Evening star., 1901-10-23
AT FAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
ROBERT HOPKINS CHARGED WITH
SHOOTING WILMER GRIFFIN.
Prisoners Claim of Self-Defense-
Ordinance Passed by Council
Over Mayors Veto.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 701 King St,
Bell TeIppbope No 1OG

A large crowd gathered in the police court
room this morning at 0 o'clock to witness
the arraignment of Robert Hopkins. coll
ored. on the charge of assaultng Wilmer L.
Griffin, son of Policeman James Griffin
with a pistol Griffin was shot last night
about o'clock at the intersection of Wash
ington and Duke streets, and today he lies
In the Alexandria Infirmary desperately
wounded. Within about an hour after the
shooting Hopkins was arrested by Sergt.
Goods and Officer Belts and carried to the
station house
When the case was called this morning
Attorney George A. Mushback appeared for
the prisoner and asked for continuance on
the ground that he had not had time to
satisfactorily consult his client and to sum
mon witnesses. Furthermore MIR Mush-
PACK said he wished to await the result of
Griffin's injuries. Mayor Simpson decided
to ostpone the hearing until November 2
with the understanding that it could take
place carrier II the condition of the wounded
man shall permit
1t was stated at the infrmary this morn
ing that Griffin was doing as well as could
be expected. The attending physician, DIR.
Purvis, regarded the condition of the pa
tient as very critical. He was wounded by a
;5S-caliber pistol ball, which entered the
breast between the fifth and sixth ribs, Just
TO the right of the sternum, and, it is sup
Immediately after the shooting Griffin was
carried to a nearby residence and from
there he was taken soon after to the infirm-
ary.
Hopkins Claims Self-Defense.
The police station was notified and Off
GERS We're sent out to capture the assailant.
After procuring information to the effect
that the shooting had been done by Hop
kins, Officer Bettis and Sergeant Goods
went to the John Hay Normal and Indus
trial School, in the northern section of the
city, where the suspected man was en-
ployed as night watchman, and placed him
under arrest. He admitted having fired
the shot that wounded Griffin, but declared
that it was done in self-defense.
At the police station Hopkins stated that
ne met Mr. Griffin at the corner of Wash
1ngton and Duke streets, and was about to
pass, when the latter who according to
Hopkins, seemed to be very much under
the influence of liquor, stepped in his way
and demanded his name. This was given
and then, Hopkins said, Mr.. Griffin called
him a vile name and struck him stun
ming blow on the Jaw, which felIed him to
the ground. Hopkins regained his feet at
the same time drawing a revolver, which
he fired directly at his assailant. Griffin
fell and was carried off to a nearby resi-
dence, and Hopkins went down South
w ashington street to the house of Masn'ls
L. RoDlnSOn, from which place he went to
the Hay Industrial School.
The story told by the prisoner is slbstan.
tiated by eye-witneSSes of the affair. Sew
eral declared that Mr.. Griffin seemed to be
overcome by the influence of liquor, and
that he provoked the attack on Hopkins.
Mr.. Griffin is about twenty-eight years OF
age and is married. He is we'll known in
this city, where he has for long time con-
Quoted dairy business. He resided with
his family at the corner of Prince and
Fayette streets. Hopkins is about thirty
five years old and has always been regarded
as an inoffensive person.
City Council Meeting.
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the
city council was held last evening, with
President Sweeney presiding in the board
of aldermen. In the common council the
president Mr.. Paff, was absent, and Coun-
Gilman Uhler was called to the chair The
session opened at o'clock, when Clerk
Stansbury read a communication from
Mayor Simpson vetoing the ordinance pass
ed at the last meeting of the council
certain land near the old canal
locks to the Old Dominion Glass Company
After considerable discussion the matter
was passed over the mayors veto. In his
statement of his reasons for withholding
his signature from the ordinance Mayor
Simpson referred to the valuable conces-
SlonS already made to the glass company
to the large portion of land fronting on
the river which the company had permitted
to remain unoccupied, and to the advisa-
bility of holding the land in that section
for the purpose of Offering inducements to
other manufacturing enterprises. He Sug-
gested that the petitioners could easily ex-
change the half square of ground they
were not using for other adjoining land. In
conclusion he said that many of the men
interested in the company were his per-
sonal friends, but added that he was guild
ed in the matter by conviction Of duty to
the city.
Following the reading of the MAYORS
communication a petition was read from
the managers of the glass company in
which 1t was set forth that the company
was employing double the number of men
that had been at first anticipated and
stating that there was not sufficient ground
for the operation of the plant. This was
the originH petition on which council leas-
ed the ground in question.
Discussed Generally.
A general discussion followed, in which
Mr.. Snowden said that after investigation
he had ascertained that the city had paid
the sum of S3,1OO for the fifteen acres of
land near the old canal locks. Mr.. Bryan,
chairman of the finance committee, argued
in favor of the ordinance. He thought that
council was not granting the company any
concessions. Mr.. Burke thought that it
would be well to refer the matter back to
committee. Several other members made
statements in favor of the ordinance, and
it was passed over the veto by a vote of 10
TO D, those voting to sustain the veto being
Messrs. Uhler, Burke, Snowden, Rishejll
and Leadbeater. In the upper board the
vote was to 1 against sustaining After
this matter had been disposed of consid-
cradle routine business of an unimportant
nature was transacted and council ad-
journed.
General Matters.
The marriage of Miss Jennie Larmond,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Larmond
and Mr.. Alexander Slaymaker will take
place this evening at o'clock at the resi-
dence of the parents of the bride-elect, No
115 South Columbus street.
Several delegates and members of r. E.
Lee Camp. Confederate Veterans, have gone
to Petersburg to attend the annual reunion
of the Grand Camp of Confederate Veterans
for the state, which is being held at that
place. The meeting will last until Friday.
In the corporation court the will of the
late Miss Mary H. Miller has been admitted
to probate. Llewellyn Miller qualified as
executor. According to the will the estate,
valued at $1,000, will be divided among
the five brothers of the deceased
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