Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-02
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS.
Boy Charged With Heinous
Crime Lodged in Jail.
THREATS OF LYNCHING
THE ACCUSED DECLINES TO DIS
CUss THE CHARGE.
Isaac Hackley Murderously Assaults
His Wife and Child and Man
Who Interfered.
Evening Star Bureau.
No. 7Ql King Street,
Bell Telephone No. LOG.

No 7Ql King Street,
| Bell Telephone No. JOG,
| ALEXANDRIA. Va, July 2, 1902.
All knowledge of the heinous crime with
which he is accused was sullenly discl lined
this morning by John Homer, the young
colored man confined in the city Jail on
| the charge Of committing a criminal as
| sault on Miss Costenbader, the fifteen
year-old daughter of Robert Costenbader
| near Montross, Westmoreland county, Sat
| urday night. To Star reporter who Wis
| tied him in his cell Homer declined to say
| directly whether or not he was guilty. He
| contented himself with answering nearly
| all questions with the statement that he
knew nothing. He did not know why he
| was arrested, he said, nor did he know
| why he was brought to Alexandria. When
asked If he knew Miss Costenbader he was
silent. One positive statement he vouch-
safed was that he was sixteen years of
age. He said he had father, mother
| and brothers in Westmoreland county
where he had lived. He had never been
arrested before, he declared.
The prisoner is a rather slim lad, ap-
parently older than he states He
appeared to be somewhat awed this morn
ing, and 1t was evident that the serious
| nature of the charge against him was I'M
derstood, at least in measure.
Homer was placed in jail here yesterday,
having been brought to Alexandria in a
tugboat by the sheriff of Westmoreland
county to escape the fury OF the mob that
had gathered for lyncking. He was
placed in charge of City Sergeant Robert
H. Cox. The sheriff and his deputies then
returned to WeStmoreland.
AS soon as the authorities at Montross
were convinced that to leave the prisoner
| in jail there would result in his being
lynched they determined to spirit him
1n6i rronh yvpi cI
cred the officers took the prisoner from the
jail and started with him in the direction
of Fredericksburg. They decided to Sc
cure tughoat and bring Homer to this
city, which was done.
Story of the Crime
According to news dispatches from the
county, Miss Costenbader had been to a
store near her home for the purpose of
making some purchases. AS she was
about to take a path leading through the
woods the negro, it is alleged, seized her
and committed the assault. Then after
threatening her with death if she made
known his crime he started in the direc-
ton of Leedstown with the evident inten-
ton of making his escape by water. Miss
Costenbader, however, succeeded in reach
ing home, where she notified her parents
and the authorities were Informed in time
to prevent the escape of the negro His
capture followed several hours later.
AS soon as the neighborhood had been
apprised of the alleged crime an armed
posse was organized. Apprehendine such
a move on the part of the enraged citI-
zens the officers took a roundabout route
and safely landed the negro In Montross
jail. Here he wasF closely watched all
night by guard. Sunday the matter was
excitedly discussed, and lynehing was free
ly talked of The movement took no def
mite form until Monday evening when the
officers ascertaned that the only way to
q uy3S to
from Montross
When the nature of the charge against
Homer became known last evening rumors
were circulated that an attempt would he
made to lynch him in Alexandria. But the
night passed without any demonstra ton
whatever. The officials here do not know
Just how long the prisoner will be kept In
this city. 1t is expected that his case will
be tried the 2sth instant and he will prob
ably remain in the city jail until a few
days before that time
Charged With Many Assaults.
The case of Isaac Hackley, colored,
charged with assaulting his wife, Alice
Hackley; his son, George Hackley, and a
colored man named Willis Thompson with
knife. was called before Mayor Simpson
In the Police Court this morning but was
continued until tomorrow morning at 8
o'clock, owing to the inability Of some of
the injured parties to appear
Cries OF murder shortly before ~ o'clock
last night awakened the jewellers on Prin-
cess street between Alfred and Patrick
The neighbors and police, rushing to the
house Of Hackley, 900 Princess street,
found a scene of the widest turmoil and
CONFUSION. In rage that was apparently
insane Hackley had worked bloody havoc
on his wife and son with a long. dirk
bladed knife. A few minutes later Thomp-
son, who had gone bravely to the rescue
or the Wife and child, also slashed
ana hacked about the face, arm and Shout
der On the arrival of the police Hackley
had retired to an upper room, where, with
a pistol in hand, he defied molestation.
Ofticers Griffin, Roberts, Arlington and
Nicholson were in the squad. The first
named proceeded up the steps, but had not
gone far when Hackley pointed the weapon
in his face and attempted to discharge it.
fortunately however, it was un1oaded.
The man was soon taken into custody and
conveyed to the station house.
Victims Badly Slashed
In the meantime great crowd had gath
cred. The injured mother and son were
carried across the street to the house of a
neighbor, where their wounds were exam
ined by DR.. Hopkins, a colored physician
The woman had an ugly cash under the
left shoulder blade. The boy was suffering
from Wide slashes across the left arm. The
other member of the family. Daisy a girl
OF sixteen escaped injury by running from
the house. Thompson suffered severely
from loss of blood before doctor could be
secured to give him attention at the sta
ton house. By DIRECTION. of the mayor he
was finally carried to the Alexandria Hos
pltai, where his wounds were dressed. He
was badly cut in the face and on the Shout
der He also had a finger nearly severed
While the injuries of all ARE severe Il is
not expected that any will result fatally
Inc woman was, perhaps,uhe most serious
ly hurt. 81 III
At the station house Hackley appeared
deeply sorry for the affair. He said that
oVerindulgence in whisky had made him
unaccountable. In This sober moments, he
declared, he had never had any trouble
with his wife. AS to the woundng of
thompson, Hackley declared he had no
business in his house. Thompson had been
handed revolver by a bystander who did
not seem disposed to usesthe weapon him