Evening star., 1905-09-06
ALEX ANDRIA AFFAIRS
VERDICT AGAINST RAILWAY
COMPANY FOR $1,000.
Termination Of Suit for Damages
Mayor Defers Investigation
Of Police Cases.
Special Correspondencs of The Star.

special correspondents OF The star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, September 9. 1905.
The entire session yesterday of the circuit
court for Alexandria county. Judge Charles
e. Nicol presiding. was taken UP with pro-
ceedings in the case Of Murtagh against the
Washington, Alexandra and Mount Vernon
Railway Company. in which Miss Mamie
Murtaugh sued for damages In the sum of
s5.O0O for personal injuries. alleged to have
been sustained in a wreck on the electric
road last March at Spring Park. In the
evening the case was given to the jury,
which. after being out for about fifteen MIN
utes. returned verdict awarding damages
in the sum OF 81 COO
Attorneys Lewis H Machen and r. C. L.
Moncure represented the PLAINTIFF and the
defendant company was represented by At
torneys r. Walton Moore. James r. Cation
and Harry B. Caton. Several witnesses
were presented by counsel for the plaintiff
to prove the accident and tho injuries al
legged. The attorneys for the defendant
company introduced no evidence. but con-
fined themselves to cross-examination OF
the witnesses for the other side. This case
was. It is said. the first OF long series, and
was closely contested by the opposing at
torneys.
In order to expedite the clearing of the
numerous docket. Judge Nicol announced
the determination to hold evening sessions
this week. 1t Is probable that the court
will be engaged with the other damage
cases against the electric road for several
days. The session OF the court was re-
sumed this morning at 10 o'clock.
Investigation Postponed.
The investigation by Mayor Paf OF the
charges of insubordination preferred by
CHIEF OF Police Webster against Of
f7car HarherF Knifyht continued 10 NJ
night in order to give time for the sum-
moning of additional witnesses. The evi-
dence OF the chief, :.he accused officer and
several other witnesses was heard before
the matter was postponed.
After the case of Officer knight was dis
posed of for the time Mayor Paff consider
ed the complaints of several persons to the
effect that charity patients had not been
receiving sufficient attention from the ply
sicians to the poor In the past few months.
DIR. e. A. German. health officer for this
city. who is also one OF the two physicians
to the poor, was present and explained to
the mayor that by reason Of the I'll health
Of DR.. w. R. Purvis. the other corporation
ply sician. he had been compelled to do
practically the whole work OF the service
for several months. The mayor took the
was in no way to blame for the complaints.
The investigation. II is stated developed
practically into q conference between the
mayor and the health officer as TO the
needs of the city IN connection with the
public medical service.
Held for Grand Jury.
Two soldiers frem Fort Hunt. giving their
rames respectively. as Lewis Skies and
Houston Burk. were given hearing be-
fore Justice Cation in the Police Court this
morning on the charge OF committing .
felonious assault on William Mankin in q
house on North Lee street about two weeks
ago. Mankin testified that the men had
attacked him and that in the fight some
person had cut him on the hear with q
knife. He was taken to the Alexandria
Hospital. where his condition was at first
considered nearly desperate. The defend
ants In their own behalf stated that they
had acted In self-defense. Their cases were
referred to the grand jury.