Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-24
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Petitions to the Governor in
Case Of Joseph Thomas.
CONDEMNED TO BE HANGED
Citizens Ask Executive Not to Inter
fere, Others Suggest Clemency.
REMARKABLE FIGHT FOR LIFE
George Midgets, Who Obtained Writ
Of Error, Asks Change Of
ss;s. Venue.
REMARKABLE FIGHT FOR LIFE
special Correspopdepce Of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, May 25, 1907.
A petition bearing the signatures of one
hundred residents Of Alexandra county, in
GLIDING the majority of the members who
composed the trial jury, was at noon today
mailed to Gov. Swanson requesting him to
permit the sentence of the court to be car
ried out in the case of Joseph Thomas, alias
John Wright, colored, sentenced to be hang
ed at the jail at Alexandria county Friday
MKT for having criminally assaulted Miss
Mable Risley, now Mrs. Forrest Gooding,
of Washington.
A counter petition, understood to bear the
signatures of many residents of the county,
will be carried to Richmond the early part
of next week and presented to the governor
by Attorney James E. Clements who repre-
sents Wright. Mr.. Clements In his petition
requests the governor to commute Wrights
sentence to life Imprisonment
Unless Gov. Swanson acts favorably on
MI. Clements petition Wright will be hang
ed Friday next between the hours Of am
and noon The county officials are already
prepared for the execution, the scaffold hay-
ing been erected last December. Just what
action Gov. Swanson will take in the mat
ter Is regarded as problematical Many of
the county officials are inclined to believe
that he will let the law take its course
Wrights fight for life has been a most
remarkable one October 81, 1906 he was
placed on trial for his life. and the follow
Ing day, November l. at midnight, jury,
with Judge Charles E. Nicol presiding, re-
turned verdict Of guilty and fixed the
punishment at death. Wright was immedi-
ately sentenced by the judge, and the date
for his execution was fixed for December
IA last. December IL the state court of APP
peals granted the condemned man a writ
OF error and supersedeas, which served as a
stay of execution of the sentence of the
court.
Decision Affirmed.
The case was argued before the court Of
appeals January 10, 1907, and March Ia last
the court of appeals affirmed the decision
Of the lower court. Wright was resen-
fenced to be hanged May 81. 1907, at the
April term Of the circuit court for Alex
andria county, Judge Louis C. Barley pre-
siding.
The offense for which Wright will forfeit
his life was committed near Luna Park,
Alexandra county, the night of September
y, 1906. Wright was arrested shortly after
ward while he was an inmate of the Dis
trtct JAIL and October 10 he was indicted
for the aforementioned offense. The
grand jury returned three other indict-
ments against the prisoner for other Grim
fnal offensss.
tested his innocence, and has hoped he
would not expiate his crime on the scaffold.
Prefers to Be Tried Elsewhere.
George Midgets, alias William Johnson.
colored, who was to have been hanged
in this city today for the murder Of Charles
T. Smith, which occurred opposite the old
fair grounds, on upper King street. and
whose counsel, Messrs. Brumback & Smith,
secured a stay of execution for their Client
has written letter to Mr.. Brumback
thanking him for the efforts he has made
in securing him new trial Midgets also
in the letter asks Mr.. Brumback to try, in
the event he secures new trial, to have
10 tive ~ ,lyevN,,
is now confined in the Fredericksburg
Jail, and he is of the opinion that he would
fare better II tried there.
As previously announced, the state court
of appeals recently granted writ Of error
In the case of Midgets. The attorneys for
the condemned man stated this morning
will be argued before the higher court. The
attorneys for Midgets are of the opinion
that If the case is not argued at Whiteville
or Staunton 1t will not be argued until
October next at Richmond.
Death Of William g. Moore.
William G. Moore, resident of Fran
coma, Fairfax county, died at his home at
that place at o'clock last evening after
an illness lasting four weeks. The deceased
was seventy-nine years of age Besides his
wife, he is survived by two children Dr.
8. B. Moore of this city and Mr.. John Moore
of Fairfax county. Mr.. Moore was en-
gagged in the farming business in Fairfax
though he was nati-e 81 Loudoun county.
The funeral will be held at his home at
o'clock tomorrow afternoon and the inter-
ment will be made in the cemetery at that
place.
Governor Pardons John Robinson.
Gov. Swanson today pardoned John Rob-
inson. colored, convicted in the corporation
court January 16 last Of petit larceny of
merchandise from Southern railway cars,
and who since that time has been confined
in the city Jail serving sentence Of six
months, which was the penalty imposed by
the court. Robinson would have completed
his sentence the early part of July. He was
arrested last December, and a grand jury
returned four indictments against him. He
pleaded guilty to one of the indictments
after which the court imposed the Jail SEN
tence.
Confederate Memorial Exercises.
Every arrangement has been completed
for the confederate memorial exercises.
which will be held at o'clock this evening
at the confederate monument at the inter-
section Of Prince ana Washington streets,
The Ladies' Auxiliary Of R. E. Lee Camp,
Confederate Veterans, has prettily deco
rated the monument for the occasion This
morning number Of members of the
camp visited the various cemeteries where
confederate soldiers are buried and placed
flowers on their. graves. AS previously an
nounced. the principal speaker this evening
will be Rev. Charles d. Bulla, pastor Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South.
General Items
Arrangements have been made for gem
eral meeting Of the Citizens Improvement
Association Of Jefferson district, Alexandria
county, at the Hume School house, that
county. at o'clock tonight, for the purpose
Of deciding upon the feasibility Of incorpo-
rating the towns Of Del Ray. Braddock
Heights and st. Elmo. The matter of in
corporation has been under consideration
for some time past, and the committee
having charge Of rendering a report on the
subject Is composed Of Messrs. E. L. Cock
relf, r. A. Wilkerson and John H. Trimyer.
1t Is expected that the meeting win be well
attended.
The Medical Society Of Northern Virginia
yesterday afternoon elected the following
officers to serve for the ensuing year: DR..
Tunis c. Quick of Falls Church. president;
Dr. George T. Vaughn Of Washington and
Dr. Frederick NJ Brooks of Fairfax county,
vice presidents. DR.. Avery A. Rittenour Of
this city was elected secretary. It was
decided to hold the next meeting, which
occurs In November. at Warrenton.
In the police court this morning Matthew