Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-26
From Washington.
Correspondence OF the Alexandra Gazette
Washington, Feb. 26.

CORRESPONDENCE OF the Alexandra Oazette.I
Washington, Feb. 26.
Justice Pritchard commenced the read
lug of his charge to the jury in the post
Office conspiracy trial when court con-
vened shortly after ten O'Clock this
morning. A great crowd thronged the
aisles and Railways outside the court
room clamoring for admission. The de-
PENDANTS were all in their places. A.
w. Machen, the defendant, preserved
the composure which has marked his
conduct during the seven weeks trial.
The Croft brothers sat side by side, with
stoical Indifference. Samuel A. Croft
will be found not guilty under the state
ment made to the jury yesterday after
noon by Mr.. Conrad that there was not
sufficient evidence to convict in his
case. Justice Prtchard's charge occu-
pied over an hour. The jury retired at
II O'Clock to consider their verdict
After today's cabinet meeting Secre-
tarv of War Taft announced that the
phihppinr comm slonersmp latel y ten
dered to J.. cameron Forbes, of Boston,
i'll be he'd open ior him for four
rnoutos. Mr.. Forbes has written the
President that he will know ct the cad
If two months whether his business IN
terrsts will allow him to leave the cOun-
try two months after that time II he
! aca> then that he cannot serve he will
tel tie President 50 and another man
will be selected t'r the place.
Capt. George o. Broone, Of the Porto
Rlcan giment, today entered suit in
Washington for $3.50, 900 damages from
NJ and Mrs. James f. Barbour, the
step-father and mother of his wife, Mrs.
May Broome, charging them with aliena-
ton of hrr affections. All the parties
are prominent in local society. Several
months ago Captain BrOome obtained
possession of his three year old daughter
and took her to Norfolk. He alleges
that subsequently the child was taken
from him forcibly by detectives and that
she has been kept from him ever since ;
also that Mr.. and Mrs. Barbour have
been harboring Mrs. Broome, have pre-
vented him from seeing her and have
been endeavOring to poison her mind
against him. Captain Broome's station |
is at Cay ey, Porto Rico. He is now in
Washington on leave of absence.
President Roosevelt received a call |
from Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces
tribe this morning. The chief was ac-
by two of his followers, and |
is in Washington to ask Congress to
reimburse him to the extent of $70,-
900 for the allotments taken from him
and $50 of his followers during the out
break of 1876.
The Federal grand jury today return
ed indictments charging grand larceny
against Agnes French, the maid who
was arrested in Brooklyn and
confessed to having robbed Mrs. Payne,
wife of the Postmaster General, of large
quantity OF jewels and $50 in cash, and
Lewis H. Jennifer, the colored bell
BOY. All Of the jewels we're recovered
md part of the money.
The formal exchange of Publications
IF the Panama canal treaty took place at
State Department shortly before eleven
,'clock this morning between Secretary
Hay and NJ. Philippe Bunau- Varilla,
Minister for Panama.
President Roosevelt this afternoon
signed the proclamation announcing the
exchanges of the Publications OF the
Panama treaty.
President Roosevelt announced today
hat no outside influence shall De allowed
o interfere with the rapid construction
# the isthmian canal. The injunction
proceedings in the French court which it
vas thought might tie up the transfer of
he property for two or three months
Will, therefore, not be allowed to stand {
n the way of the enterprise. All that
he court proceedings can accomplish in
he way of delay, it is said, may be the (
payment ofthe money to the shareholders. (
The work will be prosecuted on this side I
# the ocean no matter what the courts
10 on the other side.
The health of the Isthmus OF Panama