Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-05
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
JOSEPH THOMAS LIKELY TO Elk
Plate CRIME ON sCAFFoLD.
Counsel Abandon Efforts in His Be-
half-Convicted Of Criminal As
sault General News.
,ecisl Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. April 8. 1907
All efforts in behalf of Joseph Thomas
alias John Wright. colored. sentenced to be
hanged. for a criminal assault on Miss
Mable Risley now Mrs. Forrest Gooding
of Washington. which occurred near Luna
Park, Alexandria county, September 9. 1906.
have up to the present failed, and unless
Gov. Swanson extends executive clemency
Of his own accord, 1t Is stated, Wright
will expiate his crime on the scaffold A
date for the execution will be set at the
April term of the county court. which
convenes April 10. with Judge Louis c.
Barley presiding.
The county officials are ready for the
exception. as the scaffold which was
erected last December has never been re-
moved. Attorney Basil Boteer. who was
associated with Attorney Clements in con-
that he had endeavored to get the mem
bers who composed the trial jury that
convicted the accused to sign petition
asking that Wright's sentence be com
stated that after seeing all the members
who composed the jury he only succeeded
in getting the signatures of two. and since
that time has made no further effort
In view of the fact that the supreme
court of appeals of the state recently re-
fused to reconsider the case OF the CON
demned man, IL lS COnSiueFeu that NoN.
Swanson will decline to take any action
in the case unless a petition is presented
to him. which is considered to be doubt
full.
Maintains His Innocence.
Wright still maintains that he is innocent
of the crime. He told one of the jail OFF,
Gals yesterday that he would prefer to have
his sentence committed to life imprison-
ment. According to the officials. the con-
demned man still has hopes of being saved
from the gallows. and when recently APP
prised of the action of the court of appeals
in his case he seemed but little disturbed.
When Wright was first convicted he be-
came very religious, and acted as though
he was preparing to die, but the officials
say that some time ago he stopped reading
his Bible and now spends his time in smok-
ing and talking to the prisoners when OPP
portunity presents.
Republican Committee to Meet.
The republican congressional committee
of this district will hold meeting In this
city April ID for the purpose Of deciding
whether not they will hold a nominating
convention to nominate a candidate for
Congress. Chairman Dodge of Manassas.
Va has issued call for the meeting. 1t is
understood the republicans believe it desira-
BILE to place candidate in the field. Among
those prominently spoken of in connection
with the nomination are William B. King of
Loudoun county and John B. Henderson,
jr., of Alexandria county.
Death of John A. Finks.
John A. Finks, brother of William L.
Finks. died at the Alexandria Hospital
about $50 o'clock last night, after short
illness. The deceased was a telegraph OPP
orator by occupation. Mr.. Finks was I'M
married and was thirty-six years of age.
He was a native of Warrenton, Va. The
ING ony-n6 IN no
his brother, S14 Prince street.
Funeral services will be held privately at
1870 O'Clock tomorrow night Rev. j: H. s.
Ewell of the Methodist Protestant Church
will officiate. The remains will be shipped
Sunday morning to Warrenton for burial.
General Matters.
Lewis Robinson. colored about fifty years
Of age an employee of the Alexandria Fer
tilizer and Chemical Company, was caught
beneath a falling bank of fertilizer at the
companys plant about o'clock ths morn
ing He was extricated after considerable
difficulty and conveyed to the Alexandria
Hospital. where he received medical at
tention. His injuries are not serious
The exhibit prepared by the pupils of Lee
School for Young Ladies, which will be
placed on exhibition at the Jamestown ex-
position. has been completed. and was in
spected last night by the members of the
city school board and number of citi-
zens Many events connected with the his
tory Of the city are represented. The ex-
hbit was declared to be very creditable,
and Miss Ada " Grgg, principal of the
school, was highly compimented for the
excellent showing made.
George Johnson, colored, about fourteen
years Of age, who recently ran away from
the reform school at Broad Neck farm,
Hanover county. Va, was picked up by the
police last night. He will be detained at
the police station until officials from the
school arrive to take him in custody.
The April term Of the corporation court
will convent Monday next, with Judge Louis
c. Barley presiding. 1t Is expected that a
considerable number of chancery cases will
come up at this term for consideration.