Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
CoRoNER's JURY ADJoURNs
WITHOUT HOLDING INQUEST.
Commonwealth Attorney to Be Con-
suited as to Future Action in
CAGE Of Jas. Richardson.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, November 20, 1868.
An Alexandria county coroner's jury, sum-
moned at the direction of Coroner s. T.
Ashton, was to have met this morning at IL
o'clock at the undertaking rooms of w. De-
maine & Son, in this city, to hold an in
quest over the remains of James Richard
son, the negro who was killed Monday just
outside the corporation limits by city po-
licemen, but at the time set for the inquest
it was ascertained that the remains of the
negro had been inferred. The jurors who
had been summoned were on hand, and
Coroner Ashton was also present. When DR..
Ashton was informed that Richardson 8
body had been buried he directed that the
jurors be dismissed, stating that in SO far
he was concerned the case was at an
end He said that there was nothing fur
ther to do but to report the matter to Com
monwealth Attorney Crandal Mackey Of the
county, upon whose opinion Of the question
of jurisdiction involved he had taken steps
for the holding of the inquest.
The remains of Richardson were buried
this morning at the direction of City Coro-
ner William r. Purvls. AS stated in The
Star yesterday, a city coroner's jury held
an inquest over Richardson's remains
After examining several witnesses, nclud-
and Garvey, all of whom fired on the negro
during the fight between them, the jury
returned a verdict, finding that the man
came to his death by a pistol shot wound
in the abdomen and one in the left lung
near the heart inflicted by Alexandria
policemen while in the discharge of their
duty, and that the shooting was justifiable
The difference between the county and city
officials arose by reason of the fact that
the shooting occurred in county territory,
but within the mile limit of the corpora
ton where the city claims police jurisdic-
ton.
Sale of Lighting Plant Held Up.
Most Of the regular semi-monthly session
of the common council last evening was
taken up with the consideration of the
proposition to lease the city electric light
plant and franchise for a period of thirty
years The first business before the COM
mon council was the report of the COM
mittee on finance and light, recommending
the adoption of an ordinance providing for
the lease of the property and franchise to
w. S. Barstow, whose bid was recently sub
mitted
The report stated that the proposition of
Mr.. Barstow was considered the most favor
able to the city Councilman Spinks, who
has opposed the measure for the disposal of
the gas works ever since Its introduction,
made a motion to invite the board of al
dermen into a joint session for a cons dera-
ton of the matter, but after some discus
sion this was defeated. The report of the
committees was accepted by the common
council by vote of Is to l. Mr.. Spinks
voting against it. In the board of aldermen
the matter was finally laid on the table
four voting for and four against it. 1t is
stated that the measure stands but little
chance of adoption in the near future, as,
In order to secure its passage, there must
be a two-thirds vote in both boards.
Before the matter was temporarily dis
posed of joint session was agreed upon in
order to hear statements from some of the
bidders. 1t was decided to invite Mr.
Barstow and Mr. d. ]. Howell of Howell
q Sinclair, the other bidders, and the cor
poration attorney, to appear before council
to explain the propositions In detail The
contract presented to cover the bid of Mr..
Barstow provided that the sum of $500 in
cash be paid to the city for the franchise
and the old plant and that a new and
up-to-date plant be put into operation with
in twelve months. 1t was stipulated that
Mr.. Barstow should furnish the city with
arc lights for street lighting purposes at
s75 per light, to burn all night. This price
1t was provided, should obtain for ten years.
at the expiration of which time, should
there be any dissatisfaction on the part of
either parties to the contract, the matter
would be submitted to arbitration. The
contract further provided for the furnish
ing of incandescent and commercial cur
rent to consumers at II cents per LOCO
watts for the first hour of each day, tech
ncally considered, and Z cents per 1000
watts fag each succeeding hour. 1t was
also provided that the city should receive 3
per cent of the gross receipts in lieu of
taxes, the revenue to the city from this
source to be not less than $500 per annum.
After the reading of this contract the
persons interested in the bids were ques-
toned at length and several technical ex-
plantations were made. Mr.. Howell stated
that he understood that the principal OBJ
lection to his bid was on account of his
proposal to secure the necessary power for
operating the plant from the Potomac
Power Company in Washington. He ex-
planned the advantages of this method, as
he saw them, and Mr.. Barstow called atten-
ton to the points in favor of a plant located
in the city. At the conclusion of the hear
ing the matter was disposed of for the time
a above stated.
General Matters.
Funeral services over the remains of
Mrs. Frances P. Smoot, whose death oc-
CURED Monday, took place this afternoon
at her late residence, Gil Prince street,
and were attended by many friends and
relatives There were many beautiful
floral tributes placed about the casket.
Rev. P. P. Phillips, rector of ST. Paul
Episcopal Church, conducted the services
and the interment was private. The pail
bearers were Messrs. ]. Clinton Smoot, CAL