Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-09
FR0M WANHlNGTON.
least
TCorrespspdenoe OF the Alexandria Gazette. J
Washington. August 3:

claiming damages for bogus injury
sustained by the former. Semmer mas
his arm Ia sling and plaster cast:
He confesses that he has collected
money from street railway companies
10 other cities for injuries that we're
purely imaginary but asserts that last
Friday, the day be claims his arm was
broken on one OF the Metropolitan cars,
he was hurt 10 earnest. The police
claim that Semmer and Kupperoerg
operate together, the one as toe lu-
inred man aud the other IS the witness
Who saw the distressing accident. Iney
board the car at different points ana
when there Ia q blockade or some
a ,currepce that gives them chance 10
cork their scheme without attracting at.
,ention. Simmer falls to the ground ana
screams "My arm Is broken" Kupper'
berg PUSHES forward, Gays that be saw
n alp and begins TO aouse toe motor
man for mis- "carelessuess." Then 10
dsv or 40 the claim agent OF the rosd
receives notice that unless something is
done for the unfortunate victim, he viii
enter suit for $1,000 or some other tidy
sun. The company here was about 10
compromise when their detectives
learned of the twain's operations from
a man whom Semmer and Kupperberg
approached with proposition that ne
| enter their conspiracy. A railroad com
nanv in Boston is said to have been VIC
timjzsd by the pair and one 10 Baltimore
has a suit on hand brought by the man
With the much broken arm. The men
will be tried 10 police court Tor con-
spiracy.
The threat OF certain labor oreaniza-
tons to institute quo warranto pro,
ceedipgs against Attorney General
Knox. alleging that be has not done
his duty 10 falling to take steps under
the antitrust act against the steel
trust, is ridculed at tue department. OF
Justice. Attorney General Knox Is
absent In New York, but others con,
nected with the department talked
freely on the matter today. In the
first place, they say, quo warranto pro
ceedipps will not hold, because ny quo
uarranto Il might be determined by
what right thing Ia done, but never
wby a thing is not done. Nor would
mandamus proceeding lie, because the
courts would not, they say, permit one
man to place himself in the position OF
another aud undertake to decide what
he should do within the discretion al
lowed him by the law. The proceed
log threatened by the labor men pre-.
supposes that the steel trust Is trust
in violation of the federal law, that the
Attorney General knows this to be
fact, and that Notwithstanding ne has
refused or failed TO take action under
his oath. The complainants could not
possibly establish this claim, the de-
partment officials say, and even If they
could, their remedy then would lie 10
charges and removal from office. NC
official information on the subject hes
| been received, and no official reply is
| therefore deemed necessary.
| A bulletin issued today by the census
bureau shows the population Of
Mississippi by sex, general nativity
and color. The foreign born element ID
fye.tenths one per cent. The negro
population Is 58 per cent. oil the
whole.
The stock brokers report that the
market opened very strong, but soor
became inactive.
Sue Miller Shepard, grandniece o
President Madison, was sent to 81
Elizsbeth's asylum yesterday. Unit
recently Miss Shepsrd's home had beer
at Harris Creek, Amherst Co, Va.
where Tor several years che had lived
in almost abject poverty. Her friends
finally found her i'll and famished and
cared for her. AT effort was made tC
have her placed in some benevolent
institution in Washington but no oDe
of sufficient influence could be found &c
take interest in Miss Shepsrd's case
She was brought TO Washington By
friends where she improved somewhat
out during the recent hot spell she wa:
overcome while at the Capitol aad since
then has been possessed OF many
strange decisions. She believes thai
she is to be burned at the stake and
electrocuted aud begs everyone che
sees for chlorof0rm to relieve her suf'
ferings. Miss Shepard's father was
Amb .ose Madison Shepard, son o.
| Elizabeth Conway Madison, daughter
of the President. Miss Shepard is AZ
wears of age and was highly educated
and accomplished woman.
The guubost Mschias, which Ia to &c
to Colon to protect American interests
on the Istbmus of Panama, is expected
to arrive at Hampton Roads Sunday
when she will get her orders to proceed
south. It will take the Machiss about
ten DAYS to reach Colon. In the mean
time the battleship Wisconsin will
probably be sent to the isthmus on the
Pacific side. At the Colombian lega'
ton the belief is expressed that the re-
ports OF fighting on the isthmus and In
other parts of Colombia have been
greatly exaggerated.
John T. Atkins and Samuel Mot
lev, OF Uniontown, Pa, were picked up
by the police shortly after midnight
They were handcuffed together. At.
kins says that he was on the way Ia
Prince Edward county, Va, taking
Motley who is insane, to the latter'f
home In that couoty. The pail
was obliged to remain over Digh'
10 Washington while waiting fol
the train. Atkins says he wished to see
little Of the town, and as he did mol
dare to leave Motley alone, thought the
best plan would be to hsndcuff himself
to his charge and take him around with
him. When be wished to return to bis
hotel, Atkins lost his way. The mer
were released this morning aud contiu
ued on their journey.
Reports OF iorty-seven Virginia banks
to the Comptroller OF the Currency al
the close of business July Is, shows
loans and discounts OF s23 ,5S5. 135; indi
vidual undivided deposits, S2S. 657 ,6S4
average reserve held, 24.13 per cent.
| The NAVY danartment has received ,