Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-13
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
PROGRESS IN THE HEARING OF
THE sMooT WILL CASE.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Speciai Correspondence OF The Star
ALEXANDRIA. Va, January 10, 1906.
Miss Ella Rose Smoot took the stand in
the corporation court yesterday afternoon
IN the proceedings instituted to test the
will of her mother. Mrs. Frances P. Smoot,
and told of the relations existing between
herself and the testatrix during period of
several years before the death of the latter
Miss Smoot declared that her mother had
been most affectionate to her up to about
the time of the marriage of her sister to
Rev. w. Strother Jones. Subsequently, the
witness stated. the attitude of her mother
toward her showed a marked change in
many respects Documents were placed in
evidence to show that Mrs. Smoot had
made several agreements with her daugh-
ter, Miss Ella Rose Smoot as to her an
nual allowance, but had disregarded and
Ial1ed TO carry out each one of them Evil
dence was brought to prove that on one
occasion the mother had given her daughter
written notice to the effect that after
certain date she would be allowed no more
cash payments. Among the documentary
evidence presented was a bill filed by Miss
Smoot some time before her mothers death
asking for construction of her fathers
VIII. Judge Nfcol of the circuit court at
that time directed that she be given a
monthly allowance Of s75.
Before Miss Smoot took the stand Rev
w. Strother Jones, who is named in the
contested will as executor, was examined
at length He stated that his mother-in-
law had made her will while she was
guest at his home in Trenton, n. j. but he
denied that he had attempted in any way
to influence her concerning the provisions
of the instrument He said that when she
preached the subject of having the will
drawn in Trenton he advised her against It,
but that when she insisted upon carrying
out her intention he recommended promi-
nent attorney of that city for the legal as
sistance necessary. Other witnesses were
examined during the day. The case will
be resumed Monday morning at 10 O'Clock
General Matters.
The statement was made at police head
quarters this morning that there had been
no new developments in the investigation
of the murder of George Curtin, which, it
is believed, occurred either on the river or
in the eastern portion of the city the day
before Christmas. The police have been
making careful search for the clothes
of the murdered man, but without success.
Yesterday afternoon several members of
the force dragged the docks On the river
front in the hope of finding some of Cur
tins garments, but trace of them was
discovered.
Funeral services over the remains of Ben
jamin Greenwood, whose death occurred
Wednesday morning at the Jones Point
light house, of which he had been keeper
for many years. We're held yesterday af-
ternoon from that place. Rev. William J.
Morton of Christ Episcopal Church officiat-
ed, and the pallbearers were Messrs. Peter
Aitcheson, Robert Evans, John Peyton, Ed
ward Davis, A. Dean and w. P. Graves.
The January term OF the United States
court for the eastedn district of Virginia,
Judge Edmund Waddill presiding, adjourn
ed yesterday afternoon. Many eases in
which indictments were reported were
transferred to the Norfolk court.
Noble Johnson, a well-known riverman,
died yesterday at his home on Queen
street between Fairfax and Lee streets.
He was native of Maryland, but had lived
here the greater portion of his life He
was a son of the late James Johnson.