Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-09
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
OPERATOR ASSAULT
ED BY GANG OF CoLoRED MEN.
Three Arrests Made of Parties Suspect
ed-Improvement of Local
Mail Service.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA. Va. June 8, 1905.
Virgil Davis, a young telegraph operator,
whose home is on Prince street, was bru-
tally assaulted last night about 10 o'clock
by a gang of negroes at the old fair
grounds at the head of King street. Davis
was knocked down and slashed with a
knife the back of his head and on his
face. The attention of people near by be-
ing attracted by the scuffiing, the assail-
ants hurried away, leaving the young man
prone upon the ground and bleeding pro-
fusely from his wounds. Omcer Beach. VINO
reached the scene soon after the occur
renee assisted in conveying Davis to Sum-
mers' drug store, where his injuries were
temporarily dressed by DR.. A. A. Rittenour
Later the young man was taken to the
home of his father, Capt. A. A. Davis on
Prince street. He had bad scalp wound
on the back of his head. but the most Sc
rious injury he received was ugly slash
extending across his teeth and laying open
both cheeks. This wound inflicted by
a fierce thrust from one of the negroes as
young Davis was falling backward. From
appearances. the blow. If it had been de-
livered a moment later, would have re-
suited in cutting his throat.
Mr.. Davis Makes Statement.
Mr.. Davis was able soon after the affair
to give a broken account of what had hap
pened. He said that while walking quietly
from the fair grounds he had been run into
derby negroes. When he demonstrated for
the rough treatment one of the negroes
cursed him in the vilest manner, where
upon he knocked the offender down. The
others then sprang upon him. hurting him
to the ground with blows. While he was
falling, as above stated, one of the assaN-
ants used a knife with terrible effect.
Three negroes. giving their names, re-
spectively as James Price. Dave White and
Robert Dewey, were arraigned before JUS
In the nOlica court this morning
on suspicion of having committed the as
sault. Owing to the absence Of Mr.. DAVIS
who was unable to appear by reason OF
his injuries, the cases were postponed unlu
tomorrow morning. The prisoners We're
arrested by Officers Knight. Ferguson. Rob-
erts, Smith and Nicholson.
Better Mail Delivery Service.
1t is understood that the Post Office De-
partment will take some steps In the near
future for the improvement of the local
distributing service of the city post office
Mr.. w. II. Haycock, the assistant superln-
tendent of the free delivery service OF the
department, has. been here several times
recently and, with Postmaster Joseph L.
Crupper, has made a careful examination
of the carriers routes. 1t is said that the
department may decide to point an add1-
tional carrier as the difficulty in delivering
the mail has been due entirely, 1t Is stated,
to insufficient numbers in the present force
Recently there has been marked increase
in the volume of work at the local office
and the force which was formerly fully
sufficient for the duties, has not been
added to-
General Matters.
Herbert E. Thomas. a private in the 42d
Company, Coast Artillery, U. s. A.. station
ed at oFrt Hunt, died yesterday afternoon
at that place from pneumonia. He was
thirty-three years of age. The remains will
be forwarded by Messrs. w. Domaine d
Son, undertakers. to the former home OF
the deceased in Indiana for interment.
The following citizens have been sum-
hloned for service as grand jurors at the
June term of the corporation court, which
begins next Monday S. E. Lindsey, r. E.
Knight, Laurence Stabler, w. E. Balm.
Julian Y. Williams. E. E. LAWYER, Worth
Hulfish, H. X. Field, George D. Hopkins,
B. Baaer, jr., William Bryant and E. NJ.
Anderson.
The condition of Mrs. Catherine Starr.
the young animal trainer who was severely
bitten by big bear In the Wild animal
tent of the Jones-Adams Carnival Company
on the fair grounds. Wednesday afternoon,
was considered more threatening this MORN
ing and 1t was decided to remove her to
Providence Hospital, Washington.
The Friendship Veteran Fire Association
returned to Alexandria yesterday afternoon
from trip to Hagerstown. Nd The
association attracted much attention In the
parade in Hagerstown with their ancient
and historic hand fire engine In line.