Evening star., 1909-03-14

made a call on Judge Mann, remaining
cIoseted with him for an hour or more
The senator made an emphatic statement
to the effect that he was here on private
business as counsel in a case pending in
the courts, and that there Is no slgnlh-
canoe of a political nature TO MS WISH.
He saws he has met no candidate or can
didates at any time by any engagement
of his, but that such calls as have been
made were on the initiative of the candi-
dates.
Twelve Arrests for Crime.
Sheriff Baugh of Powhatan county has
arrested John Brown, colored man OF
that county, on the charge of completely
in the murder and burning of the Skip
with home last month. when Mrs Robert
Skipwith and w. G. Johnson were burned
to death. Only small portions of the
bodies of the aged woman and the young
man were found. Robbery was the pur-
pose of the crime. This makes tWeiVe
persons who are under arrest Tor thlS
offense, some of the prisoners being con-
fined in the county Jail at PoWhatan
Court House, some in Farmville and some
in this city.
1t is believed that two of the men who
know the details of the crime are on the
verge of breaking down and making q
complete confession of their part OF tne
affair." and if they do SO they Will likely
Some of the stuff stolen from the house
has been found in the home OF one OF
the men, and the detectives working on
the case are said to have made some dis
coveries which they will not make pubic
till the cases are called for trial.
Persons who have watched the treEd OF
events and kept in touch with the matter
of the petition Of the railroads of the
state for an increase in the maximum
rates for passenger traihc express the
xhn mission enter
order during the next few days permitting
the roads to charge maximum or IN
cents for single fares and cents Tor one.
thousand mile books. The members OF
the commission are not discussing the
matter in any way. but the showing made
| by the roads Is largely responsible FOL
the belief that the increase will be al
lowed. One OF the prlncipai points te
| be gained by this action will be the end
ing of all litigation; which Is now @ penoins
| the restoration of closer relations witt
| the affairs and industries of the state.
The roads did not fail to take advantage
| of the dullest season or recent years q:
the basis for their showing 10 ,ne com @
mission, and since their petition has beer
filed all the roads have made reports Civ
| ing the business for the month OF Janu
airy of this year, the figures showing Una
! the increase in freight receipts mas peer
wonderful, as compared year ago, ant
| thai only two of the roads report de
crease in the passenger revenues for tina
| time.
Four Await Death Chair.
| Four persons-one white and three col
ored-are now in detention cells in thu
state penitentiary awaiting their call II
the death chair The men are to be ex
, ecuted for murder, except one, who ha
been convicted of assault, robbery ant
murder. Ben Gilbert, the white man, i
from the city of Norfolk. where les
than a year ago he shot and Killed nj
sweetheart while she was out Walkin;
with another man. HIS counsei ma
raised the question of the constitutional
ity of electrocutions, and Will go into IN
courts to have the matter decided. ii
IS also to make application to have
new trial ordered for the man, claiming
that the man is crazy and that under tn
circumstances he Should not be held re
sponsible for his crime. He is an cpl
leptic, 1t is said. but his manner II
prison is not that of a man of unsoun
mind His death Is fixed for Friday o
next week.
The formal ceremonies incident to tn
laying of the corner stone OF the neS
Y. NJ. c. A. building the last week wer
marked with a great interest. Dow
Lodge of Masons. escorted by Knight
Templar, went from the Masonic Tempt
to the SITE and with all the ancien
usages of the order the corner stone wa
laid There were music and singing an
| reading of the Scriptures, followed by a
| address by John Stewart Bryan of thi
! city, editor Of the Times-Dispatch, i