Evening star., 1901-12-23
ROCKVILLE AND VICINITY.
General and Personal News From
Montgomery County's Capital.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ROCKVILLE, Nd, December -. 1901.
As the time approaches for the convening
of the Maryland legislature considerable
gossip is heard relative to various meas
ures of Aocal interest which will probably
be acted upon by that body. The local OPP
tion question, which Is annually the sub
ject of much agitation, owing to the diff
culties attending the enforcement of the
present law, is uppermost just now. The
cent action of the Montgomery County Anti
Saloon League, in recommending more Sc
we're penalties for violations of the law, is
approved by many and opposed by some.
1t is said that a number of petitions Will
be forwarded in support Of the leagues
recommendation, while the opponents of the
local option law will endeavor to have the
question resubmitted to a vote of the peo-
pie.
Another subject of discussion is the pro-
posed alterations in the election law. All
parties agree that many improvements are
desirable. The great length of time re-
quired to count the ballots at the recent
election, in addition to a number of other
imperfections in the law, have had the ef-
feet of making it quite unpopular among
the people There is rumor abroad that
the democratic managers have decided to
frame law that will totally exclude the
| iliiterate vote.
There is a strong sentiment in this county
The use of money and other improper In
fuences have of late years prevailed to such
an extent, 1t is said, as to cause much
scandal in connection with the conduct OF
| primary elections. Many insist that 1t Is
| quite as important to prevent corruption In
| primary contests as it is in general cleo
tions.
During the present cold snap ice has
] formed on the creeks and ponds of this Sec
| tion of sufficient thickness to be stored
away for the winter. The ice harvesters
| are preparing to begin work Monday morn
! ing and will lay in their full supply. Ice IS
| already from five to six inches thick.
| At a recent meeting of the Rockville
| town council, Hattersly w. Talbot was
! elected mayor to fill the vacancy caused by
| the resignation several weeks ago of Spen-
Ger c. Jones, who resigned after having
| been elected a member Of the state senate.
! The new mayor Is thoroughly acceptable to
the people Of the town, being one OF its most
progressive and public-spirfted citizens, and
| is especially qualified for the new duties
| imposed upon him. He is a member of the
| Rockville bar, was formerly member of
| the state senate and now holds the position
of state immigration commissioner
| The annual season during which par
| tridges and rabbits could be legally killed
| or trapped in Montgomery county closed
| Friday, having been open since November
| 1. The local nimrods report excellent sport
| and state that sufficient game was spared
| to- well stock the stubbles and thickets for
next season.
terday given a hearing here before Justice
of the Peace Brewer upon the charge of as
sault upon with intent to murder Henson
Giddings, also colored, who resides in this
town. The testimony showed that the trea-
Bile occurred in Texas a section Of Rock
vile inhabited exclusively by colored peo-
pie; that Giddings and Ross became in
yolyed in a controversy over the formers
wife, resulting in Ross attacking Giddings
with hatchet, ,inflicting painful wound on
his head. The accused was required to fur
nish bail in the sum of 500 for his appear
ance at the March term of court.
Charles Offutt and William King young
negroes who were convicted at the No
yember term Of court Of an assault upon
William Riggs. an old colored man, were
yesterday sentenced by Judge Henderson
to ten and thirty days, respectively, in the
Montgomery county Jail.
The Rockville Assembly has issued inyi-
tations for its annual Christmas ball. to be
held in the Opera House here Tuesday
evening. The committee of ARRANGEMENTS
is composed of Messrs. Fred. Henderson,
Somerville Dawson. Albert Bouic. Walter
chaperons will be Mrs. H. F. Reich, Mrs.
II. A. Dawson. Mrs. William Dorsey and
Mrs. r. H. Stokes.
The young folks of PoolesviIle and vicin-
ity will hold their Christmas dance Mon
day evening in the Poolesvile town hall.
Mrs. Edward Wooton Mrs. Richard Poole
and Mrs William Hempstone are an
nounced as the patronesses.
The funeral Of Mrs. Elizabeth Ball VIII
son, who died Friday at her home near
Beane; this county, took place this after
noon from Mount Zion Baptist Church
near Beane and was attended by q very
large number OF the relatives and friends
of the deceased. The services were con-
Quoted by Rev. Thomas H. Campbell of
Rockville, and the interment was in Mount
Zion cemetery.
Deceased was seventy-one years of age
She was the wife of Osburn Sprigg Wilson
who, with four grown children survive her
Dropsy was the cause of her death