Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-28
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Conflict Between City and
County Officials.
MATTER OF AUTHORITY
INQUEST OVER CoLoRED MAN
MAY BE DUPLICATED.
Police Judge Imposes Fine Of 500
and Sentence in Jail Upon
Highwayman.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, November o. 1905.
A conflict of authority has developed be-
tween the officials of this city and Alex
andria county over the question of hold
ing the inquest over the remains of James
Richardson. the negro charged with high
way robbery who was killed yesterday by
policemen of this city while he was resist
ing their attempt to place him under ar
rest. The point in contention involves the
right of the corporation officials to assume
full control of criminal cases occurring
within the jurisdiction of the county, but
also within a mile of the city boundary,
and in particular it concerns the authority
Of the city coroner to order that the re-
| mains Of person killed in the territory in
dicated be removed from the county for
the purpose of holding an inquest. The
| result of the differences that have arisen
will probably be that a second inquest will
be held over the remains. The body of the
man was brought here yesterday afternoon
within short time after he was shot, and
City Coroner William r. Purvis directed
that a jury be summoned to meet this aft
ernoon at 2:3O o'clock for an inquest at
the undertaking rooms Of w. Domaine.
County Coroner Notified.
Meanwhile County Coroner S. r. Ashton
had been notified and came here to claim
the remains for an inquest. After learning
of the attitude of the city authorities he re-
turned to the county and consulted Com
monwealth Attorney Mackey, who advised
him that it was his province to hold the in
quest. Accordingly Dr. Ashton directed
that coroner's jury be summoned to meet
tomorrow morning at IL o'clock at De-
| names undertaking establishment to view
the remains.
AS stated in The Star yesterday Richard
son was shot by Alexandria policemen near
Spring Park, short distance outside the
corporation boundary. 1t is the claim of
the city authorities that they have a right
to exercise full control over the case under
the law granting police jurisdiction within
mile limits of cities.
The law governing the holding of inquests
is said to be somewhat liberal In Its appli-
cation to suit the circumstances In a given
case. Instances are mentioned where In
quests have been held in this city over the
remains of persons who met their death in
distant countries in which the action Of the
coroner was fully sustained. 1t Is also
stated here that under the law second in
quest over body is void
The jury which met this afternoon under
the direction of City Coroner Purvis was
composed of the following: Messrs. Joseph
Lowenback Richard Gibson, John H. Trim
yer, C. j. w. Summers, E. Warfeld, Jr.,
and R. E. Knight. The inquiry had not been
concluded when this report closed.
Gave Highwayman the Limit.
Cation presiding, Arthur Richardson, col
ored, who was arrested yesterday on the
charge of highway robbery a short time
before the attempted arrest and subsequent
killing of James Richardson, his alleged
companion In the act. was fined 500 and
sentenced to serve thirty days in Jail, or in
lieu Of the fine to serve nine months In jail.
In imposing the sentence Justice Cation an
nounced that he would give the prisoner the
limit allowed under the law. Charles
Twiner. another negro charged with being
implicated in the same trouble. was exam
ined, but his case was continued until to-
morrow morning. Butcher Russell, colored,
who was In company with the other negroes,
and was arrested just before the shooting
of Richardson, was charged with escaping
from the city jail. A period Of thirty days
was added to his original term.
The case of C. A. Donnelly charged with
selling liquor on Sunday at a saloon on
North Fairfax street. was continued.
General and Personal.
Funeral services over the remains of Mrs
Leonora Irene Lambert, whose death oc-
Cured Saturday afternoon, took place this
morning at 10 o'clock from her late resi-
dence, 314 Duke street. Many friends and
relatives of the deceased attended. Rev +.
=. Phillips, rector of st. Paurs Episcopal
Church. conducted the services and the In
torment was made in Union Cemetery. The
pallbearers were Messrs. J. B. Cariin,
w orln hulHSil, IaFh ASHeWy Jonn +. RoD-
inson, Edgar Warfield, jr., and Alonzo
Houck.
The funeral of Mrs Francis P. Smoot
whose death occurred yesterday at her
home IL Prince street, will take place to-
morrow at noon from her late residence.
She was the widow of Josiah H. D. Smoot.
formerly prominent lumber merchant OF
this city. Mrs. Smoot was seventy-one
years of age and her death followed a long
illness. Three daughters and several grand
children survive her.
court has appointed A. Perry and NJ stout
to act as special policemen in and near the
new union passenger station. The appoint
lnents were made upon application Of the
Washington Southern Railway Company.
A negro woman named Kate Russell vas
found dead this morning in her house on
South Columbus street. There was a sus-
picion of foul play and the police are IN
yestipatine the case.