Evening star., 1902-02-03
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRA
JURY FINDS NJ. A. OSBORNE CAME TO
DEATH By SUICIDE.
Fire Destroys Old Dominion Glass
Factory-Change of Railroad Of
fciaIs-General Matters.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 781 King street,
Rell TelephOne No. lO6,

Bell Telephone No. lO6,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, February 3, 1901.
A coroner's jury. summoned by DR.. Wm
r. Purvis, met this morning in the under
taking rooms Of W. Demaine & Son, in
King street, to investigate the circum-
stances connected with the death Of NJ. A
Osborne, a travelling salesman from De-
catur, ILL.,, which occurred Saturday even
ing about 6 o'clock at the Exchange Hotel,
North Royal street. The jury which was
composed Of George Bryan, Richard Glib
son, Frank Creighton, e. Warfield, jr., E.
F. BirreIl and Ernest L. Allen, decided that
Osborne came to his death by suicide,
hanging being the method employed. A
number Of Witnesses were examined. Os-
borne, who represented a manufacturing
firm, came to Alexandria on January 26.
He had been drinking to excess, 1t was
said and for a few days before his death
had been suffering with melancholia. The
proprietor of the hotel thought Osborne
needed medical attention, and DR.. Hugh
Mcguire was asked to call upon him. Ma
guire reached the hotel shortly before u
o'clock. Upon going to Osborne's room he
found the latter lying on the bed with his
| face down. A hasty examination revealed
that he was tied by the neck to the bed
| stead, small twine eleyating his head and
| chest above the pillows. The doctor imme-
| diately cut the cord and used artificial
means for restoring respiration, but in vain.
|
| He was said to be southerner by birth,
| and he was heard once to remark that his
father was a colonel In the confederate
| army. His relatives were communicated
| with and the body was sent back to his
| former home over the Chesapeake and Ohio
| railroad this afternoon.
Early Morning Fire.
| The fire department was called out about
| o'clock yesterday for fire at the plant
| Of the Old Dominion glass factory, just
| north of this city. Within two hours the
| entire plant was reduced to ashes. 1t Is
| supposed that the fire originated by the
| explosion of a gas pipe, connecting the
| gas works Of the company with the fac
| tory buildings. The loss is estimated at
| $1,000 with an insurance of $1,000 Two
| Watchmen were in the building at the time
| the fire started. They gave the alarm i'm
! media tely, but the flames spread so rapidly
| that nothing effectual could be done when
| tary of the company, Mr.. George Hopkins,
! reached the burning building in time to
| save one ledger from the Office. The off,
] GERS of the company have decided to re-
i build at an early date. In the meantime
temporary building will be erected. The
fire throws 100 hands out of employment.
Change of Railroad OniciaIs.
| Mr.. A. Gordon Jones, a former Alexan-
| drian, who has been in the west and south
| for number of years, has become super
| intendent of this division of the Southern
railroad. succeeding Mr.. NJ. j. OBrien, who
has been acting in that capacity since the
resignation of Mr.. E. Ryder several months
| ago. The latter went to the Chicago & AL
| ton railroad. Mr.. c.. F. Thomas, who has
been master mechanic of the southern
shops in this city, has gone to take charge
of similar position at Columbia. s. c.
| the change being made for his health at hi.
| own request. He will be succeeded by Mr.
s. T. Sproul of Columbia.
General Matters.
At meeting Of the Bachelor Club helt
| Saturday evening the following officer
were elected for the ensuing year: John s
| Beach, president; p. NICK. Baldwin, vic
. | president; Frank s. Harper, secretary
Julian Y. Williams, treasurer. These Off
GERS. with Henry Wiidt. constitute tn
board of directors.
The fair which was in progress at tn
y Alexandria Light Infantry Hail on Soutl
s, Royal street for ten days closed Saturda,
4 evening. 1t is expected that the profit
which will accrue to the company will b
e more than $1,000. In the award of prize
n Saturday to popular persons, Lieut.. Julia
:. Y. Williams of the infantry received
). handsome sword. Mr.. Robert Colvin, 70
his popularity as a railroad man, was pre-
d sented with a watch.
I The case OF John Green, colored charge
- with refusing to assist in the removal Q
!. property from the burning buildings of tn
8 Old Dominion Glass Company Sunda
l morning, was before Mayor Simpson in tn
police court this morning. The prisone
= | vas dismissed.
8 The funeral of Miss Alice Maxwell who's
e tragic death from burns occurred Frida
l. evening, took place yesterday afternoon &
= . o'clock, from her late residence, 223 Vol
street. The Rev, P. P. Phillips Of St. Paul
Episcopal Church officiated. The interme1
was in st. Pauls cemetery
A special sermon on The Triumph .
Christian Faith was preached last night