Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-19
ALEXANDRIA AFT AIRS
Railroad Held for Brakeman
Johnson's Death.
SENT TO GRAND JURY
CASE OF HARRY NICHOLSON, AC-
CUsED OF ASSAULT.
Colored Man Kills HimseH-Police
Commissioners Meet-Cases in
Circuit Court.
SENT TO GRAND JURY
Evening Star Bureau,
7O1 King St.

An inquest in the case OF MOTIFS Johnson,
the young brakeman who was killed yester-
day by falling under the wheels of freight
train on the Union street track of the
Southern road, was conducted this morning
by Coroner William r. Purvis at the I'M
dertaking ropms of w. Domaine & Son,
King street.
The jury consisted of George Bryan. fore
man; Elmer Timberman, ]. Fred Birrell, j.
C. Creighton, Louis Brill and E. Warfield,
jr A large number of witnesses were ex-
amined, most of them members of the crew
of the train on which johnson lost his life.
j. E. Looney, the engineer, testified that
the train was moving slowly at the time,
and that he brought it to fun stop be-
fore more than one car had passed over the
body of the unfortunate brakeman
Ollie Simpson, the conductor, said he had
examined the brake which Johnson had
used and found that one of the bolts that
belonged to it was missing. Several other
tranmen testified that this apparatus was
defective, but they did not think that the
defect caused the brakeman's fall. 1t was
stated that Johnson had called attention
to 1t just before the accident
A verdict was rendered this afternoon In
which the jury held the railroad company
responsible for the accident
Referred to Grand Jury.
Harry Nicholson was given a hearing
before Mayor Simpson in the police court
this morning on the charge of assaulting
Otto Vogelgesang February 26 at the Alex
andria steam bakery plant, North Lee
street, where the latter was employed as
head baker. Attorneys c. g. Carlin and
Charles Bendheim appeared for the de-
PENDANT The testimony OF several wit
nesses was heard, including that of the
complainant, who was able to appear In
court for the first time since the ,affray.
Vogelgesang's statement was to the eff
feet that Nicholson, in company with Jas.
Bradley had come into the bakery late
the night of February % and had refused
to go out when requested to do so by the
complainant; that Nicholson used vile and
abusive language and finally assaulted
Vogelgesang with knife, which the wit
ness thought must have been a butcher
knife, cutting him deep across the back,
under the armpit and across the chest.
Vogelgesang denied that there was fight,
and said that he was assaulted while going
to a telephone to call up the police station.
Attorney Carlin told the court that at first
he had thought the case was one for jury
trial. but had become convinced that 1t
should be disposed of by the mayor. He
said therefore that he would place his client
on the stand, which was done. Nicholson,
in telling of the affray. said he had been
struck three times by the complainant be-
fore the cutting occurred. He exhibited a
was inflicted in the fight.
In reviewing the Mayor Simpson said
that the evidence showed that Nicholson
had been guilty of two offenses-one in
trespassing In the bakery and the other in
committing the assault He thought the
case should be tried in the corpora ton
court, and he referred 1t to the grand jury
Bond was fixed at $500 for Nicholson's ap-
pearance.
Colored Man Kills Himself.
News was received here today Of the sui
eide of Thomas Johnson colored, which &C.
CURED early this morning at the farm of
Mr.. Eggbert Thompson, several miles be-
low this city in Fairfax county. He shot
himself through the head with a pistol
Johnson was about twenty-eight years old,
and had been married only two months
He worked on Mr.. Thompson's farm A
short time ago he was employed in this
city for a while as porter for the Wash
ington, Alexandria and Mt. Vernon RAN
road. He was slightly crippled.
Cases in Circuit Court.
Most Of the session of the circuit court
yesterday afternoon, Judge c. E. Nichol
presiding, was taken up In hearing argu-
ments as to the priority of claims in the
cause of W. A. Smoot & Co. ct al against
Cuvillier & Co., on suggestions against the
city council Of Alexandra and the Wash
lnStOn, Alexandra ana Mount vernon
Railroad Company.
Three confessed judgments were involved
in the proceedings, those of the Mack Man
ufacuring Company, represented by Attor-
ney c. c. Carlin; the Improved Order of
Red Men, represented by Attorney Samuel
scented by Attorney Brent. Attorneys Tay-
lor, Norton and Boothe appeared for the
firm Of W. A. Smoot & Co. The court held
that the assignment in favor of the Red
hi rnle a6v IN ha
other instances.
Police Commissioners Meet.
The March meeting Of the board Of police
commissioners, held last night, was devoted
principally to a discussion of the alleged
use Of unnecessary violence on the part of
policemen in making arrests and conduct
ing prisoners to the station house.
The matter was brought up on no particu-
lar case, but attention was called to several
instances where, it was stated, undue sever
ity had been used by some Of the members
Of the force. The board reached the con-
clusion that any offenses of like nature
should be thoroughly Investigated by the
commissioners.
Mayor Simpson announced that he would
examine Officer Young this evening at 1880
o'clock on the charge of misconduct in con-
nectton with turning In recent fire alarm
Brief Mention.
The stockholders Of the Jackson-P Phillips
Brick Company met in this city yesterday
and elected the following directors for the
ensuing year. William H. Jackson, G. H.
Zellers Malcomb Hufty, c. H. Ratlege,
HughJ. Phillips and W. P. Jackson.
The fourth quarterly conference of the
Washington Street NJ. E. Church was held
last evening after the regular we ekly prayer
meeting. The affairs of the church for the
fiscal year will be reported in excellent con-
dition at the annual conference, which
meets in Fredericksburg next Wednesday.
The salaries Of four Of the clerks in the
city post Office h;He been increased 500
each a year, owing, it is said, to the ef-
forts of Postmaster Joseph L. Crupper
Funeral ~ Mics Na1var