Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-03
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
Events of Importance Noted in the
Order of Occurrences: r


the oldest citizens died. as did also Mr..
Lawrence w. Corbett, a prominent repub-
lican. and the deputy collector of the port
of Alexandra under the Harrison admin
istration- January II, the sad death of lit
Tie Clara Armor, who had been accidentally
shot by her brother-in-law, occurred. The
same day Thurston johnson. Frank For
ster. John Clark. John Lully and John
Gamble were acquitted on the charge of
conducting gambling establishment in
alexandria county, after trial before
Justice Birch.
Thursday. the 18th of January Sergeant
Smith made his successful raid on the
policy and other gambling dens of the city.
as a result of which sixteen men went to
Jail. some for thirty and others sixty days,
with fine of from SJo to SD each. With
in few days after the raid there was a
mammoth mass meeting at the Methodist
Protestant Church. when the citizens COM
meEded the officers for their action. Rev.
Fields Cook. prominent colored minister.
died about the middle of January. Tues
day. January % Joseph Clarke was
rested. charged with having committed a
felonious assault upon little Ada Jenkins.
He was tried, convicted and sent to the
penitentiary for nine years.
February.
Early in February William Arlington and
John Henderson were sent to Jail for six
months each for robbing the store of Mr..
Were found in the cell of Harry Gambler
at the city Jail. Walter Donnelly. who
was sent to Jail for sixty days and fined
so. was pardoned by Governor O'FerralI
February 10. The 18th of February l.. II.
Thompson, who was at that time mayor
OF the city, directed that raid be made
on the immoral houses of the city The
cells at the station house We're filled to
Overlooking, but sudden check was put
on the movement and but little came of it
March.
Monday, March 1. Second Lieutenant AL
bert Bryan was elected captain of til.
Alexandria Light Infantry to succeed Cap
tain George a. Mushbach who had re
signed Harry Gambler. who had served
year in Jail for conducting a gambling es-
tablishment in Alexandria county was re
leased from Jail early In March The
evening of St. Patrick's day Sergeant Smith
ana offlcer FERGUSON were completely vim
dicated and ordered to be restored to duty
by the board of police commissioners, they
having been suspended for thirty days each
by Mayor Thompson at the trial of VIII
Webster, charged with having Harry
Smoot's watch in his possession. 1t was
at this meeting that the clash of author
1ty between the mayor and police COM
missioners began. the mayor having re-
fused to restore the men to duty. The
whole matter was referred to Judge James
Keith. president of the Virginia court of
appeals, and decided in favor OF the
police commissioners and the two officers
received their pay for the time lost by
them.
Saturday, April 3. Mr. Park Agnew was
appointed collector of internal revenue for
the sixth Virginia district. Early in the
same month there was a large democratic
demonstration and reception to Mr.. William
Jennings Bryan of Nebraska. Tuesday,
April Is. the community was shocked by
the news that a negro named James Lewis
had committed a criminal assault on Mrs
Ida Reidel. an aged lady, living near this
city Lewis was arrested in Charlottes-
Vile and brought to Alexandria, and later
taken to Fairfax C. H., where. amid great
deal of excitement, he was tried and con-
victed, and June suffered the death penalty
confessing his horrible crime before going
On the scaffold. Wednesday, April 90
George L. simpson was nominated as the
peoples candidate for mayor by the demo-
cratic party over the incumbent l.. H.
Thompson, and Richard II. Cox. The night
of Thursday, April "A, Joseph Mccoy. the
negro ravisher of three little daughters of
Mr.. Lacey, was taken by a mob from Do
lice headquarters and strung up to lamp
post The Saturday night following, all
Alexandria was up in arms at the report
that mob of negroes was marching on
the town TO ayenge McCoys death. The
Alexandria Light Infantry and about 1900
armed citizens Daraded the streets all
night but the mob. hearing of the prepara-
lions that had been made for its reception
failed to materialize. Toward the latter
part of April Judge d. NJ. Chichester for
many years judge of the county courts of
Alexandria and Fairfax counties. died after
a long illness, and commemorative Attor-
ney j. NJ. Love of Fairfax county was ap-
pointed by Governor OFerraH to succeed
him.
Early in May the corner stone for the
John Hay Industrial School was laid This
building Was afterward completed and was
dedicated July 4. The 18th of May Mr. D.
NJ. Steers, manager of the Home Telephone
Company, was publicly cowhded by Mrs
Lee Kirby The community was shocked the
morning of the 18th of May by the suicide
of Mr. Frank E Corbett. a prominent bust
ness man. and president of the Mount Ver-
non Fire Insurance Company.
The LIST of June charges of drunkenness
and conduct unbecoming officers were pre-
ferred against Sergeant Smith and Officer
FERGUSON, but the charges were not sus
tained and the men were hOnorably ac-
quilted. A disastrous fire occurred the
night of June =, when the old Pioneer Mills
Bryants Fertilizer Factory. Moore's Foun-
dry and a number of other buildings along
the river front, from Duke to Prince street,
Were destroyed. 1t was found necessary to
call on the Washington fire department for
assistance, and it took nearly the entire
NiSnt 10 get the flames under control.
July.
Thursday. July 4. Mayor George L. Simp-
son and all of the corporation officers in
c!LdinS the new members of the city coun-
Gil. were sworn in. The Sth of July the
trial of Pau blanchard, charged with the
murder of John Christensen. began in the
United States circuit court. Blanchard kill
ed Christensen the mate of schooner on
the high seas. Blanchard was found guilty
and sentenced 10 seven years Imprisonment
at Trenton. The 18th of July was the
eightieth anniversary of the organization
of the city council. Early in July the new
police boat Vigilant for the Washington
authorities was launched by the Messrs
Deane. contractors. The night of the Goth
OF July George Cleveland was shot by Mr.
+. ". Brawner. Mr.. Brawner was driving
UP Suffers Hill when Cleveland approached
Lis wagon. Brawner. believing the man
was trying to hold him up. fired at him.
Cleveland was found by the roadside the
next morning. He recovered after the loss
OF an arm.
August.
Early in August a prisoner named John