Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
MRS. cHURCHMAN LOSES $3.50
THROUGH CONFIDENCE GAME.
Gypsy Woman Got $500 Through Story
Of Buried Treasure, but
Gave Up Part.
Evening Star Bureau,
FOL King Street.
RelI Telephone LOG.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, May 10, 1903.
Mrs. Charles E. Churchman, ST., residing
in the extreme southwestern section of the
city, has lost $50 for the confidence which
she placed in the story of a woman, said
to be following camp of gypsies, to the
effect that an immense treasure had been
hidden in a certain place on Mrs Church
mans property. The woman gave her
name as Jennie Mace, fortuneteller.
few days ago Mrs. Churchman reported to
Mayor Simpson that the Mace woman had
left the city after obtaining from her the
sum of $500. A warrant was sworn out and
the authorities learned that the woman had
gone in the direction of West Virginia Or
ficer Knight, who was assigned to the case,
succeeded in locating her in a gypsy camp
at Homecoming, w. Va, where she was ar
rested at his instance. The accused was
taken before the authorities and made 10
give up $3.50 of the amount she had OBJ
tanned This was turned over to Ohhcer
Knight, who brought 1t back to Its owner
According to the story told by Mrs.
Churchman, she was approached several
days ago by the Mace woman, who stated
that she could locate fabulous hidden
sum for a consideration. Mrs. Churchman
became interested and turned over to the
fortuneteller in several installments the
aggregate sum of $500. Finally when all OF
the alleged information had been impaired
the location of the supposed treasure had
been followed Mrs. Churchman realized
that she had been duped. She was DIS
mayed to find that the woman had left
town and at Gee applied to the mayor 1or
police assistance.
Use of Cat Rifles Prohibited.
officials of the Postal Telegraph Company
have complained to the police of injury to
certain wires of the company In the north
ern section of the city, which. it is alleged.
has been caused by boys firing small mis-
siles from cat rifles, ETC., into the wires.
Particular damage was done to the large
bundle of wires known as the aerial transit,
which was found to be in poor working or
der. An inspection showed that in many
places it had been plugged with small bull
lets. This morning Mayor Simpson directed
the police to arrest all boys found using cat
rifles or any other kind of diminutive fire.
arms within the city.
General Matters.
Founders day will be celebrated by the
Young Mems Sodality Lyceum at Lyceum
Hall, on Duke street, tomorrow evening at
8 O. clock. An interesting program has been
prepared and many invitations have been
sent out.
Mrs. George Evans, who has been i'll with
typhoid fever for the past two weeks at
this morning to be In favorable condition
1t is said that Mayor Simpson has deter
mined that there shall be no danger of q
duplication in Alexandria next Fourth Of
July of the tetanus epidemic which caused
the death of a dozen or more small boys
in Norfolk last year the result of using
toy pistols. 1t is probable that there will
be no toy pistols sold in Alexandria for the
glorious Fourth this year.
Joseph Wanzer colored, was assessed IS
by Mayor Simpson in the police court this
morning on the charge of assaulting and
beating Robert Poindexter, also colored.
Killed by Work Car.
The remains of William H. Jeffress, col
ored laborer, nineteen years of age. who
was accidentally killed yesterday afternoon
at Ditchley, on the Southern railroad few
miles below this city, were forwarded this
morning to his former home in Prince Ed
ward county, Va. for interment Jeffress
was in the employ of the Southern road
and was engaged. with several other labor
ers in the construction of the new line at
that point, when one of the small cars used
in hauling earth to and from points Of op-
| Grafton turned over, crushing the unfor-
tunate laborer beneath it. His fellow work.
men escaped.