Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
CITY COUNCIL GRANTS ELECTRIC
LIGHT AND POWER FRANCHISE.
Judge Barley Criticises sJury Which
Convicts Wrenn of Petit Larceny
Other ItemsJ iSs
Special Correspondence of The Evening, Star

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va. July 'i6, 1904.
The city council held called meeting
last night to consider the report of the
joint committee on light and finance OH
the resolution to sell the franchise of the
city electric light and power plant to the
highest bidder. The report was presented
by Capt. Bryan, the chairman of the Joint
committee. He stated that after carefully
considering the matter the committee had
come to the opinion that the bid of
Charles F. Thompson of this city was the
most advantageous. An ordinance was
presented by the committee conveying the
franchise to Mr.. Thompson and Mr.. Bryan
asked that it be read for the first time and
referred back, which was done. According
to the ordinance the grant shall be for
thirty years, with the payment Of $4,000
by MIR. Thompson for the franchise, 81, 500
for the old plant, one-tenth of the gross re-
ceipts each month in lieu Of taxes, the city
to receive annually from this source not
less than $1,000.
Provisions of the ordinance require that
Mr. Thompson shall furnish the city with
50 or more arc lights at $74.0S per annum
for ten years. The rate for each five years
thereafter, If not satisfactory to either
party to the contract Is to be determined
by a board Of arbitration. Consumers, &C.
cording to the ordinance, are to be fur
nished with current at a rate not to exceed
10 cents per kilowatt. Should council final
ly pass the ordinance Mr.. Thompson will
be required to give bond in the sum Of $1O,
600 to begin the construction of the new
plant within six months after the Ordi-
nance becomes law and to be prepared
within twelve months from that date to be-
gin to furnish electricity. Penalties are
stated for failure to comply with the pro-
visions. The mayor is authorized to exc
cute the contract. e..
MrBrill received special permission to pre-
sent a resolution adopted by the Columbia
the appropriation Of 5000 made by council to
build an addition to the Columbia engine
house had been found considerably smaller
than the lowest bid for the work A reso-
luton was thereupon adopted by the COM
pany asking council to turn over to the
executive committee of the company the
amount appropriated, promising that the
work would be done properly and IN &C
cordance with the specifications of the
city engineer. The petition was referred
to the Joint committee on finance and pub
lie property. q
Verdict Criticised by Court.
In the corporation court late yesterday
afternoon the jury in the case of Henry
Wrenn, indicted on the charge Of grand
larceny, returned a verdict finding the pris-
oner guilty Of petit larceny and fixing his
punishment at six months ia jail. with a
fine of $780, Upon hearing the verdict Judge
Barley stated that 1t was ineence1vabie
how such a return could be- made, after the
twelve jurymen had listened to- the evil
dence for two days, in addition to having
instructions from the COURT qHe.s said that
If Wrenn had been found guilty at all he
should have been found guilty OF grand
larceny, as indicted and that the punish
ment should have been prescribed accord
ingly; otherwise he should have been ac-
quilted Wrenn was charged with the lar
ceny Of batch of shoes valued at $3.50
The prisoner was defended by Attorneys
Machen and Moncure. Commonwealth At
torney Brent conducted the prosecution 1t
was not within the province of the court to
set aside the verdict, it was acceptable
to the counsel for the defense. i@t
General Matters. ~
What Is said to be the first authenticated
case in Alexandria of hydrophebia affecting
a horse necessitated the killing this morn
ing of a valuable animal belonging to. Mr..
Robert Elliott. Mr.. Elliott had a little dog
which about six weeks ago was found to be
suffering from rabies. and was shot by ON
Ger Sherwood There was a marked COM
partnership between the canine and the
was bitten by the dog after 1t became mad.
A few days ago the horse began to show
suspicious symptoms. This morning it be-
came so frantic and ungovernab BILE that Off
Ger Sherwood was asked to dispatch 1t.
The members of the base ball team of the
Alexandria Athletic Association expect to
add another to their long list of victories
when they meet the Leesburg team on the
grounds of the latter club this afternoon.
1t Is said that Nick Carter the old Univer-
sity of Virginia pitcher will twirl for Lees
burg.
Mrs Mary w. Rouse, with her two chill
dren, Harry and Charley, has gone to Rem
fngton to visit the home of her brother-in-
law, Mr.. Edgar Rouse.
In the recent municipal election the coun-
cilmen-elect spent 81 each, which was the
amount assessed by the city democratic
committee, and Mayor-elect Paff spent
$3.50, of which $3.50 was assessed by the
committee, and the balance was for incl
dentals. These figures are stated in the
sworn account of expenses filed with the
clerk of the corporation court as REQUIRED
by the new constitution
during the past week the following named
persons have taken the teachers examina-
ton before Superintendent of Schools Jas
e. Clements, at Balston school house In
Alexandria county:
Misses Ella L. Davies, Emily r. Peverill,
Mary E. Kfdwell, Lillian E. Kendrick. Min
ME Reyes, Mrs. Emma C. Lovewell and Mr..
Edward S. Stalcup.
. Coiored applicants examined were as fol-
lows: Mrs Blanche L. Holmes and Misses
frlsclila M Wright, Marie E. Holiness and
Messrs. Fairfax Jackson and Thornton ii.
Gray.
Superintendent Clements in a few DAYS
VIII announce the result of the examine
uon, and send teachers certificates to the
successful applicants