Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-01
law, applicable to the District of Columbia,

streets of the city, non-performance OF con-
tract being charged. Receivers were ap
pointed by the court to look after the
sweeping.
Several contested will cases. involving es-
tates of large value were begun.
Action of material character was taken
in the matter of street extensions Lesai
proceedings having in view the condemna-
ton of the land necessary for the extension
of several of the streets most neeoeu were
commenced. The cases were brought 10
standstill several weeks ago by the court
deciding 10 await an expected ruling from
the Supreme Court of the United states OH
a point that has an important bearing on
the cases now pending in the D1strlct Su-
prems Court. 80
Actions at law were instituted by Miss
Olga Nethersole, the actress against feV:
DR.. Thomas Chalmers Easton, pastor Oh
the Eastern Presbyterian Church, 10 re-
cover $4,000 damages for alleged slander.
The suit was later discontinued at the in
stance of Miss Nethersole, she being satis-
fed with an explanatory statement mace
by Dr. Easton.
cover $4,000 damages against Major
George A. Armes, retired officer of the
United States army. Sensational charges
were preferred.
placed on record the latter part of October
by Mai Lucy Lection. She charged breach
of promise Of marriage and named VIII C.
V. Sullivan, United States senator for Mis-
Among the lunacy cases heard was that
Of Joseph G. Dreamer, who had been per-
sonal friend of Attorney General Griggs
and a man of considerable wealth. He was
committed to the asylum for treatment.
Former Judge Thomas ]. Mackey of South
Carolina figured prominently in the court
charged with the duty of hearing lunacy
cases. He first endeavored to prevent his
young wife from being committed to the
asylum, and, it was charged. spirited her
away from the city. She was finally placed
In the asylum and Judge Mackey, after
long hearing, succeeded in having her lib
Grated. few weeks later he used his in
fuence in having her sent back for further
treatment.
DR.. Randall Parsons, well-known den
fist, was placed on trial last June under
an indictment alleging rape. The COM
planning witness was Miss Bessie Bricker.
The jury disagreed and was discharged.
Quite number OF defendants were tried
under indictments for murder. Charles J.
Ormsby, accused of killing Charles Golway:
William Sauer, held for the murder of
James Allen, and Harry c. Gray, indicted
for the murder of Rein O. Champion, were
acquitted. Wooster Johnson, indicted for
the murder of Emanuel Dodson; Mollie
Harris, for the murder of Alice Queenan;
Ella Wracks, for the murder of Isaac Hen
derson; William Stump, for the murder of
James Lee, and James Lanckton, for the
murder Of Mrs Bette Lee Wren. were all
convicted of manSlaughter They were
sentenced to imprisonment in the penften-
tiary for the following terms: Johnson,
ten years; Harris, four years; Wracks,
seven years; Stump, seven years and six
months; Lanckton eight years.
In the case of William NJ Alexander,
tried for the murder of Matthew Snow, the
jury, the 21st Of December, disagreed and
was discharged.
Olaf Palessen, who killed his wife, Joseph
inc Pallessen, and also little girl neigh
Dor, Julia Hengesbach, was convicted of
murder, but the verdict was qualified. Pal
lessen was sentenced to imprisonment for
life.
A similar verdict and sentence followed
the killing of Ida Jackson by George Ash
ton.
Arthur Landon was convicted of the MUIR
DER OF Henry Bradley and sentenced to be
hanged the 9th of July. The President,
however committed the sentence to i'm
prisonment for twenty years.
Benjamin H. Smell was tried and convict
ed OF the murder of Lizzie H. Weisen-
berger, and Nelson Vale was convicted of
the murder of Alexander jackson. Both
were executed.
The Court of Appeals sustained the iudg-
ment Of the lower court in the case of
Frank w. Funk, convicted of the murder
Of William H. Brooks. Funk was executed.
In the case of Charles L. McUin. who
killed Robert Turner, a verdict of guilty
was reported The case was appealed.
Inc Court of Appeals a few weeks ago
aihrmed the judgment of the lower court.
Mct-in is under sentence to be hanged jan
uary IL.
Executions.
Three men, convicted of murder in the
local criminal courts, were executed at the
District Jail during the past year. They
were Benjamin H. Smell, white, who killed
little Lizzie Weisenberger; Nelson Vale, an
old colored man, who shot and ended the
lie OF Alexander jackson, and Frank W.
Funk white, held responsible for the kill
ing of William II. Brooks.
Smell was hanged June 20, Vale, July 8. and
Funk November 9. Smell was man OF
committed the crime a clerk in the pension
bureau. He proceeded to the home of the
Weisenbergers early one Sunday morning
In August, 1880. and. with a knife, slashed
the throat of the little girl while she lay In
her bed The fall from the scaffold result
ed In almost decapitating the pondtrous
murderer
jackson was shot and killed by Nelson
vale while at Fort Reno, near Teneytown
Jealousy over woman was the cause Ct
the shooting.
The execution Of Funk was the climax Ct
one OF the most interesting cases in the
history of crime He was convicted in De-
cember, 1890. The case was taken to the
Court of Appeals, Judgment Of the court
below being affirmed. Then an effort was
made TO have the Supreme Court Of the
tnlted States consent to review the rec
ord, but without success. Finally an aa-
peal was made to the President of the
United States. Several separate dates were
set for the execution, the postponements
belnS made necessary by the state of the
legal proceedings In progress Funk did
not lose hope of at least a Communication of
sentence until the last moment
Sports.
Sports In the District of Columbia made
great strides Of development in 1900, and
but for the elimination of professional base
ball, would have been the most remarkable
in history. The reduction of the National
League to eight clubs brought about the
retirement of the Messrs. Wagner and the
Washington club, and as result enthusf-
asts over the national game had to depend
upon the Georgetown University and anna
teur clubs Of the District for entertainments.
An energetic effort was made to establish
an amateur league Of ball clubs of the Dis
tr1ct. Maryland and Virginia, taking in the
clubs from Rockville and Alexandria but
after a disastrous season the organization
collapsed.
The ball team representing the George
town University had another splendid wear
OF victories, winning a majority of games
from every college club that came to this
city. On the road the blue and gray made
nice record, but not equal to the one
attained on the home grounds
Horse racing scored its biggest hit in
local history at the Benning track, the
spring and fall meetings being rema rk-
| a he Oft