Evening star., 1902-08-01
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
SPECULATION AS TO FATE OF
JOHN HOMER.
Death of the Young Woman Who Had
Preferred Charge Against Him
General Items.
Bell Telephone No. 1O6-
ALEXANDRIA. Va, August l. 1902.
Evening Star Bureau,

ALEXANDRIA. Va, August 1, 1902.
Local interest in the trial of John Homer,
alias Lomax colored now confined in jail
in this city, which will take place at Mont
ross, Westmoreland county, next Tuesday,
has been augmented by intelligence of the
tragic death by accidental burning yester-
day of Miss Sousie Costenbader, who ac
cused the prisoner of attempted criminal
assault. What effect the sad fate of the
young lady will have upon the trial of the
case is not known, but it is said there are
other witnesses whose testimony will be
nearly what was expected to be related by
Miss Costenbader. 1t is said the effect of
her horrible death will be disastrous to
Homers chances of escaping mob VEN
geance. Without the evidence of the prin-
cipal witness, it is pointed out, it may be
impossible to convict the accused, and dis
charge by the court may follow, when the
indignant citizens will probably proceed to
summariy execute what they consider JUS
tice in the case. Reports from Westmore-
land Indicate that the feeling against the
prisoner is bitter.
AS the Alexandria Light Infantry has
returned home, it is thought likely that it
will be dispatched to protect the prisoner
during the trial. Last Monday, when the
Frederlcksburg company was ordered to
escort Homer, the Alexandria militia was
away on the summer encampment.
0NSSSAOAA VI OoOU1S 4IdCh.
The report which has been circulated To-
cally to the effect that the Washington,
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railroad
Company will ask permission of the city
council to lay a double track along King
street has caused considerable comment
among residents along that thorouehfare
and citizens generally. Contractors are
now engaged IN the preliminary work of
repaElns King street. and if the PROPOSE
ton is to be made before the new vitrified
prick pavement is completed it will have
to be considered at a special meeting of
the city council. Although there was talk
iast week of calling meeting no steps to
that end have yet been taken.
The benefits and disadvantages of a
double track on King street have been
weighed and discussed by the property
owners. 1t is held that the grant to the
railroad company if made, would be a very
valuable concession, and a prominent citi-
zen is authority for the statement that a
majority of the residents most directly
concerned by having property on King
street would expect council to require the
company to pave the street from curb to
curb instead of only between the rails
and a short margin on each side In the
event OF double track being laid the
switches now operated on this street would
or course, be done away with 1t is thought
that two tracks with new grooved rails
would not prove much more inconvenfent
to the ordinary traffic of vehicles over the
street than is occasioned at present by the
sidetracks.
Order Has Desired Effect.
Since Mayor Simpson ordered the enforce
ment of the law requiring residents on
King street to tap the main sewer the work
of the contractors has been expedited as
most of the drainage of water into the
cutters has been stopped. According to
directions given the officers Monday, the
residents concerned We're allowed until to-
day in which to comply with the law, when
In case of failure to do so. it was stated
they We're to be brought into the mayor's
court and fined. but there were no cases
OF the sort before Mayor Simpson this
General Matters
Amelia Lee, colOred. was before Mavor
Simpson in the police court this morning m
the charge of disorderly conduct and fight
Ing. The testimony was against Amelia
and she was assessed s.. The same amount
was required from Edward Ely who took
Ford, both colored. charged with disturbing
the peace, Were dismissed.
Ihe recently appointed registrars for
have qualified In the CORPORA
ton court, with the exception of Mr.. Henry
Strauss of the second ward and Mr. c. j. |
w. Summers of the fourth ward. who de-
clded not to accept. Judge Norton, under |
the new constitution, is empowered to fill
the vacancies.
ed the Albemarle horse show at Charlottes- |
Vile yesterday were Mr.. and Mrs Court
land II. Smith of this city. Their horses |
took several ribbons.