Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-12
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Murderous Assault Upon
Schooner Captain and Mate.
FOLLOWED BY ARREST
EDWARD JENKINS, coLoRED, Ac-
cUsED OF THE CRIME.
Democratic Committee Receives and
Records Names Of Municipal Can
didates-General Matters.
Doc,., corresnopdence of rhe Evening Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, May IL, 1904.
Henry L. Griffith mate of the schooner
| Annie Ellen of Dorchester, Md, is lying at
the Alexandria Hospital in a critical condl-
ton, and William Brown, captain OF the
schooner, is confined to his room aboard
the vessel suffering from severe injuries as
the result of a .murderous assault MADE
upon them by colored man at the Wharr
near the foot of Cameron street between
II and 1 o'clock last night. Edward Jen-
kins. aged about twenty-five years, is lock-
ed up at the police station charged with the
crime.
The mate sustained the more serious in
juries, having his head and body badly
| beaten and battered with a heavy bar of
iron. Soon after the occurrence he was re-
moved to the hospital, where the physi-
clans hope for his recovery. The captain,
| younger man, though subjected to fear
full assault with the same weapon, did not
consider his wounds to be severe enough to
necesstate treatment at the hospital At
his own request he was conveyed to his
berth aboard the vessel.
The story was told in broken sentences
and with laborious effort by the mate and
captain when they had recovered conscious
ness this morning. The captain was the
first man assaulted. Shortly after mid
night. he stated, he was awakened by call
at his window. Getting up he found a col
ored man at the wharf. He recognized the
visitor, he stated, as Jenkins, who had been
employed on the vessel and who had been
discharged last Saturday. When Capt
Brown asked what he wanted, the man
stated that he had come to get some of his
belongings left on the boat. After a search,
| In which nothing was found the negro
asked the captain to show him the way to
the wharf OF the steamer Wakefield. The
captain started to accompany Jenkins to
the place In question it is stated, and had
gotten out on Union street when the negro
stepped behind for second The next
moment the captain had been felled to the
with a heavy iron bar. He lost conscious
ness, but came to himself few minutes
later, and remembers being struck several
other blows about the body. Then he re-
lapsed into protracted state of uncon-
seriousness.
The Mate Next Assaulted.
The mate was sleeping in his room on
tlie 'essei, not having been aroused by
tle nrst visit of the negro. Some little
time elapsed after the assault upon the
captain when the mate was awakened nv
noise on the boat Getting up to in
vesugate, and as he was about to stem off
the vessel, he received heavy blow in the
dark which sent him to the ground in an
unconscious state. About that time the
captain regained his senses and began call
ing loudly for help. His cries were heard
Dy Night Waterman Gentzberger who no.
titled the police officers, and Officers FergI-
son, Henderson and Roberts arrived on the
scene They found the captain sweltering
In blood near his boat, where he had
crawled from the scene of the assault The
mate was still unconscious and was also
bathed in blood. After doing what thew
could for the injured men the officers start
ed out on search for the negro, but
without success.
1t was discovered that the assaiIant had
rified the pockets of the captain after the
assault, securing about $14S in cash. Later
IN the morning better description of the
assailant was obtained and a diIigent
search was made for him about town. At
T:3o O'Clock this morning Jenkins was ar
rested at the Washington Southern depot
by Officers Smith and Lyles. On the person
of the prisoner when searched at the sta
ton house about S145 was discovered He
was wearing new pair of shoes and
new shirt, which had been purchased this
morning. He is being held a. the station
house to await the result of the injuries
of the captain and mate
Capt. Brown and Mate Griffith both hail
from Dorchester Md. The captain is forty
five years of age and the mate sixty-eight
Their vessel arrived here a few days ago
with a cargo from Norfolk, consigned to
II. X. Field & Co., at whose wharf the
schooner was moored.
Capt Brown states that he believes re-
venge was the motive for the assault He
says that Jenkins shipped with him in Nor
folk, but that it was found necessary to
discharge him last Saturday. The negro, 1t
is stated. took great offense at this action.
An attempt to set fire to the vessel Sum
day night is attributed by the officers of
the boat to the discharged negro. Jenkins
states that he was born in Smithfield W.
Va.