Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-19
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
MEETING OF MONTAGUE DEMO
CRATIC CLUB.
Hotel at New Alexandria Destroyed
by Fire Negro Charged
With Shooting.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA,. Va, April 10. 1905.
The regular b-monthiy meeting of the
Montague Democratic Club was held last
evening in the rooms of the organization,
corner Of King and Washington streets.
There was a large attendance, and the po-
litieal situation In Alexandria was fully dis
cussed. 1t was announced that Governor
Montague will address the voters of this
city in the near future. The executive COM
mittee was empowered to make arrange
ments for the reception of the governor and
the meeting Of citizens to hear him speak.
The date for the meeting has not been fully
decided but it will be held In the opera
house, probably the latter part of next
week
Hotel Destroyed by Fire.
Fire yesterday afternoon destroyed the
hotel building at New Alexandria, q short
distance below this city. The flames broke
out at $3.50 o'clock and in an hour the big
frame structure, containing fifty rooms.
was consumed. The building was unoccu-
pied at the time, except by ]. F. Blackford
and his family who were caretakers of the
place. The origin Of the fire is matter
of doubt. The hotel was erected about ten
years ago al cost of $4,000 by the pro-
motors of New Alexandria which was then
being doomed as manufacturing town.
The building was opened with much cere-
mony address being delivered by Mr.
William Jennings Bryan before great
crowd. For a short time the hotel was
operated with some success, but it eventual
ly proved Improbable financially and was
closed. There was insurance on the
property. 1t was owned by the Land and
River Improvement Company of this city.
Mr.. Park Agnew, Mr.. NJ. B. Harlow and
Mr.. j. h. SwartZ are officers of the COM
pany.
Referred to Grand Jury.
William MCGEE, colored, was given a pre-
ifminary examination in the police court
this morning on the charge of shooting with
intent to kill at John Tollver, also colored,
In Ffshtown. yesterday afternoon. Officer
Young told OF capturing MCGEE after hot
chase following the shooting Several wit
nesses testified that the prisoner had fired
four shots at Toliver, none Of which struck
the latter, but one ball found Judgment in
the leg of a colored lad named Robert Har-
ris and another bullet struck George Griffin.
a young white man. in the leg. Griffin was
unable to appear this morning, but Harris
testified against MCGEE. The prisoner de-
clared that he had been attacked by Toliver
and others with fish knives and that he had
acted in self-defenSe. Justice Cation referred
the case to the grand jury.
General Matters.
The funeral of Mrs. Sarah F. Sampson,
whose ueatn occurred Monday, took place
this afternoon from the residence of her
husband, Mr. Henry Sampson, 300 South
Washington street, and was attended by
a large number of friends and relatives
The services were conducted by Rev ]
z. Stump of the NJ. E. Church South and
the interment was made at Bethel Gene
terry -
Several persons We're before Justice Ca
ton in the Police Court this morning on
the charge of violating the law against
obstructing the sidewalk with merchan-
disc No fines We're imposed, but warn
1ngs against a repetition were given in
each instance. Mr.. j. B. Watkins, a feed
merchant, announced that he would con-
ttnue to use the sidewalk in front of his
premises for the purposes of his bust
ness as heretofore, and that If fined he
would contest the case in the higher
courts. -'--
Commonwealth Attorney Ford of Fair
fax county yesterday went to Lorton at
the request of Gov. Montague and in
vestigated the recent shooting of an Ital-
ian at that place. Mr.. Ford will make a
report to the governor.
A reception was rendered Rev. J. H. S.
Ewe1l by the congregation of the Metho-
dist Protestant Church last night in
honor of his reappointment to the local
church.
Mrs. Henry X. Field is i'll at her home
on King street Her condition last night
became suddenly serious. and her hus-
band, who was in Richmond. was tele-
graphed for She was somewhat better
this morning.