Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-24
Trial of Willis Petty Deferred Until
Monday Next
CHARGED With ATTEMPTED ASSAULT
Lynching Probably Ayerted by
Prompt Action of Authorities.
THE MAYORS FIRM STAND.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 701 King st.
Dali ToIopAona NJ TOO

If the crowd OF people who gathered in
| the police court room this morning when
Mayor Simpson took his seat at o'clock
expected to hear anything relating to the
case of Willis Petty, charged with attempt
ing to commit criminal assault on Mrs
Roberta Payne. wife Of Mr.. John H. Payne.
mention of which was made in The Star
yesterday, they were destined to disap-
pointment. Although the case was set yes
teIday for hearing this morning it was
not called and nothing was done publicly
| in regard to 1t. Petty was conveyed from
his cell at the police station yesterday
afternoon about 3 o'clock to parts
unknown to the public. 1t was GER
tain this morning that very few
people had the slightest idea as
to his whereabouts. Probably this infor-
nation was not possessed by any one in
the city except the mayor and the police
officers who were charged with his re-
movai
After the session of the court Mayor
Simpson was asked by a reporter for The
said 1t would be heard Monday morning at
o'clock. He added that DIR. Rittenour
the physician attending Mrs. Payne. had
given the opinion that his patient would
be able to appear in court at that time.
Her condition this morning was reported
to be somewhat improved The mayor did
not answer the question asked as to where
the prisoner had been sent. nor did he state
that Petty had been taken out of the city.
Alleged Attempt to Incite Riot.
An aftermath Of the excited attempts to
find Petty last night was the arraignment
of Cassius Bremen in the police court on
the charge of attempting to incite a riot.
Lieut.. Smith testified that Bremen had
stood on a small box at the intersection of
King and Royal streets and delivered
haranged before a crowd of three or four
hundred people. The lieutenant said that
Bremen was intoxicated, and that he ad-
dressed the crowd in violent and incendiary
language. attempting to incite his hearers
to riot. The mayor imposed fine of $40,
and announced that unless it was paid the
penalty would be thirty days service on
the chain gang.
Mayor Simpson gave positive instructions
to the police to fill the station house, il
need be. with persons who attempted in the
slightest way to create any disturbance or
to arouse any public excitement over the
Petty case. He said he did not propose to
permit any disturbance. and declared shat
offending parties would be summarly dealt
with.
The POpulace Excited.
AS late as 1 o'clock this morning crowds
paraded the streets of this city with the
ostensible purpose of melting out violent
punishment to Petty for his alleged crime.
Only the inability to locate the accused it
is declared prevented the would-be lynch
ers from carrying ont their design. Siren
uous efforts were made by the leaders of
the movement to trace the steps of the Off
GERS who conducted Petty out of the city.
But despite the most careful search the
whereabouts of the prisoner remained un-
known to the public and shortly after l
O'Clock the effort was abandoned.
About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the
prisoner was taken from his cell at the
station house by Policemen Young and
Beach and conducted to the corner of Pitt
and Cameron streets, where covered We
hicle was in waiting. Petty was placed on
the rear seat with Officer Beach and Officer
James T. Smith took the drivers seat The
conveyance was then driven OF. followed
for little way by small crowd.
Mayor Simpson decided upon the removal
of the prisoner after becoming satisfied that
it would be dangerous to keep him In the
city all night. Rumors that had been heard
in the morning of an attempt at lynching
became more general and Omnous in the
afternoon. Public sentiment was growing
against the prisoner, and the mayor deter
mined to take no risks. He therefore
ordered Petty carried from the station
house, and superintendent the arrangements
for his removal The demonstration Of pub
lie indignation last night proved the wis
dom of the action, which met with many
expressions Of approval from conservative
citizens.
Previous Lynchings.
Twice before in the past few years SINH
lar scenes have been witnessed in Alexan-
dria-groups Of men moving up and down
King street. some giving vent to their feel
ings by loud and threatening language and
others maintaining foreboding silence. On
both preceding occasions the public feeling
developed into organized and successful ef-
fort at mob violence Those who recalled
these times. in the parallel of last nights
events, saw no reason to doubt that Petty
would have been lynched il he could have
been found.
All sorts Of rumors were circulated as to
where the prisoner had been taken. Many
believed he had been conveyed to Fairfax
Court House for temporary confinement In
the Jail there. A telephone message was
received at The Star bureau from that
place stating that the sheriff Of the county
declared that he knew nothing whatever
of the matter. The statement was also
passed about that Petty had been placed
In the Alexandria county jail on Fort
Myer Heights, and many OF the more en-
thGsiastic advocates of the proposed lynch
ing began plans for journeying to that Jail.
But this scheme fell through as a denial
to the statement became current. 1t was
said again that the man had been convey
ed to Washington, but denial to this was
also received. A telephone message was
received at the station house after mid
night stating that crowd of men was on
the march to Alexandria from the direc-
ton Of the Washington and Ohio junction
In Alexandria county Taking with him
northern section Of North Washington
street and waited for some time, but the
expected visitors did not appear.
Evidences Of public excitement are dis
appearing this nothing but there seems
to be general Curiosity to know what
was done with the prisoner. 1t is assured
that the authorities will cover him with
as much secrecy as possible until the time
for his hearing. 3i1 -
General aud Personal.
The new democratic committee will meet
soon for the purpose Off organizing. The
body Is now constituted by the following:
Messrs. Oscar F. Carter. Champ Walker.
w. B. cobie. James H.; Wilkins. G. E.
Price, George l. Simpson, Charles Bend
helm and r. T. Cook rs
Funeral services COVER the remains Of
Mrs. Catherine S. Nowiand. who died
Thursday. will be held this afternoon at
5:39 o'clock. from the family residence on
South Fairfax street. Rev. ]. A. LETTERS Of
Trinity M. E. Church will officiate and the
interment will be made in Bethel cemetery.
Miss Sophie r. Bowie, who has been
spending the summer in Rappahannock
county, has returned to this city.
Miss Catherine L. Smith is visiting Miss
Mildred Shackelford near Brandy. in Gull
pepper county.
BAR ASSOCIATION ADJOURyS.