Evening star., 1898-08-12
AZ AIRS IN AL EXANDRIA
Securing Information About the Dead James
Hoffman.
improvements to City Streets and
Other Local Notes of Gen.
eral Interest.
Evening Star Bureau, 727 King Street,

ALEXANDRIA, Va, August Il, 1898.
Mr.. B. Wheatley, to whose establishment
James Hoffmans remains were carried,
has made all possible effort to secure in
formation concerning the deceased. This
morning Mr.. Wheatley received letter
from James Boyd, soap manufacturer of
New York. which establishes the mans
identity The writer states that James
Hoffman a soap maker, was known to him.
His description suits the dead man exact
ly even to the fact of his using hair dye on
beard and hair The letter also states that
Hoffman had been out of work for long
time; that he had no friends or relatives,
and when last seen by the writer was
without any means of support These
facts about end speculation as to the man
ner of his death, and establish the theory
of suicide. The body will be inferred today
in potter's field.
City improvements.
The committee on streets met yesterday
in the city engineers office to consider the
n after of paving King street with Vltrtned
trick and the matter of changing the rails
on said street used by the electric railway.
Bids were opened from Washington and
Baltimore contractors but their prices were
considered too high, and no contracts Will
be awarded until the bricks are tested
A petition, signed by large number, 10
have the rails char ged, was presented 10
the committee Mr.. James r. Cation, at
torney for the company, and Mr.. ColV1n,
superintendent, set forth the fact that The
rails were the same as those used in most
cities, and moreover, that they were almost
as good as new. But the commlttee oe-
cided to require the company to lay i'm
proved rails on King between Fairfax and
Royal streets FOR the present, and later On
1t is understood that the entire King street
track will be fitted with new and improved
tails.
Police Notes.
The first case before Mayor Simpson this
morning was that of Ella Thompson,
white woman, arrested by Officers Willlin-
son and Proctor on n charge of disorderly
conduct. She was fined s..
Annie Fisher, white woman, arrested
by Officer Iyles on a charge of using
abusive language, was dismissed.
Annie Whiting, coIored, was arrested by
Officer Ferguson on the same charge The
evidence showed that she had been very
abusive and profane on the street. and the
mayor imposed fine Of s..
Catching straGglers.
Sergt Thos. Hulfish of Company F, Sd
Virginia Regiment, with a provost guard,
was in town yesterday searching up mem
bers Of the Sd who had left without leave
or whose passes had expired. Several were
found and will be carried back to camp
under arrest.
Brief Mention.
Tonight at O'Clock the republican con-
vention will be held in Serepta Hall. I'm
portant work is before the convention, in
asmuch as no name has been decided upon
for the congressional convention the 31st
instant.
Dr. Lewis Greene, assisted by Drs. How
ard and Gibson. yesterday performed very
difficult operation on Mrs. Cranford's eyes
at the infirmary. Mrs. Crawford is doing
well this morning, and 1t Is believed the
operation will be entirely successful.
Mr. John T. Callahan, who has been Ill
with fever for some time past, has left for
Round Hill to recuperate.
Mr.. Clinton Smoot's and Mrs. {. c.
Snoot's family left this morning to spend
the balance of August at Capon Springs
Rev. ]. T. Williams was at home last
night, but will leave again this morning to
preach at the Loudoun camp.
The river Is much swollen from rains on
the upper branches, and its rapid, turbid
current is sweeping down a lot of drift
wood. 1t is not expected, however, that 1t
will rise enough to do any damage.