Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-23
OBJECT Was TO MAKE THEIR ESCAPE
Story of a Row Told in Police
Court.
GENERAL AND PERSONAL
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 101 King Street,

| bold dash for liberty at the city jail late
| Saturday afternoon, and but for the timely
l assistance of Alexander Rowe colored the
| attempt would probably have been success
| full. Jailer Machen HammiI. who was on
| guard, had occasion to enter the Jail for
| the purpose of looking after some of the
| prisoners. When he opened the door lead
| ing into the rear corridor several prisoners.
| led by Dorsey. jumped upon him. attempt
| ing to secure his keys. Hammill was over
| powered, but managed to make cutlery just
| as a pair of brutal hands fastened about
| his neck. The noise made by the captive
| jaiIer proved a fortunate circumstance, as
| 1t attracted the attention of several prison
| ers on the upper floor. Alexander Rowe
was the first to respond. When he reached
| the gang the lower floor Hammill was
| completely at the mercy of his captors, but
| was still clinging tenaciously to his keys.
| Rowe, who is a powerful man, grappled
with Lorsey and finally knocked him down.
| The fall of their leader discouraged the
gang, and another prisoner assisting, the
| entire party was soon securely confined.
Dorsey, who was responsible for the
| outbreak, bears bad reputation. He was
| arrested Thursday last, charged with
| burglarizing the post office at Lovettsville,
| Loudoun county, Va. Deputy United
| States Marshal Joseph Glover brought him
| here from Washington, and United States
Commissioner Fowler committed him to
| jail, pending trial. Alexander Rowe, who
| did such good work in assisting the jailer,
| Is awaiting trial, charged with having par
| ticipated in an Illegal sale of a horse and
| buggy.
Prominent Citizen Passes Away.
Funeral services over the remains of DR..
j. W. Bechtel, whose sudden death occur
| red Saturday night on the steamer Wash
ington, en- route from Old Point to this
| city, will take place at 1880 o'clock tomor-
row evening. Wednesday morning the body
will be forwarded to Newport, Pa, for in
terment. The intelligence that Dr. Bechtel
was dead proved great shock to the COM
munity. To his wife and daughter who
were awaiting his return, the blow was
very severe. The dead mans body, when
the steamer reached here yesterday morn
ing, was placed in charge of Undertaken
Wheatley and prepared for burial.
DR.. Bechtel left here several days ago for
Cape Charles City to attend the session of
the State Council, Junior Order United
American Mechanics, being the representa-
tive of Alexandria Council, No 80, of that
fraternity. After the session closed he
visited friends in Berkeley. Norfolk and
Portsmouth. Saturday evening, when on
his way to take the steamer for home, he
discovered that he had only a few minutes
in which to reach the wharf. He ran rapid
ly for long distance, and when the boat
was reached he was in an exhausted con-
dition.
DR.. l.. Savage of Washington was pas
senger and gave the sick man attention,
but all efforts We're futile, and Dr.. Bechtel
expired about an hour out from port.
The deceased was well known in this sec
ton of Virginia and Washington as a no.
| meopathist. He was about forty-six years
of age. Although having been q resident
of this city for less than ten years, Dr:
Bechtel was among the most esteemed and
influential citizens. He came here from
Newport, Pa. He a consistent and
active member of the Methodist Church.
A delegation from Alexandria Council, Jr.
o. L. A NJ, composed Of Messrs. j. r. N.
Curtin and J. H. Trimyer, will accompany
the remains to Newport.
Results of Shooting ARRAY.
The details of general row which oc-
CURED last night in an eating house kept
by Ben Lucas. colored. on North Fayette
street were heard before Mayor Simpson
in the police court this morning. Matilda
Lucas. wife Of the proprietor, was in the
dock and Sarah Parker appeared as COM
plainant. According to the evidence, the
trouble originated in a quarrel between
George Parker and Ben Lucas. A fight
ensued, in which Parker was shot in the
head by some one with double .barreleG
shotgun; Sarah Parker had her head cut
with bottle, Ben Lucas was badly cut
the wrist and Ollie Keith sustained severe
bruises on his head. physician, who
was called in dressed George Parker's
wounds, from which he had not recovered
sufficiently this morning to appear In court.
Matilda was assessed s. for her share of
the disorder. AS Parker RECEIVERS
Ben Lucas will be arraigned to answer the
charge of shooting him
James Self, charged with assaulting Jas.
Beale, colored, was fined So.
Alexander Robinson, colored, charged
with indecent conduct, was assessed $40,
with thirty days on the gang as alternative.
The Board of Health.
Mayor Simpson called meeting of the
board of health this morning, with a view
of effecting a more complete organization
than has heretofore existed in that body.
OF the nine members only two responded
Messrs. Samuel Mankin and Capt R. H.
Misunderstanding with Health Officer Jul
liam L. Miller. who is ex-officio president
ing declined to act, the mayor appointed
Mr.. w. H. May to fill the vacancy. subject
to ratification by council. The board will
meet again tonight at 7:SO o'clock. at the
call of Mayor Simpson. when another effort
will be made to effect better organization.
Wert-LnRerty NuptiaIs.
A quiet marriage ceremony took place
last evening at the parsonage Of St. Mary's
Catholic Church. Miss Florence Vert Of.
this city becoming the wife of Mr.. Joseph
Lafferty of Orange, N. J. Rev. Richard
Carne OF Richmond officiated. The bride
is daughter of Mr.. Richard w. Vert Of
this city, and the groom is general de-
livery cieTh at the orange post ounce. MI.
and Mrs. Lafferty left last night for their
future home in Orange.
Military Road Case Postponed.
The case Of the commonwealth against
Howard P. Marshall was called before
Judge ]. M. Love. in the Alexandria county
court. sitting at Fort Myer Heights, this
morning, and was postponed until Novem-
Der "a. The suit involves the ownership of
what is known as the Military road, ex-
tending from Arlington cemetery to
RosSlyn.
General Notes.
Miss Meta Owens died yesterday morn
ing at the Alexandria Infrmary of typhoid
fever The deceased was twenty-three
years Of age. Her funeral will take place
Tuesday morning from her late residence,
on Gibbon street between Alfred and Pat
rick streets.
Judge c. E. Nicol opened special term of
circuit court in this city at II o'clock this
morning. The term was set for the express
purpose Of reopening the Daingerfeld will
contest case That controversy. however,
was not reopened, as the ntigants reached
an agreement out Of court. as before stated