Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-25
DELAYIN WRIGHT CASE
ATTORNEY MACKEY AWAITING
INQUIRY REGARDING ALIBI.
Wants to Be Certain Of the Man Be-
fore Applying for Requisi-
ton.

Commonwealth Attorney Crandal Mackey
Of Alexandria county, Va, changed his
mind about sending Deputy Sheriff Fields
to Richmond today to get a requsition for
John Wright, alias Joseph Thomas, colored,
who Is accused Of the assaults upon Miss
Mabel Risley and Forrest Gooding The
warrant charging the prisoner with the Sc
rious crime upon the young woman has
been prepared by Mr.. Mackey, but 1t has
not yet been sworn to. An affidavit has also
been prepared to be sworn to and signed
by Miss Risley. 1t was deemed best, how
ever, not to take any further action at this
time, but to wait until the alibi that was
set up by the prisoner can be Investigated
Sheriff Palmer and Deputy Sheriff Fields
are making inquiry regarding the state
ments made by the prisoner and when
this is completed the commonwealth at
torney will determine what course he will
pursue.
1t is he intention of Mr.. Mackey not to
make an effort to have the prisoner remov-
ed to Virginia unless he has testimony
enough to make him feel reasona bly, certain
of a conviction. The prisoner, it is assert
ed, has made contradictory statements, but
these alleged contradictions may not affect
the charge that he committed the crime
near Four-Mile Run. He says he was out
driving with his wife and Susie Bird the
night that Miss Risley and Mr. Gooding
were assaulted. The sheriff has ascertained
that the colored man did hire a horse and
buggy at stable in Alexandria the day the
learned anything about his subsequent
movements.
Certain Of Identification.
Miss Risley called upon Mr.. Mackey this
morning and conferred with him about the
case. She repeated the assertion that John
Wright is the man who assaulted and
robbed her In conversation with a Star
reporter Miss Risey stated that while at
the Jail Saturday night she did not identify
any prisoner other than Wright, but she
did see another man who looked very much
like her aSsailant. 1t was not until she
heard Wright talk, she stated, that she
positively identified him.
The Alexandria county authorities are
very much interested in the prisoner, John
Wright, and even though his alibi should
be established in the case of Miss Risley
they will investigate him in connection with
the murder of Jackson Boney, colored,
who was shot and killed near the south end
of the Highway bridge about month ago.
Annie Green, colored who has been held
for the action of the grand jury in Alex
andria county for her alleged connection
with the killing of Boney, has given a de-
scription of the man she accused of shoot
ing Boney.
Her description of the man." said Mr..
Mackey this morning, italics exactly with
that of Wright
Attorney r. L. c. Moncure, who is coun-
sci for Annie Green, visited the District
jail yesterday and had look at a number
of colored prisoners He went there, it is
stated, for the purpose of identifying the
man, if he could, from the description his
client had given him and he selected
Wright. Annie Green Says a strange col
ored man did the shooting. but that she is
positive she will be able to identify him.
The Attorneys Purpose.
Her counsel is anxious to have her
brought to this city and taken to the Jail in
order to see If she identify Wright. II
is hardly probable that she will be brought
here, however, unless the alibi that is set up
by Wright proves that Miss Risley is mis-
taken.
Mr.. Mackey stated this afternoon that he
was waiting to hear the result of the sher-
ifs investigation before proceeding fur
Their in the matter of preparing the papers
and asking for requisition papers. He
thinks he will probably issue the warrant
and send it to Richmond tomorrow.