Evening star., 1902-08-04
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Troops to Guard John Homer,
Alias LomaX.
ON WAY TO MONTROSS
CoLoRED YOUTH ACCUSED OF AT
TEMPTED CRIMINAL ASSAULT.
Rumor That Attempt Will Be Made to
Lynch the Prisoner-Gen-
eral News.
ON WAY TO MONTR0SS
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 701 King Street.
Bell Telephone No. LOG.

EVenlnS star Bureau,
No. IO1 King Street.
Bell Telephone No. 1O6.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. August A. 1902.
John Homer, alias Lomax, colored, will
be taken from the Jail here late this after
noon and conveyed to Montross, Westmore-
land county, to answer before the county
court for alleged attempted criminal as
sault. He will be in charge of Deputy
Sheriff George A. Sandy of WestmorelaRd.
The charge will be investigated by a spe-
cial grand jury, and if indictment is re-
ported the case will probably come up at
once before Judge Beale for trial. Owing
to the danger of a lynching Gov. Monta que
has ordered the Washington Guards of
Fredericksburg, Capt. NJ. B. Rowe, to es-
cort the deputy sheriff and his prisoner to
Montross and to remain there to protect
Homer during the trial. The militia
reached Alexandria this afternoon over the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad. The company is about half a
hundred strong. Capt Rowe is in COM
mand, and the other officers are First
Lieut.. Frank H. Revere and Second Lieut..
Thomas Martin. Deputy Sandy had already
arrived. The plan is to embark this after
noon shortly before o'clock on the
steamer Randall. The party will land q 4
point near MOntroSS. to which place tile
prisoner will be taken in time for an in
YeStigation of his case by the grand jury
tomorrow morning.
Some surprise was occasioned here by the
selection of the Fredericksburg company
for the duty instead of the Alexandria
Light Infantry, but it was due, 1t is sup
posed, to the fact that the Washington
Guards were first detailed while the local
soldiers were away. Capt. James E. King
said this morning that he had received no
orders whatever in regard to the matter
He and his men had been expecting to be
ordered out. The impression prevails that
trey may be sent to Westmoreland later if
the other company finds any trouble in
dealing with the situation.
Effect of Miss Costenbader's Death.
Since the violent death last week of Miss
Susie Costenbader. who accused Homer of
attempting the crime the case has as
sumed a new aspect. She died in horrible
agony after having had her dress set on
fire by a blaze over a cooking stove, and
while this would appear on the face of it
to have no earthly connection with the all
legged crime, it has been hinted that the
young woman, becoming Respondent over
the mortifying notoriety connected with
her name, and dreading the publicity of a
trial. decided to end her life in the flames
rather than appear in court What truth
there is in this report may never be
known. but it is said to be credited by
many people in Westmoreland. At any
rate, the unhappy fate of the girl has
the accused man. They seem determined
1t is said. to execute vengeance upon him
without waiting for the due processes of
law.
Homer Identified
At present it can only be- surmised what
effect the death of the principal witness
will have on the case, should it come to
trial without the Intervention of mob force
1t has been stated that She identified
Homer har
brought before her soon after his capture
but whether her statement was in such
form as to be legally accredited is not
known here. However there are said to
be other witnesses who are expected to
give testimony almost damaging to the
prisoners case as would have been the
story of Miss CoStenbader Should this not
prove to be correct the chances of the
accused assailant before the court will he
CONSIDERABLY bettered so far as the trial
Is concerned, but in this very condition
there Is great danger of misfortune TO
him. The people, it is said. are determined
that ne snail not escape punishment solely
because the lips of the accusing Witness
are silenced in death. One Alexandra
citizen who lately visited Westmoreland
Is authority for the statement that a force
less than 23O men will be inadequate to
maintain the law. While this NAV he
founded on unsubstantiaI reports, it is
generally believed that the small military
company will have its hands full
Companies Incorporated.
Judge j. K. NJ. Norton of the corporation
court has granted a charter to the Gordon
vaccine Company, the object of which is
10 prepare vaccine virus and other toxins
and animal productions and all kinds of al
lied commercial articles. The sum OF
100000 is named as the capital stock. and
the officers are: G. E. Gordon president:
William Nj. Gray. vice president: j. F.
Gardner L. Boothe is named as local rem
resentative.
The United Ordnance Companv formed
ior the purpose or manufa acturing and SELL
ing various kinds of ordinances such as
torpedoes, gunshot, cartridges, etc., has
also been granted a charter of incorpora-
tion by Judge Norton. The capital stock is
to be not less than 100000 nor more than
100000. The officers are w F. Roe. presi
dent j. Z. jerks. vice president; A. Y.
Leach. secretary and treasurer.
General Matters.
Acting on the complaint of several citi-
zens residing in the western section of the
city, Mayor Simpson has directed the police
to investigate alleged violations of the laws
Tor the preservation of the public health by
| the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac Railroad Company. The complainants
aver that many of the cars containing gar
| bage from Washington transported over
the Fayette street track en- route to a
point twenty miles south are not air-tieht
1t is alleged that the nauseating and dis
gusting odors coming from these cars fire.
quently make it necessary for the nearby
residents to close their doors and windows.
st. Marys Catholic Church will soon he
! furnished with four additional memorial
windows of handsome pattern. One is a
memorial to st. Patrick by the Alexandria
Division Ancient Order of Hibernians and
| the others are, respectively memorials of
| the late John 7. Hill, Dennis Buttermore
and Mrs Thomas Scott.
Judge j. x. NJ. Norton and Mr.. John NJ
Johnson have gone to the Virginia Hot
! Springs to attend the annual session of the
! Virginia Bar Association.
Messrs. r. NJ. Latham and Bernard Dom
nally have been appointed by Judge Norton
| to fill two vacant positions on the local
| board of registrars.
Mental Health in Friendship.
From the Onlooker