Evening star., 1902-01-16
DIR. Reed, Specialist.
AT FAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
WILLIS PETTY. CHARGED WITH
CRIME, RELEASED FROM CUSTODY.
Prosecuting Witness Refuses TO Tes.
tify Against Him and Case Noiie
Prossed-GeneraI News,
Evening Star Bureau.
No. To1 King Street.
Bell Telephone. No. lO6.

Bell Telephone. No. l06.
| ALEXANDRIA, Va, January lS, 1902.
Willis Petty, whose life was sought a few
months ago by an angry mob here. is now a
free man. Immediately after Judge ]. h
NJ. Norton opened the corporation court
this morning Commonwealth Attorney
Marbury moved that the case be nolIe
pressed. He held in his hand a letter from
Mrs. Roberta Payne OF Fredericksburg. Va,
who had caused Petty's arrest on the
charge Of attempted criminal assault upon
herself, the contents CT which communica-
tion, he said. IL true. made It necessary fer
the commonwealth to move for a dismissal.
Judge Norton stated that he had read the
letter whereupon he caused nolle rros
to be entered. In Mrs. Payne's letter she
declined to appear against the prisoner
Petty has been in confinement awaiting
trial on the charge since August 2a last.
The night after his arrest he would un-
doubtedly have been lynched but for the
prompt action of Mayor Simpson I'm hurry
ing him out of town that afternoon. He
was kept for some time in the county Jail
at Fairfax Court House.
1t Is matter OF general comment here
that the sequel of the case has proved an
emphatic rebuke to the spirit Of mob law.
Funeral of Mrs. Jones.
Funeral services over the remains Of Mrs.
Virginia Jones. whose death occurred while
on board a steamer at Nagasaki, Japan,
December IL last, took place this morning
at 1880 o'clock at the residence of Mrs.
Leef on Upper King street. Rev. DR..
George l. Hunt of the First Baptist
Church conducted the services. Interment
was made in the family lot in the Metho-
dist Protestant cemetery.
The deceased was the wife of Capt. Jones,
Z. s. N, now stationed at Cavite, Philip
pines. She was on board transport bound
for America when death occurred. About a
year ago she left this country to join her
husband in the Philippines. but the cli-
mate there did not agree with her and she
decided to return. She was formerly Mrs.
Powell. daughter Of Mrs. Jennie Wright
Of this city.
General and Personal
Cards have been issued for the marriage
of Miss Leta Jane Coleman, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Granville Coleman OF Brandy,
Va. and Mr.. Milton W. Spindle. also OF
that place, which will occur Wednesday
evening, January %. at Z o'clock in Fleet
wood Chapel Brandy. The bride-elect has
many friends in this city, and Mr., Spindle
is well known among business men here.
Miss Rehecca c. Crouch and Mr.. Edward
c. Reeves were quietly married yesterday
Methodist Episcopal Church The cere-
mony was performed by the pastor, Rev.
j. A. Jeffers.
The regular monthly meeting of the
u
last evening. There was no business Of
Importance. and after the reading of the
minutes and a brief discussion of police
matters the board adjourned.
The Right Rev. Bishop Gibson of Rich
mond will visit this city Sunday. February
o. when he will administer the rite of con-
firmation at Grace and Christ Episcopal
churches -sE -
Miss Halle Chichester of Falmouth, Va
who has been visiting relatives in this
city and in Bethesda, Md, returned to her
home this morning.
In the corporation court yesterday Judge
Norton oyerruled the demurrer to the in
dictment in the of Don p. Hurley.
charged with the embezzlement of funds
from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany. and the case was continued until the
next term.
At the annual meeting of the A. F. Fox
Company of Washington. held in this city.
the following directors were elected for the
ensuing year., A. f. Fox, E r. Fox, b. Z.
Kelly, N. r. Fox and ]. F. Kelly.