening was most pathetic The in
3uries receiv ed by Mr.. Harvey Kersey, who
attempted to save his little sister 5 life. are
serious.
4 fight occurred about 8 o'clock to-
night at the corner of King and Henry
streets between Winter Crupper and John
when q dispute arose and blows fol-
lowed. Crupper landed a powerful blow
above the left eye of Simms, knocking
him down. In falling the latter broke
his left leg at the ankle He was taken
| to the police station and, after being
attended by DIT. Miller, was removed tc
! the Infirmary. Crupper was arrested by
/ officer Roberts.
| The condition of Mrs j. E. Wright
| the old lady who was terribly burned by
| the explosion of q gasoline stove last
night, was thought to be improved To
night and hopes for her recovery arc
now entertained.
| Mrs William Cleveland, well known old
| resident OF Fairfax county, died at heI
home near the Theological Seminary last
night.
The funeral Of the late R. H. Moore will
take place from st. Mary's Church tomor
row morning at 10 o'clock. The body viii
| be placed in a vault.
Itisstated that Mr.. Charles Guessendoffer
will be appointed agent of the Adams Ex
! press Company in this city to succeed the
late R. n Moore
The body of young Mundheim, who was
drowned In st. Georges Creek last Sunday
was taken to Washington today ON the
/ steamer Arrowslnith.
II is just announced that Mr.. Thoma.
H. Speaks and Miss Flora Hudson of Wash
| ington, were married at the parsonage o
| Trinity NJ. E. Church in this city on the
! 10th inst. by Rev. L. I. McDougle.
The new Tontine Hotel will be "opened'
| tomorrow, and the public will be enter
tanned at the expense of the new manage
| ment.
The schooner John Proctor, from Windsor
| n. S., with plaster for this port, and which
it was feared had been lost, has arrived
here. The vessel encountered terrible
storms.