Evening star., 1902-08-11
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
CONTROVERSY OVER INSECURE
CONDITION OF THE JAIL.
Councilmen Cited to Appear Before
Court in September to An
swer Rule-Briefs.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 7O1 King St,
Bell Telephone No. 1O6,

Dell lSltplUIt ANO. lVo,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, August IL, 1902.
For some years past the jail in this city
has been in such a dilapidated condition
| that prisoners have escaped with apparent
ease. The Jail inspectors repeatedly report
ed the unsafe and generally insanitary con-
dition of that institution to the corpora
tion court and their recommendations were
referred to the city council for action, but
no steps looking to the improvement of the
Jail were taken, and finally, several months
ago, Judge C. E. Nicol of the circuit court
took hand in the matter and issued rule,
returnable on September 1, requiring the
members of the city council to show cause
why they should not be declared in con-
tempt of court in failing to discharge their
duty in regard to the Jail. Shortly after
this rule was issued council made an ap-
preparation to be applied to the jail i'm
provements, but the work has not yet been
started, and so far as known no arrange
ments have been made to begin the repairs
in the near future. All of the members of
the council will have to appear in court at
the September term to answer the rule is
sued by Judge Nfcol
Long Police Court Docket.
Mayor Simpson had the usual Monday
morning array Of Sunday evil-doers before
him in the police court this morning. Rob-
inette johnson, colored, was up for the sec
ond time in three days, charged with lun-
acy. She was turned over to her relatives.
Mary Pearson and Mary Rich, both col
ored, had appeared at headquarters stimuli
taneously, and each accused the other of
the theft of a bed sheet. There seemed to
be no choice, and they were both locked up.
In court they were persistent In their coun-
ter-charges, and the mayor imposed a fine
of 81. so on each.
Henry Washington, colored, had taken
French leave of the chain gang, but had
been overhauled by William Travers the
overseer of that institution. Twenty days
We're added to his original sentence, and a
ball and chain will have a tendency to hold
him until he serves his time out.
Alonzo Travers a soldier from one of the
forts below the city, forfeited s. which he
had left as collateral when arrested Satur-
day evening for being drunk and disorderly
on the street.
Robert johnson, colored, had been arrest
ed on complaint of Nellie Wright, who al
legged that he had assaulted and beaten her
He forfeited s. by falling to appear to an
SWer the charge.
Dock Ray, who is said to have been a
policeman In Washington at one time, took
| fall out of a soldier named Bert Summers
Saturday night. When his case was called
left as collateral was declared forfeited.
Money matters, with Ray on the short end,
are said to have been at the bottom of the
disturbance. When the officer arrived on
Downey, young white men, attempted to
interfere with him in the discharge of his
duty, and they were also taken into Gus
tody. This morning they were charged
with disorderly conduct and assaulting an
officer, and were fined $40 each.
A soldier who said his name was Frank
"Whskey," but later changed it to Frank
Hance. was fined $40 for being drunk and
disorderly.
Thomas Gibson, colored had preferred
charge Of assault against his wife, Katie
Gibson, but withdrew the charge before
the case was called and she released
Lille Stewart, colored accused Howard
and Sarah Banks, colored, with assault,
alleging that the former had drawn a pis-
| tol. From the evidence it appeared that
the two women had engaged in a row, and
| they were fined So each. The man was
| dismissed
Health Board Active
| If plans now under consideration by the
| board of health are found to be feasible.
the question Of the ownership Of foul alleys,
! which has given the board considerable
trouble, will shortly be settled. The board
| some time since condemned about twenty
alleys as menaces to the health of the
| community and requested the city council
to make the necessary improvements. Sew
| eral members of the council, however in
| cllned to the opinion that nearly all of the
| alleys in this city belong to the owners
| Of the abutting property and that said
| property owners are responsible for their
| condition IT, after due investigation the
! health board finds that the position taken
| by these councilmen is a correct one the
| grand jury will be asked to indict every
| one who does not at once abate the nuis-
| ances which now exist. The health board
| 1t is understood, has determined that Alley
| andria shall be one of the cleanest cities in
| Virginia, and work with that end in view
! is now in progress.
General and Personal.
Rev. Father NJ. J. Ahern the assistant
rector Of st. Mary's Catholic Church, who
has been under treatment at Providence
Hospital, Washington, for some days past,
| is improving rapidly.
| The Woman's Auxiliary Of R. E. Lee
Camp. Confederate Veterans, will meet in
regular monthly session in Lee Camp Hall
| tonight at 8 o'clock
| Miss Dora Varney has returned from Lig-
mum, Culpeper county where she has been
| the guest Of Miss Purifee Walker
| The Alexandria Light Infantry will hold
meeting tonight at o'clock for the pur-
| pose of electing a second lieutenant to sue
| ceed Mr.. Julian Y. Williams who resigned
several weeks ago.
| During the second mass at ST. Mary's
| Catholic Church yesterday Rev. Father w,
CASTOR Payne of Clifton Forge, Va, blessed
four handsome stained glass windows
Which have recently been placed in the
church to the memory of the late John T.
| Hill, Dennis Buttermore. Mrs. Edward
| Quinn and Mrs. I. N Scott. Father Payne
| preached an interesting sermon.
|