Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-13
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Prisoners Attempt to Break
Jail Frustrated.
JAILER'S DISCOVERY
MOTION TO SET ASIDE VERDICT
IN DAMAGE SUIT.
Two Parties Convicted of Selling
Liquor Without License-Funeral
of John S. Beach
DISCOVERY
special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, September Ii, 1905
A carefully arranged scheme on the part
of two prisoners to break out of the city
jail, which was to have been consummated
tonight, was discovered this morning and
frustrated by Jailer Gambler. Houston
Burke and Lewis Skies, soldiers who were
awaiting an investigation by the grand jury
on the charge of felonious assault, planned
to take surreptitious departure from their
place of confinement by scaling the roof
from a hole in the ceiling and thereby
reaching the street some time tonight
When Jailer Gambler in making his
rounds this morning, stopped at the room
in which Burke and Skies were lodged he
saw piece of newspaper adhering to the
ceiling. Suspecting something wrong he
made an investigation. which resulted in
the disclosure of hole in the wall large
enough to admit the body of a man. 1t
was evident that the two prisoners had
worked industrously during the night and
had perfected arrangements for an early
escape. The men were at once removed to
cell number one on the lower floor. which
Is used for the confinement of desperate
prisoners. further investigation showed
that Burke and Skies had secreted a case
knife, which they used a saw to cut the
hole through the ceiling.
Lt HIeIl were arrested ABOUT TWO weeks
ago on the charge OF committing a feloni-
Gus assault upon William Mankin during a
row in a house North Lee street 1t
was at first thought that Mankin's injuries
might result fatally, but he soon recovered
Jailer Gambler stated this morning that the
men had been quiet and orderly since being
committed to the jail. Until this morning
they had not aroused any suspicion of their
design to escape.
Verdict Contested,
After lengthy proceedings the damage
suit of Miss Ida Breen against the Wash
ington. Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Railway Company for the sum of sI0O0O
was submitted to the jury in the circuit
court for Alexandria county last evening
Judge Ncol presiding. About O'Clock the
jury returned verdict awarding the com
plainant damages In the sum of 5000
Counsel for the defendant company at once
presented a motion to set aside the verdict
on the ground OF its being excessive and
this was discussed at some length Finally
the announcement of the court had the eff
feet of placing before the plaintiff the al
tentative of accepting the sum of 5000 or
submitting to "a new trial. Attorney Leo s.
Harlow, counsel for Miss Breen announced
his willingness to compromise at the sum
mentioned. with which the case rested
pending the decision of the attorneys for
the company as to the question of a new
trial or agreement. 1t was stated this
morning by one of the attorneys for the de-
Tense that a decision on this point had not
then been reached.
- The case notable by reason of an
unusual question of law which arose dur
ing the proceedings. Counsel for the de-
Tense moved that the plaintiff be required
to submit to a physical examination by
some reputable physician to be named by
the court The right of the court In the
premises was denied by Attorney Harlow.
who declared that there was no precedent
in Virginia for such action. After hear
ing arguments, however Judge Nicol ruled
in favor of the motion. He selected DR..
George T. Vaughan of Washington to
make the examination and to testify as q
witness for the court. DIR. Vaughan's tes-
timony tended to some extent to mini
mize the estimate of the injuries alleged
to have been sustained by the plaintiff.
With the adjournment of court last even
ing nearly all of the numerous damage
suits against the electric road. growing
out of the Spring Park collision, had been
finally disposed Of -Four or five cases re-
main for trial at the October term. The
total damages sued for amounted to about
$4,000. but the aggregate of the damages
fixed SO far. both by compromise and by
jury awards. has been about $4,000.
Throughout the several trials the company
was represented by Attorneys Moore and
Cation & Cation.
Sequel to Sunday Raid.
A sequel to the raid Of the police last
Sunday at the premises of Mrs. Maggie
Burnett, 1850 Duke street. occurred in the
Police Court this morning, Justice Cation
presiding. when Mrs. Burnett and young
man named Charles Glover were convicted
of selling liquor on Sunday and without a
license A fine OF 500 was imposed in the |
case of Mrs Burnett and Glover was sem
fenced to serve sixty days In Jail in addi- |
ton to paying a fine of $50. State Senator !
Lewis H. Nachen appeared In defense OF