Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-11
Report Of Grand Jury in Matter Re-
ferred by Court.
JUDGE NORTON'S COMMENT THEREON
Proceedings Of Council in Final
Meeting Of Summer.
GENERAL AND PERSONAL
Evening Star Bureau.
No. 701 King st.
Bell Telephone No. LOG.


ALEXANDRIA. Va. July H. 1900
1t was almost o'clock yesterday even
ing before the grand jury in the corpora
ton court made its report. The jury had
been in session for two days. considering
the matter of the failure of corporation
and police officers to arrest ]. Thomas
Beckham. jr., for whose apprehension a
capias had been issued The language of
the jury's findings was as follows:
1.-The grand jury at this term of the
corporation court for the city of Alexan-
dria respectfully report to the court that
they have carefully examined the witnesses
| in the matter of the failure of the officers
| of this court and of the city of Alexandria
| to apprehend ]. Thomas Bechham. jr, a
| man under indictment for felony in this
court, and. while they do not deem it ex-
| pedient to make any formal presentment.
| 1t has become painfully evident that a very
strange and most woeful lack of harmony
exists between the officers of the court
| and those of the city of Alexandria, which
| has directly led to what the grand jury
| must regard as very strange miscarriage
| of justice and failure to perform duty.
In evidence of which we herewith file the
notes of the evidence taken before US.
I'VE further suggest as a means Of put-
| ting an end to such an anomalous con5 ton
| of fairs that hereafter the city sergeant.
| In whose possession are placed all orders of
arrest from the court notify the maynr of
the city officially that the police MAY have
proper Information and orders to make ar
rests of all parties indicted IN the courts.'
| signed G. William Ramsay, foreman.
The Judges Remarks
| After Mr.. Ramsay had read the paper
| Judge Norton addressed the jury, saying he
| had given certain instructions, which the
| report showed. had been ignored He said
| 1t was the duty of the jury to ascertain
who, II any, were the guilty parties in the
matter under consideration. instead of re-
! porting on an alleged evil with recommen-
| dation for its remedy. So far he was
| concerned, he sad, he knew o. no i'll fee ing
| between his court ard the mayors office.
| nor DID he know of any law compelling the
| city sergeant to report to the mayor in the
manner suggested.
Judge Norton's remarks were replied to
| by Foreman Ramsay, who vigorously de-
! Tended the action OF tire jury. The Judge
| took the evidence. which was in writing
under consideration. and it is sad he may
impanel special grand jury for a new
hearing.
City Council Meeting.
| The city council held its final meeting for
the summer last evening, adjournns until
| the second Tuesday in October The ac-
| ton of most interest to citizens generally
was the election of police commissioner
| 10 represent the frs ward fer four years
Inc candidates Were MIR Noble Lindsey
the incumbent. and Mr.. Fora HILL BY a
vote of Il to II Mr.. Hi was chosen. This
adjournment.
The finance committee reported favoraoy
on the bill of Corporation Attorney Gardner
l.. Bootne of 500 for legal services in tho
case Of the city council against the Wash
ington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Roll
/ road Company, and the report was adop: ed
The finance committee also recommended
the reduction Of assessments from 81 500 TO
sl,2D OF the property of VIM. O. Tomlin,
JOS South Fairfax street which was adopt
ed An adverse report was made on Tho
7
OF taxes on Oronoco street property. A
resolution from the genera; laws commit
tee was adopted directing that committee TO
have prepared an ordinance regulating the
/ removal of garbage. An ordinance was
/ celVed from the general laws committee
amending an ordinance TO require tie
Washington. Alexandra and Mt Vernon
Railroad Company to place fiagmen at The
intersection of Wilkes and ROYAL streets
King and Royal streets and Washington
and King streets
1t was proposed to postpone a consdera-
ton. but Mr. Lawler. The patron of the
measure, strenuously objected The COM
mttee was relieved from further consdera-
ton and the ordinance was adopted by a
vo:e of 10 to l. In the board of aldermen
the measure was laid the table 1t car
ried the provision tina. the company there |
in named would be liable to fine of s. or
not more than SO for each failure 10 COM
ply with its requirements.
somewhat acrimonious and tedious dis |
cussion was psecip:ta:ed by the report of
preparation of 5000 for paving KING street
between Royal and Fairfax streets with
Ntrliled brick on a siX-inch concrete base.
Finally the chair called for the question
and on motion the report was referred back
% the committee.
resolution to appropriate $500 for
srave.lng Payne street from Cameron to
Queen was laid on the table The sum of
so was appropriated to purchase a type
writer for use in he city engineers office
A resolution was adopted appropriating
clIrbi0pS a he
rers Of King and Columbus. Columbus and
Cameron, Royal and Cameron, Cameron
and Fairfax and Henry and Prince streets |
The sum of $40 was appropriated for re-
pairing an alley between Fairfax and
Union, King and Cameron streets.
The committee on public property recon-
mended the appropriation of $2iJ to com
n!ete improvements at the Columbia en-
CINE house and the report adopted.
The sum of $40 was appropriated to com
p,ete improvements at the Hydraulion en-
CINE house. Mr. Burke offered d resolu-
ton. which was adopted. appropriating $500
for the laying OF an eighteen-inch terra
Gotta pipe from King street south or Wash |
ington street to the alley north of the
First Baptist Church. 500 in addition be-
ing subscribed by residents.
The sum of 500 was appropriated for
repairing Queen street between Washing
ton and St. Asaph streets. after which
common council went into session with the
board of aldermen and elected VIM. Fora
Hill member of the board of police com
mSSionerS.
United States Court.
At noon today Judge Edmund Waddin
opened the summer session of the United
States court for the eastern district of Vir-
gina in this city. a grand jury was i'm
paneled for the investigation of several i'm
portant cases. At this term of court Gus |
Dorsey, colored, will be tried an ndict- |
rent for breaking into and robbing the |
pNst office at Lovettsville. Dorsey, ii is |
understood, is wanted by the police at
other points on criminal charges
William Richards Of Newport News will |
also be placed on trial, the charge against |
him beiEg that of counterfeiting 1t is al |
legged that in Newport News he confessed |
to handling hundreds of spurious nickes. |
A number of witnesses from his town are |
here to testify for the government.
Last Rites Performed.
The funeral of Mr. Benedict Wheatley. |
whose sudden death occurred Sunday took |