Evening star., 1909-07-14
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Court OverruIes Motion in
Calvin Johnson Case.
NEXT MOVE OF ATTORNEY
New Set Of Health Laws Adopted by
Council.
CITY OFFICERS ARE ELECTED
J. B. Fitzgerald Chosen to Fill
Vacancy in Board Of Aldermen
to Succeed Capt. Sweeney.
Special Correspondence Of The Star


ALEXANDRIA, Va. July Il. 1909.
After hearing application for a new trial
for Calvin Johnson one of the three ne
groes convicted of the murder of Walter
F. Schultz, the Chicago artist, March g
last, Judge Barley this morning overruled
the motion. Immediately thereafter At
torney Machen gave notice that tomorrow
he would make application for new trial
to the state court of appeals and ask for
a record in the case. The new evidence
given by Attorney Machen was in the
shape Of three affidavits. They were from
the following parties: Miss Mary Lee
Rose, William H. Willis and Elizabeth
Brown, the two last named colored.
When the case was opened Attorney
Brent objected to the filing of the affida-
Wits on the ground that there was nothing
in them sufficient to warrant granting a
new trial. All of their contents, he said,
were known 10 the commonwealth except
that given by Elizabeth Brown.
Miss Mary Lee Rose, residing at 113
Prince street. who made an affidavit,
was placed on the stand and testified
that she saw the body of what she sup
posed was a man lying In the field on
the west side of the railroad track, be-
tween Spring Park and Rosemont. the
afternoon of March last, between 4:3O
and > O'Clock, and that she was pas
senger on a southbound electric train.
She described the position in which she
saw the body, which was to the effect
that the arms were outstretChed. Miss
Rose, on DISCRIMINATION, was not posi-
tive that it was March 6, nor was she
positive that it was the body of a man,
although, she said, it resembled man.
Chief Recalls Conversation.
Chief of Police c. T. Goods took the
stand and recalled conversation with
Miss Rose concerning the case, in which,
he said. she had told him that the day
was bright and that the sun was also
shining Policeman William Ferguson
also told of the same conversation, in
which he substantiated the testimony of
Chief Goods.
The affidavit given by Elizabeth Brown
colored, was next taken up. and J. RAN
dali Cation, jr., placed on the stand
He recalled a conversation with Eliza
beth in which she had told him that she
saw Henry Smith, the star witness for the
prosecution between the hours of and S
o'clock March + and she subsequently
told him she knew nothing about it,
Chief Goods testified that he conversed
with her regarding the case and she had
told him that she saw Henry Smith Fri
day. Mahch >, last and that he gave her
nickel that evening She added that
she did not see him March s.
The testimony given by Policeman Fer
guSon was to the effect that she had told
him that Smith gave her cents the even
ing of March last. Witness said she de-
MED having seen Smith the day of
March q.
New Health Laws.
With three amendments. as reported on
by committee on conference, the new
set of health laws for the city was passed
unanimously by the city council last
night. They are entirely different from
the old laws and carry with them sweep
ing changes. Among other things the
health officer will receive a salary of
500 per year. and there will be two
physicians to the poor, who viii receive
a salary of 500 per year each. The duty
of the health officer will include a month
ly inspection of tine city and a monthly
report on the sanitation of the city to the
council. His term of Office shall be two
years. will also be the terms of the
physicians to the poor The latter will
have districts north and south of King
street. and they will alternate every six
months in doing duty at the almshouse
and police headquarters. Among other
things, the new set of laws calls for COM
pulsory vaccination of children attending
the public schools Children who have
not been vaccinated at least four years
prior to application for admission to the
schools will be denied admission. In the
event their parents are INDECENT the city
will do the work.
All Of the present city officers, with the
exception of the keeper of the aimshouse,
were reelected without opposition. and
for that position Policeman Joshua Sher-
wood defeated the present incumbent.
William NJ. Smith. by a vote of is to 5.
The election of health officer and physi-
clans to the poor was postponed until the
next regular meeting. There was some
question as to the eligibility of Police
Thomas A. Fisher. now re-
siding in the third ward. being reelected
from the second ward. 1t was stated
however. that he was only residing tenn
in that ward and he was there
upon reelected without opposition.
City Officers Chosen.
Other officers chosen were as follows: