Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
CAUSES GREAT EXCITEMENT
The Murderer Escapes and Officers 60
In Pursuit.
MAY BE LYNCHED, IF CAUGHT
Another Officer Knocked Down and
Injured-An Attempted Hold
Up Reported.
Special From a star Correspondent.

special from q Stan correspondent.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. October 20. 1905
Charles T. Smith, son Of Lieut.. James
Smith Of the Alexandria police force, was
killed tonight by a co1ored man whose
Young Smith was endeavoring to assist
in the negro's arrest. The shooting oc-
CURED at the head Of King street, on the
south side, just opposite the old fair
grounds. where a circus was in progress
The murderer made his escape.
The bullet entered Mr.. Smiths left
temple and passed through his head
Death was instantaneous. Shortly after
the shooting Coroner Moore was notified
and after viewing the remains they were
removed to the undertaking establish
ment of E. Wheatly. where an inquest will
in all probability be held some time to-
morrow
While the body Of Mr. Smith lay In a
pool of blood 1t was surrounded by nun
dreds of citizens. and it was with diff
Guilty that the police kept the surzing
crowd from trampling over the body
Practically every policeman in the city,
with hundreds Of armed citizens. are to-
night securing the entire section Of the
country west of where the shooting took
place. and the police expect to apprenend
Johnson before morning. 1t is believed
that he Will be lynched II caught.
Rush for Prisoner.
About 1870 this morning man who gave
MS name as John Lewis. colored. was ar
rncfn tn, I-:~
ton house. charged with being intoxicated
1t was whispered by persons in the crowd
which had witnessed the arrest that Lewis
was suspected of having murdered Smith.
A rush for the prisoner followed. At the
door OF the station house the crowd was
met by Mayor Paff. who succeeded in quiet
ing the assemblage. which was constantly
increasing in size
Policeman Garvey's Statement.
Policeman Garvey returned after an I'M
successful search for Johnson. and stated
that he and Mr.. Smith were searching for
the man who had previously assaulted
Policeman Nicholson on the fair grounds
AS soon as they saw the man. whom thew
supposed was the ono they wanted. thew
went to him and informed him he was
unoer arrest, whereupon he whipped out a
could realize what was to occur he sbot
Mr.. Smith. Officer Garvey, seeing his
brother officer lying PROSTATE at his feet
IN pool OF blood, at once drew his pistol
put pefore ne had time to fire. the negro
knocked the pistol from his hand and dis
appeared. Policeman Gill fired two shots at
the fleeing man. 80
The negro turned at the corner of King
and Peyton street, and is supposed to have
gone in a westerly direction toward the
railroad yards. WherA he turned the corner
he discarded his coat. There were MANY
rumors concerning the shooting. several
reputable citizens claiming to have heard
as many as five shots exchanged, but ac-
cordiHs to Policeman Garvey's statement
this is incorrect.
Breaks Up the Circus
Perhaps never before did a shooting Gre
ate such excitement In the city as has this
one When it became known that Mr.
Smith was shot the circus was practically
broken up. There was not a man in the
crowd who was not willing to aid the DO
lice in experimenting the murderer, and
threats of summary vengeance was made
in .-.e event of his capture
Mr.. Smith was about thirty-fiye years of
age and was bricklayer by occupation,
His wife and several small children sur
vive him.
Lieut.. James Smith. father of the dead
man, walked into police headquarters a few
minutes after 8 o'clock tonight and was in
formed by Policeman Roberts that his son
Charles had been killed on the old fair
grounds. The lieutenant broke down COM
pleteiy and wept aloud. He later went to
his home. where he was subsequently re-
ported to be suffering greatly from the eff
fects of the shock.
An Officer Assaulted.
During the progress of circus on the old
fair grounds tonight a furious fight oc-
CURED among a number Of strange negroes.
men and women, and during the melee that
followed Policeman A. ]. Nicholson was
knocked down in the mud and hit over the
head with the butt end of a revolver, In
ficting an ugly scalp wound The police
man was covered with mud from head to
foot and had his clothes badly torn. 1t is
stated that a number of colored men and
women engaged in a free-for-all fight and
the officer endeavored to arrest man who
seemed to be the principal offender No
sooner had he done this than the colored
man set upon him, and In a few minutes
he was on the ground and was being badly
used up. AS soon as the policeman could
recover himself he arose and placed sew
eral of the negro women under arrest and
in the meantime his assailant had made
good his escape.
Later Policeman Nicholson went to the
station and had his wounds dressed. AS
result Of the fracaS the colored women, who
are alleged to have been participants in the
fight, are locked up at police headquarters
as follows: Cora Conner, Gertrude Robin
son and Sarah Johnson. Efforts on the
part of the police to apprehend the men
who beat the officer were unsuccessful
Attempted Hold-Up.
Shortly after OF clock tonight police head
quarters was notified that an effort had
been made by a burly colored man to rob
Miss Cora Petty, daughter of Mr. Willis
Petty. who lives at s15 Madison street.
Chief Goods went to the scene of the al
legged hold-up, and after securing the entire
neighborhood was unsuccessful In appre-
hending the man.
Miss Petty stated that she was on her
way home. carrying several packages. and
when she arrived north OF the alley on
Columbus street between Cameron and
Queen streets the negro grabbed her. She
at once made an outcry and ran into the
vesttbule of the residence Of Mr. Charles
Marshall 224 North Columbus street She
pounded on the door. and in a few minutes
Mrs. Marshall responded and admitted her.
The young woman was In hysterical con-
dition, and II was considerable time before
she could give an account of the occur
renee. After Miss Petty became Quieted
she was escorted to her home by Mr.. Mar
shall.
Within the past few weeks numerous hold
ups OF young ladies have occurred on this