Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-09
LEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
BELIEF EXPRESSED THAT GEO.
CURTIN WAS MURDERED.



ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 9, 1906.
A jury summoned by Coroner William r.
Purvis to conduct an inquest over the body
discovered in the river here yesterday
morning, and finally identified as that of
George Curtin, met this morning at
o clock al the undertaking establishment Of
w. Domaine & Son, on King street, and
without examining any witnesses, adjourn
ed, subject to a call from the coroner. The
members of the jury We're MessTs. r. NJ
Graham. foreman; E. Warfeld jr., c. ]. w.
Summers, r. E. Knight. Joseph Lowenback
and Willard Vincent. The inquest will be
resumed when the police have had time to
work up the case and have secured ma
terial witnesses.
A careful examination of the body Of the
dead man has convinced Coroner Purvis
that Curtin was murdered. This opinion,
which is shared by the police, was reached
after hearing the report of DR.. William NJ.
Smith, who performed the autopsy yester-
day afternoon DR.. Smith stated that
death had evidently been caused by terri
bic wounds which the man had received
It was his belief that Curtin had been
thrown into the water after he had been
killed. The theory attibuting the Wounds
on the body to the strokes Of propeller in
the river was not regarded by the physician
as credible.
Under close examination the injured parts
SHUWSu GNlu6HcS Oh Tue NOih VI ii pea
instrument than was at first indicated by
the gross appearances. The injuries which
Curtin received in his head would have
proved fatal, it was stated, had he not been
wounded elsewhere.
AS stated in The Star yesterday, the iden-
LITIGATION of the body was in doubt for sew
eral hours after 1t was removed from the
water. Eventually, however, the combined
opinion of members of Curtins family serv-
ed to set the question at rest. The man
was twenty-eight years of age and, as stat
ed, had been missing from his home since
the Saturday before Christmas The ponce
department, acting upon the view that the
case is one of murder, has begun careful
investigation. The officers have ascertain
ed that Curtin spent some time on North
Lee street the day OF his disappearance, anu
that he was seen to leave that locanty, go
Ing in the direction of the river. Inc theory
of suicide is not entertained by the authol-
tiles, but 1t has been stated by person
well acquainted with Curtin that ne nau
been heard to speak of ending his own ne
Although 1t was thought by some of Cur
tins relatives that he had nearly $3.50 with
him at the time OF his disappearance, tne
police have been unable to verify that re-
port.
Case Continued for Plaintiff.
The January term of the United States
court for the eastern district Of Virginia,
Judge Edmund Waddill presiding, opened
this morning at II o'clock In the post office
building The grand jury was impaneleo
and several cases were presented for lnvcs-
tigation
The damage suits OF Howard c. Knode
against Commonwealth Attorney Crandal
Mackey and Magistrate Joseph b. SuppIee
of Alexandria, in which assault and I'M
lawful prosecution are alleged, were called,
and on motion of Attorney Lamb for the
plaintiff were continued until the June
term.
In the declaration of the plaintiff 1t Is
asserted that the prosecution in Alexan-
drta county which formed the basis of the
action for damages has been finally and
fully determined but it appears from the
records of the circuit court for the county
that the case in question, together with
others of a similar character, Is still I'M
settled A mol, pros had been entered, but
before the session of the court ended 1t was
removed an the several cases We're re-
stored to their former status. The law,
1t Is stated, precludes the consideration in
court of suit for damages on the ground
of illegal prosecution until the case conn
planned OF is fully and finally determined
General Matters.
State Senator Lewis H. Machen and Dele
| gate James r. Cation left today for Rich
mond to be present at the opening of the
Virginia legislature tomorrow. Mr., Machen
represents the fourteenth senatorial dis
trict and Mr.. Cation represents Alexandra
county and city.
Barley presiding. George Dove, charged
with househreaking, and William barley,
charged with assault, were each SEN
fenced to serve three months In the city
iail fine OF - being added In Darley's
ease.