Evening star., 1909-05-14
HAPPENINGS IN ALEXANDRIA
TWO JURIEs MEET AND FIX
BLAME FOR BOYS DEATH.
Court to Decide Legal Jury-Both
Bodies Charge Responsibility
With Railway Company.
oecial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va, May IA. 1909.
Within three hours of each other two
coroner's juries met in Alexandria county
last evening at different places, and in
their own way fixed the responsibility
for the death Of Joseph Earl Willis. the
young son of Joseph w. Willis OF Hume
Springs. that county, who was electro
cuted Wednesday last by coming in con-
| tact with a feed wire of the Washington,
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric
Railway Company at st. Elmo station
| that county Both juries after their de-
liberations gave identically the same ver-
dict, and both are confident that they
were perfectly right in assembling TO nN
| the responsibility. 1t will now be up to
| the courts to untangle the matter, and
| at the same time the jury declared legal
will be paid by the state. and the one
losing out will not, Of course, receive any
compensation.
The first jury was called together at
43O o'clock by DR.. Ashton. coroner OF
Alexandria county, and the second at
1880 o'clock by Justice Of the Peace
Isaac C. Burrell, Del Ray.
Coroner Ashton had always exercised
the right over such matters on former
occasions, and he assembled his jury
at the point where the lad met his death.
After examining one witness, white
youth who was the only one who wit
messed the accident. the jury. gave the
following verdict: 1.-The said Joseph
Earl Wills came to his death by coming
in contact with an unprotected Wash
ington. Alexandria and Mount vernon
electric railway wire fifteen inches from
the east abutment Of the Bluemont
track of the Southern railway bridge at
st. Elmo station" The jury was com
posed of the following: J. Virgil Bar
rett, foreman: f. P. Zepp. William j.
Moore. Thomas Taylor, Henry Albert
and John Marcher.
The jury summoned by Justice Burrell
met at his house and also examined the
same witness; after Nv, which they !, gave Vsi,a
came to his death by accidentally touch
ing an unprotected electric wire, charged
with electricity Of the Washington. Alex
andria and Mount Vernon Electric HALL
way Company.
This Jury was composed Of the follow
ing: w. P. Varney, foreman: j. W. Menr-
ling, Edmund Clark, j. E. Marcher, John
Marcher, ST., and r. H. Roberts.
Dr. Ashton said last night following the
inquest that his jury was perfectly legal
and he was the only one in authority VINO
could hold such an inquest. He also add
ed Justice Burrell had no authority 10
hold one.
On the other hand Justice Burrell said
his inquest was legal and everything was
done in a perfectly legal manner. Doubt
less the courts will take occasion 10 set,
tie the matter for all time, as it Is SAID
that the question of the jurisdiction OF
officers of the law in such matters in the
county has been bone OF contention ior
some time past.
His Sanity Questioned.
Central. give me No. Main, Wash
ington. the White House." said Ellis
na...1 - tI,o anerafOr at &
o'clock yesterday afternoon. "All right"
came the cheering response. However,
before connections were completed with
the executive mansion Rossen was in the
custody of Lieut.. Smith. and Is now de-
tanned at police headquarters pending an
investigation into his sanity. 1t Is re-
garded as more than probable. however,
that Rossen will be released from Gus
tody as he is prepared to leave the city
and go to Richmond, for which city he
already has his trunk checked. Rossen,
when seen by reporter TINS morning.
said that some time ago he made applt-
cation to Mrs Taft for position as
tutor, and that to show his ability he
forwarded to the White House. from
Washington, several of his graduatlon
certificates from various colleges where
he received degrees He received no re-
sponse, and says that his object in tele-
phoning yesterday afternoon was to as
certain what had become OF the certih-
Gates.
Rossen is thirty-one years old and a
school teacher by profession. He claims
to be a graduate Of the University OF
New York, College City, N. Y; Columbia.
and he also says he took a course az
Cornell. Roussen was born In Russia
and for many years taught school. He
recently passed a creditable examination
before the Philadelphia public board or
education for position as school teach
err Since landing In Washington he made
orrI -
application for a position as consul 10
a foreign post, and has several commu-
nications relative to the same from the
State Department.
Once in Custody in New York.
Rossen arrived here Sunday last from
Washington, and while in the latter city
says he stopped at 212 New Jersey ave-
nue. He has, with him several news
paper clippings. which show that on one
occasion he was taken into custody by
the New York authorities and his sanity
questioned. 1t is set forth in the ac-
counts that Rossen in an able and I'M
passioned speech put the lawyers on the
rack when they came to the hypothetical
questions relating to his sanity, and he
was promptly freed by jury.
Rossen is far above the average in in
telligence and speaks English and French
fluently. He appeared to be completely
taken by surprise when arrested, and
added he COulQ see no lmpFOpTloty In
calling up the White House, especially
when he had business there.
That Alexandria thieves do not banker
for tanglefoot fy-paper was demonstrated
today, when as large box of fly paper
was found beneath the steps of the fac
tory of the Virginia Glass Company The
police were notified, and 1t is being. held
for the railroad authorities. The paper
was in box and was. it is supposed,
stolen from a nearby freight car. The
thieves, upon discovering what their
booty was, dropped 1t and decamped. The
railroad authorities are endeavoring to
trace the goods.
The Gubernatorial Primary.
Politicians in this city are awaiting
with interest the action of the state
democratic committee in Richmond to-
night, which will fix upon a date for the
gubernatorial primary. This interest is
being increased in view of the fact that
the date chosen will also be the time for
the legislative primary. in which dele
gate to represent the city and county will
be chosen. Robinson Moncure and J.
Fred Birrell are making warm fight for
the Office The eighth district will be
represented at the meeting Of the state
committee by the following delegates:
George s. Shackleford, Orange; Gardner
I.~s- n.