Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-18
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
THE POLICE CAPTURE MEN
CHARGED WITH THEFT.
Brass and Copper Believed to Have
Been Stolen From Washing
ton Navy Yard.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. November Is, 1907.
| One Of the biggest jobs made by the
police recently occurred at 9 O'Clock this
morning when Lieut. Belts and Police
man Gill recovered $500 pounds Of a
composition of brass and copper, valued
at about $500, and took into custody
James Burke, who Is suspected Of the
larceny Of the metal. They also ar
rested John Burgess, colored, about
thirty-eight years Of age, driver of the
wagon containing the alleged stolen
goods, who gave his address as cal X
street southeast, Washington. Both
men are detained at the police station.
The police are of the opinion that the
goods were stolen from the Washington
navy yard or the Firth-Sterling steel
works on the opposite side of the river.
Policeman Gill left shortly before noon
To-Day to visit each of the above-nam med
lplaces, and it Is expected that the goods
Will be identified as having been stolen
from either of the above places late this
AFTERNOON. Policeman Gill says he thinks
the metal came from the steel plant
Both OF the men will, it is expected, be
turned over to the Washington authori-
ties late this afternoon.
Inc wagon containing the stolen metal
) was brought to Alexandria on the ferry
; steamer which left Washington at s
accompanied the vehicle were Burke, tbs
driver, and two other men not yet identi-
fed. After the wagon reached here Burke
and the driver drove it to the junk shop
or the southern iron and metal works, at
the northeast corner of King and Lee
streets, and were having it weighed when
both were placed under arrest Most of the
goods were already in the establishment
when the men were arrested The two al
legged pals of Burke went into a saloon on
ri trnf tn ynf l-,r
and the driver took charge of the load
| of metal
Policeman GIL was given a tip upon the
| arrival of the men and he at once left his
nome, nearby. in his working clothes. and
with Lieut.. Belts took the men in Gus
tody. The metal is in bars weighing fully
twenty pounds each, and appears to have
! just come from the foundry The wagon
and its contents, after being drawn up to
| police headquarters, We're viewed by sew
| eral hundred people.
Burke's Statement
Burke stated to The Star reporter this
morning that he Is twenty years of age
and that his home is in Portland, Ore He
says he has served in the capacity of
cook. but of late has been tramping
around the country. When asked where
he secured the metal he stated that he
met man in Washington Saturday last
who desired to know II he wanted to
make piece of money" Burke says he
replied in the affirmative and was directed
to house near the river front in Wash
ington, where the metal was stored, and
then, he says, the man told him he wanted
him to take the metal to Alexandria today
and dispose of it and that he would be
well paid for his services. Burke says the
mans name is Webster He did not know
accompanied the load and escaped. In
second statement made by Burke he de-
clared the goods were on a vacant lot
near the Washington navy yard when he
took possession of them this morning.
Burgess, the colored driver, stated that
Burke came to him at 5 o'clock this morn
ing and offered him 81 to convey the
| metal from a lot near the navy yard to
this city.
An attache of the establishment where
| the goods were being sold stated that
Burke and another man, the latter re-
naming outside of his place came to his
establishment Saturday afternoon about
o'clock and after getting quotations on
| brass and copper told him they had about
| $500 pounds which they would bring
| over today. The attache informed them,
| he stated, that he would be compelled,
| according to law, to make a report of his
purchase to the police. He said that
Burke declared that was perfectly salts
| factory. Burke, however denied entering
the junk dealers place Saturday, he stat
| ing that man named Webster mad3 the
|
while he remained on the opposite corner.
In the Corporation Court.
In the corporation court today, Judge
L. c. Barley presiding, r. H. Cox. city
sergeant, was appointed administrator of
the estate of Matthew McKown. deceased,
| and Messrs. S. H. Lunt, w. P. Kerrick
| and S. w. Pitts were appointed appraisers
of the estate. When the appraisers com
plete their work the estate, which is
| valued at about $500. will be divided
| among the children of the deceased The
will made by the deceased was cont -sted
in court Saturday last and jury return
| ed verdict to the effect that the tesla
tor was incompetent to make will
He left will in which he bequeathed his
estate to his son, Robert McKown.
Defective Flue Causes Fire.
Fire at l o'clock yesterday afternoon
Quilted the two-story frame dwelling housa
occupied and owned by William Dulany
| a colored messenger at the White House
| ct SOC Duke street Most of the effects
| of the house were saved. The damage
| which is several hundred dollars. is par
| tally covered by insurance. A defective
fue is sa d to have been responsible for
| the fire.
| The fire was confined to the second story
of the building and came through the roof
| on the east side 1t was with consider
/ aDle QlIHCulty IIlhI the nfemen SuDQueG
| the blaze. The west wall of the b~ick
| house coupled by Mrs Rosa Leake SO4
| Duke street, was considerably scorched
| Owing to a misunderstanding of the
| alarm turned in the Reliance Fire Com
pany went to the extreme northwestern
section of the city and upon its arrival TIL
| fire was practically cxtinguished.
Funeral Of Mrs. Bayliss.
Funeral services over the remains of
| Mrs. Sallie Bayliss. wife of Mr.. Thomas
| Bayliss, who died at the Alexandria Hos
pital yesterday afternoon following an
operation, will be- held at IL O'Clock to-
| morrow morning at the Episcopal Chapel
at Linconia. Fairfax county. The burial
| will be made in the cemetery at that
| place. The deceased was thirty eight
| years of age. Besides he husband she
is survived by two boys and two girls
| Police Court Cases
In the police court this morning the fol-
lowing cases were disposed of: Ernest
| Padgett, drunk and disorderly, fined So;
George Ryan. charged with same Of
Tense, forfeited s. collateral Josephine
| Lee, colored, drunk and disorde-ly con-
duct, was acquitted of the charge: Mer-
| Gle Langley, assaulting and beating Arm
stead Harris. colored, forfeited IS collat-
| eral; Hannah Beal and Evelett Steward
| both colored, disorderly and fighting; fined
So each.
Association Chooses Officers.