Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-18
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
JOHN a. LATHAM SEVERELY IN
JURED By LIGHTNING.
Cattle Killed in Electrical Storm-Boy
Held for Action of
Grand Jury. ia
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 49, 1905.
John H. Latham, an electrical engineer
employed by the Winston Electric Construc-
ton Company, in charge of some work in
the railway yards near st. Asaph, Alexan-
dria county, was struck by lightning and
severely injured yesterday afternoon in the
course of the severe storm which prevailed
in this section.
While the storm was at its height he had
occasion to use the telephone, and just as
he put the receiver to his ear bolt of
lightning struck the wire and rendered him
unconscious. His left ear was badly LAGER
ated both internally and externally and his
neck was severely burned. He was put
aboard q locomotive and brought to Alex
andria, where he was conveyed to the
Alexandria Hospital for treatment. DR..
William M. Smith rendered medical assist
ance. Mr.. Latham remained for many hours
in semi conscious condition, but 1t is
now thought that he will recover.
Mr.. Latham is son of ]. NJ. Latham, a
business man of Manchester Va, and has
been engaged in the electrical work at the
local railway yards since March. During
that time he and his wife made their home
in Washington
About the same time lightning struck re-
peatedly in the neighborhood of Braddock
station, and two valuable cows belonging to
Mr.. r. d. Woolf, who conducts a dairy
farm there, were killed. The cows were
standing between two trees when the light
Made Rope in Cell.
Viola Fleet, colored, who is wanted in
Washington to answer the charge of lar
ceny, was arrested yesterday by Detective
Mullin of that city and Policeman Carney
Of Alexandria, and locked up at the local
station house. A short time after she had
been placed in the cell Policeman Roberts,
in making his rounds, noticed that the
woman was apparently endeavoring to hang
herself with a rope which she had impro-
vised from her apron strings. Her efforts
were frustrated, however, before she had
done herself any injury She was later
turned over to the Washington authorities.
Held for Grand Jury.
In the police court this morning Waverly
Lucas and John Shepherd. both colored,
were charged with assaulting Somerfield
Brooks, a twelve-year- colored boy, with
brick the night of June 80. 1t was testi-
fled that the Brooks boy was employed at
the Alexandria glass factory and that a
crowd of half-grown colored boys were
hanging around the place and interfering
with the work. One of the employees of the
factory attempted to dispense the gather
ing. when. 1t is alleged. the brick was
thrown which struck the boy Brooks was
rendered unconscious by the blow, and has
been confined to bed from its effects UP to
few days ago. In court this morning he
exhibited a scar several inches long upon
his forehead. The policemen who made the
arrest stated that Lucas had admitted to
them at the time that he had thrown the
brick at the man, but had accidentally
struck the boy. The Shepherd boy was dis
missed and Lucas was held to await the
action of the grand jury.
General News.
William Lttlejohn, colored, was charged
ir the Police Court this morning with as
sauting and beating Annie Harris, also
colored. Williams explanation of the al
fair was not satisfactory and he was fined
SO William Vass Jim Bell, Martha john
son and Bertha Jackson, all colored, were
fined IS each on the charge of disorderly
conduct.
A meeting of the joint council committee
on light finance and general laws was held
last night to consider the report of Mr..
Hugh HaZeHon, the electrical expert VINO
had been employed by the city council TO
advise the committee as to the most ad-
vantageous bid offered for the purchase or
the electric light plant and power fran
chise The report of Mr.. HaZelton will not
be made public until the committee decides
upon which bid to recommend TO council
at it's next meeting.
r. e Lee Camp. Confederate Veterans,
will go to Washington tomorrow to at
tend the funeral of Mr.. Frank Hume, who
had been a member of the camp for many
years.