Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-08
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Progress Made in Trial on MUIR.
der Charge.
WITNESSES HEARD TODAY
Attorney for Defense Asks for Acquit-
tai, Alleging Lack Of Evidence.
THE COURT HOUSE CROWDED
Bursting of Tank at Glass Factory
Causes Fire-General and
Personal Notes.
special Correspondence Of 1-ne Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA,, Va, March s, 1905.
AS a result of the investigation OF the
Curtin murder charge in the police court
this afternoon the defendants then trial,
George Patterson and Stephen Davis were
dismissed from custody, and Jack Ryan,
who heretofore figured witness, was
held for the action of the grand jury on the
charge which had been Heretofore placed
against the others mentioned.
What was regarded by many as the most
important testimony yet given in the pre-
liminary hearing before Police Justice
Harry B. Cation, came at noon today, when
States Attorney Samuel G. Brent put Capt.
James Webster, chief of police of Alexan-
dria,. upon the witness stand.
Capt Webster stated that, in company
With Attorney Brent, Mayor Paff and Po-
lieen1an Roberts, he had searched the Ton
tine Hotel and had found in an alleyway
what he believed to be bloody handprinss
on the wall. The party also discovered
blood on the wall of the stable in the rear
of the hotel The largest of these spots,
lie said. about the size of a teacup and
was about one foot from the floor. he
said he was satisfied that the stains in
the sta BILE were caused by blood, but was
unable to say whether human blood or not.
Attorney Brent stated that chemical
| analysis of the stains is being made, but
IfaI II VIII De three weeks before he can get
the chemists report.
Upon cross-exa mination by Mr. Carlin.
Capt. Webster said he could not tell whether
it looked like murder had been committed
there, but he said the stains had the ap-
pearance of having been partially scrubbed
away
When asked by Mr. Carlin whether he as
head of the police department of Alexan-
dria, knew anything about Detective Jack
Vedder and under whose authority he had
been working he replied that he only knew
what he had heard said of the matter at the
station house.
Attorney Brent here stated that the de-
tective had been working under the author
ity of the head of the whole police depart
ment of Alexandria.
Large Crowd of Spectators.
The crowd of spectators gathered around
the building at early hour, and when
the doors of the court room were opened
at 10 O'Clock rush was made for the po-
sitions at the rail.
Two Of the witnesses heard yesterday,
Hylus Osborne and Jack Ryan, were or
dered to be locked up by Attorney Brent.
Osborne, who lives near Washington, posi-
lively swore that he was not in Alexandria
the Saturday night before Christmas, but
stated that he was here Friday night in
company with Curtin and Jack Ryan. Sew
eral witnesses. however, swore yesterday
afternoon that Osborne was in Fanny
Kimbles house in company with Curtin
and Ryan Saturday night. Jack Ryan was
locked up for the purpose of keeping him
until he could testify.
Thomas SiIax was the first witness called
this morning. He said he Jack Ryan
and another man in Mrs. Fanny Cooks
eating house at breakfast about Z o'clock
the Sunday morning before Christmas. Os-
horn was brought in but Silax said he
was not the man with Ryan.
William Tatspaugh, who lives next door
to the Hotel Tontine. said ne saw some
spots Of blood on the pavement Of the alley
way between the two houses. lie said he
had told Capt Webster that he had seen
the blood during Christmas week. but said
this morning that it might have been be-
fore Christmas or after New Year. Wit
ness said he had seen blood there before,
but had seen none since He said it was
nothing unusual to see blood in front of a
saloon.
AdoIphus Robey was at the Tontine Hotel
from 10 o'clock to 80 o'clock the day in
question. and said Patterson was in the
hotel all that time. He did not see Curtin
there.
Leroy Beach was in May Belmont's house
when he heard a police whistle, and upon
going to the street to investigate he saw
Harry Meeks about to engage in a fight
with Kingston Radcliffe, whereupon he told
Meeks If he wanted to fight with anybody
he could fight with him Uhe witness) Wit
ness said he had seen Meeks in Patterson's
place a short time after his acquittal. and
that he told him he was afraid to come into
the hotel.
Jack Ryan was next called. Witness
night before Christmas, and woke up Sun
day morning about 8 O'Clock, and got his
breakfast at Joe Monroe's. When
fronted by the testimony that he had taken
his breakfast al Mrs Cooks eating house
Sunday morning he al first denied that he
SO testified. and later said he did not re-
member
Mr. Carlin called his attention to the dis
crepancies in his testimony, he having
stated that he had left the gas house at s
o'clock then that he was at Joe Monroe's
between and o'clock on the other. Wit
ness Saidehe had seen Curtin Friday night
at Fanny Kimble's. but had not seen him
Saturday. Robert Hicks. whom he said he
had seen at the gas house Sunday morning
was called. and he said Ryan was not
there.
Ryan was then recalled, and asked by
Mr.. Carlin If he had been on '.Beach's
Ark and had told certain witnesses at the
first trial that IL they We're asked about the
affair to say that they did not remember
and TO appear ignorant. Mr.. Carlin said to
him: Jack. there is strong suspicion in
the minds of many that you know some
thing about the murder of Curtin Do YOU
know anything about it?'
Ryan replied that he did not
Adjournment Ordered.
| After Capt. Webster's testimony Attorney
| Brent asked that the court adjourn until
o'clock as he had only one more witness
whom he wanted to USE and that he would
| be through with this witness in a half hour.
Attorney Carlin, for the defense, opposed
| the motion to adjourn and asked for the
| dismissal of his clients saying that after
| two days not a scintilla Of evidence had
beer produced against them
Upon the promise of Mr. Brent that ne
would end the case In half hour, Justice
Cation adjourned the court until 2 o'clock.
Ryan Held