Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-07
Al ElANDRIA AFFAIRS
Trial Of George Patterson and
Stephen Davis Opens.
MURDER OF GEORGE CURTIN
The Men Before Police Court Judge
on That Charge.
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS
Testimony Heard Today-Long List
Of Witnesses-Genera1 and
Personal Matters.
MURDER OF GEORGE cuRTIl
Special correspopdence Of rhe Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March T. 1906.
The preliminary hearing of George Pat
terson, proprietor of the Hotel Tontine,
and Stephen Davis, a riverman on the
charge of the murder of George R. Curtin
on the early morning of December "a last,
began in the corporation court room at 10
O'Clock this morning before Police Justice
Harry B. Cation. Owing to the limited ac-
commodations at the police court ROOM a
change to the corporation court was found
necessary, and every available space of the
larger room was crowded with eager spec
tators some time before the hour set for
the commencement of the hearing. States
Attorney Samuel G. Brent, at whose in
stance the warrants were sworn out against
the accused, was present and conducted the
prosecution, while Attorney C.. c. Carln,
who had been retained by Patterson and
Davis, conducted the defense. Mayor Fred
erick ]. Paff of Alexandria, who was pres
ent, occupied a seat near Attorney Brent,
and was an interested listener.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the prisoners wer,,
brought from their cells in the station
house by Capt. James Webster. chief of po-
lice. and Policeman John Roberts, and were
seated beside their attorney, Mr.. Carlin.
Attorney Carlin addressed the court, and
asked that the hours of the hearing be
| made from 10 o'clock to l o'clock. with an
hour recess, the evening session to last I'M
til o'clock. Attorney Brent asked that
the evening session should end at o'clock,
and these hours thus designated were de-
cided upon by Justice Cation.
Capt. Webster then called a long list of
witnesses most of whom answered to their
names. The witnesses were sworn, after
| which they were conducted to the jury
room. to remain until called upon. Among
those called were Harry Meeks and Herbert
Foster, who were at first charged with the
murder. but were later eXonerated before
Justice Cation.
The Testimony.
Edward Clark was called, and stated that
he was with Curtin Saturday night, and
left him about ten minutes to IL o'clock,
when the latter got into a cab and drove
off He did not remember how Curtin was
dressed.
Harry Meeks was next called He testi-
fled that he was in the Tontine Hotel about
II o'clock. and that Curtin came in at the
side entrance. the front door having been
closed by Patterson. He said that Curtin
was very boisterous and was swearing. Pat
terson. he said. told him he must keep
quiet or he would put him out He said
Curtin came out. and kissed several men
goodnight and that Curtin, Foster and he
(MeekS) then went down to Lee street to-
gether. They went into Eva Bakers house
about 1925 o'clock. and saw five strangers
there. none of whom he could identify
They met man with light overcoat, and
he went with them to house on Princess
street. He did not know this man. but said
he was not Patterson nor a man called
Lucky McCaffery. The stranger he said
was a heavy-set man and had a smooth
face.
When asked If he had had any conversa-
ton with Patterson Leroy Beach since
his exoneration from the charge of murder
ing Curtin, he said he was in the Tontine
Hotel the Sunday after his dismissal and
had been congratulated by Patterson and
Beach on having been cleared. He said
he told Beach that when the latter testi-
fled he had engaged in an alteration with
him (the witness) the night of December
%, he was mistaken, he had not seen
Beach at all that night.
Mr. Carlin asked him about a row which
took place at Mamie Woods house be-
tween Curtin and James Feagan. He said
In reply that Feagan objected to Curtin be-
ing in the house. and that Curtin seemed
angry about this, and said he did not know
what was the matter with Feagan. as he
had always spent his money with him.
Witness said he thought a row was going
to occur between the men. and as he did
not want to be mixed UP in 1t he decided
to leave and go home.
George Smms, a colored cab driver, was
next called He stated that he had con-
veyed Curtin from the corner of Henry
and Cameron streets to Patterson's place,
getting there about 1915 o'clock The
front door was closed and he was let in
the side entrance by a man who wore q
light overcoat. but he did not know the
man
Theodore GentZner saw Curtin come into
Mamie Woods house about 1890 o'clock
and they had some words because Curtin
stepped his foot he was coming in.
Witness was showed out the door by the
woman and the door closed behind him
Curtin Complained of Illness.
William Maupin went to Pattersons about
O'Clock and had a drink. After this he
went to North Lee street with Carroll
Hantzmond and saw Curtin sitting Fan
ny Kimbals step. Two other men were
standing near him. One was leaning over
by Curtin and the other was standing on
the curb. The one leaning over Curtin, he
said. was dressed in light overcoat, but,
as 1t was dark, witness could not see the
faces of either of the men. He said he
slapped Curtin on the back and said to him:
Get up there, you old drunk
Curtin told him to leave him alone he
waa sick.
Carroll Hantzmond also saw the two men.
but could not identify them, as he said
they acted as though they did not want to
know anybody
Dug Wood was in Patterson's. and later
went to 1.-The division" Just as he was
coming out Of 1.-The little BRICK he said,
police whistle was blown, but he did not
know why 1t was blown. He was not
tain, he said, whether the whistle had been
blown from the building or the street.
After several more witnesses were ex-
amined the court adjourned for the noon
recess.
Resignation Of officers.
Mr. Henry C. Schnell the president OF
the Alexandria Glass Works, and Mr.. Jo-
seph Ramsay, the general superintendent
of the company, have resigned their post
tons with that company. Mr.. Ramsay
has accepted position with the Old Do
nsfnion Glass Company of this city The
resignation of President Schnell was due
to his Ill health.
Collector Appointed.
Capt. A. ]. Fair. former captain of the
Baltimore and Ohio tug Beaverton, has
been appointed by w. H. Hellmuth, chair
man of the committee public property
OF the city council. as collector for the city
fish wharf. Heretofore the fish wharf has
been leased for the term to the highest
bidder. but, owing to the low bid offered
this year. the committee decided that it
wac for the best interests to conduct the
wharf for the city.