Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-06-28
srnREr PREAOHER ASSAULTED.


STREET PREACHER ASSAULTED.
The usual Sunday serenity of south
Fairfax street was disturbed between
10 aud IL O'Clock yesterday morning
by an unexpected occurrence. George
PeveriIl. a prominent member OF the
Free NJ rtbodist Church, who has Dcen
an open-aIr exhorter ia this city during
the past thirty years, Appeared near the
corner of Wilkes and Fairfax streets,
and. according to HE Sunday morning
custom. sounded notes OF warning to
the ,houghtIess and those he believes
70 be walking in the broad road TO de-
gtruction. He especially called atten-
ton to the fact that the Fates are
constantly cutting the threads OF life at
unexpected times. 1t is said that ne
referred, or was about to refer to the
accident to motor boat on the sun
nltimo, by which young woman who,
had lived 10 that neighbOrhood, lost her
life. Morgan Moore, who WAS in charge
of the boat at the time of the accident,
Was seated in his residence and hearu
the preachers allusiOn. dis words In
censed Moore to such a degree that
he attacked Peveril and knocked him
down. People who witnessed the as
sault ran to PeverilPs assistance and
brought the assault to close. The
street preacher, acting upon the spirit
OF the sermon on the mount, managed
to get on his knees, and with blood
streaming from his face, prayed for his
asssilaut. Later ladies in the neighbor-
hood brought water and towels and
Peverills wounds having been washed,
he went on his way.
The police upon learning OF the affair
cited Moore aud PeVerill to appear be-
fore the Police Court this morning
Moore aud Peverill appeared in court
this morning, and when the case VAS
called the latter stated that he had no
charge to urge against his assailsnt.
He said he had been attached by Moore
aud had received the worst OF 1t, but
would like to have the case dropped.
After several witnesses bad testified,
each of whom alleged that Peverill had
called attention to the necessity of being
on the lookout for death, and that he
had referred to the drowning of the
young woman in manner offensive
10 Moore, the latter struck him.
PeyeIill in his statement said he ex-
claimed, when he reached the square,
Judgment day is coming Wake up -
and referred TO the sudden termination
of the life OF the young woman as an
instance TO show that ali should be on
the alert, and that his remarks were not
offensive nor intended to be so. Moore
In his answer to the charge against him
said 1t was not the first time Peverill
had appeared in front OF his residence
and alluded to the drowning, and yes
4erdsy the preacher implied that he
(MOore) had taken the unfortunate
young woman in the boat aud drowned
her. This, he said, incensed him TO
such degree that he assaulted the
preacher. He also asked If Rev. John
Oavnaugh could not be debarred from
coming IN that neighbOrhood where
they make offensive reference. Justice
OatOn in summing up the case said be
saw no reason to impose fine upon
Moore; that he doubtless suffered from
the death of the young woman more
than any one else outside her iumedi-
ate family. He also said that PeverllPi
allusion to the unfortunate case was In
Opportune and iDjudiciOus; also tina
there are other methods by which the
Gospel can be preached save dealing IL
personalities. The justice said tha
should Peverill in future go into the
same neighborhOod and indulge hl'
personalities instead of generalities hi
would be arrested and fined for dirorder
lv conduct