The Washington herald., 1909-02-19


mitted 10 the court the following remark
able report:
An Exhaustive Report.
''To Hon. J. 3. 7. Thornton. Judge OF Cir
cult Court. Alexandra County. Va:
We, the special grand jury now attend
Ing the Alexandra County Circuit Court
ct its February term, 1909, after having
made a most careful, painstaking. and ex-
haustive investigation OF the complaint 30
said court, dated February =. 1898. and
signed by william II. Lynch. Talbot
Lynch. Edward BaIlinger. W T Sinclair.
- Hough, E II. Poston. and Phil D.
Poston. charging that disorder. vicious
conduct. drunkenness. and other repre-
hensibIe conditions are willfully permit
ted 70 exist on the cars OF the Washing
ton. Arlington and Falls Church Railroad
Company, and after the most patient ex-
animation OF a great number OF witnesses
concerning the matters complained OF.
hereby report 10 your honorable court
that the said complaint IS so grossly over
drawn. so misleading in character, and is
such an exaggeration and misstatement
OF facts IS testified 10 before this grand
truthfslness. at least a malicious intent.
not only to unjustly implicate the said
railroad company, which appears 10 be
blameless in this matter. but also 20
spread abroad reputation for disorder
IN this community and on the cars OF
said railroad company. as shall be a posi-
tive Cetriment not only TO the community
al large but IN a greater degree 20 the
individual members thereof and 10 al
property interests as vel. and 20 preiu-
dice the minds OF the public and crests
the impression that lavlesSness is ram
pant in Alexandra County.
Whereas the testimony presented be
fore this jury shows COnClusively that
the said railroad company is using its
utmost eudesvors 10 maintain order over
its lines. and. as a matter OF proven fact.
IS keeping much better order on its cars
than is usual on either city or suburban
lines. and that, at the very worst. such
sporadic cases Of disorder as sometimes
occur are usually mild in character and
quickly controlled. being confined 70 the
late cars. especially on Saturday night;
Some Newspaper Articles.
This grand jury wishes especially 10
call attention 10 the statements contained
IN the newspaper articles published IN
The Washington Herald. February S.
1873. and IN the Evening Star.
February E, 1879. which the testimony OF
n5 less than four responsible witnesses,
whose high standing for honor. integrity.
and truthfUlness cannot be questioned.
and who we're passengers on the car Al
the tine referred 10 in said newspaper
articles, shows 10 have been misleading
z--
sworn testimony OF the party lodging said
complaint with your honorable court. as
well as that Of many other witnesses.
shows that said newspaper articles were
cooked up al the house OF said complain
ant out OF several incidents which &C
CURED a. periods Of time far remote
from each other. and which the reporters
o. the said newspapers served 10 the pub
IL as the successive experiences OF one
continuous midnight ride
And this grand jury hereby wishes 20
protest IN the most earnest and emphatic
manner against such untruthful and
huEJful publications and TO condemn IN
unmeasured terms the meddlesOme and
misguided spirit which would inspire such
misleading statements. since the result
cannot be otherwise than detrimental 20
the best interests Of our county, and a
oirecr material loss 10 every member OF
this community.
An Indignant Jury.
And, further. this jury wishes TO ex-
press its indignation at the harmful and
unjust course OF the said newspapers in
publishing unedited and unverifed ar
ticles Of the scandaI9us and IibeIous char
acfer OF those under consideration and
we most sincerely deprecate the meddIe-
some interference Of the principal com
- plainant II this matter, who turns out 10
be man who is not even q resident OF
this county. but who seems TO be possess
Cd with a spirit OF enmity and unfair
ness toward the said railroad company.
which has been fully termed crankiness,
but by reason q q peculiar aItruistic
twist. is likely 10 gain a hearing from
those who 90 not look beneath the SIR
face; man. too, whose testimony before
this jury has not only crumbled 10 moth
ing when subjected 10 even a mild cross
examination, but has been unsupported
By single witness Of the dozens which
he himself has produced. besides being
fatty contradicted by many OF the same
witnesses a man. also, whom testimony
before this jury has shown 10 be guilty
OF destroying the property OF said rail
road company 10 the extent OF smashing
a car window for ostensible PURPOSES of
ventilation.
Ard now, after careful survey or
eli the testimony submitted. relating 10
the matters complained OF. il is the sense
or this jury that in order 20 meet anv
possible cases OF boiSterousnegs or dis
order on the late cars out OF Washington
or from Resign. that extra men should
he detailed 10 ride on said late cars To
give assistance 70 the conductor. should
such become necessary.
Nothing More 10 BE Done.
But since ths testimony shows that
this has been the practice Of the said
railroad company for some tine past.
there Is no further Recommendation that
seems TO be necessary, and 4 only r.
mains for this jury 10 commend the pres /
ent management of said railroad com
pany for its efforts 70 give our people =
safe. commodious. and efficient suburban
car service and 10 assure the said man /
agement its efforts IN this direction are
appreciated. and that IN all bettermenrs
OF SAD service the sentiments and sun I
pert CT TIE responsible eieinenI OF this Z
community is heartily with il. recogniz- /
ing as We do that the best interests OF /
both the railroad company aNd the COM /
munity through which il passes are
identical.
Slapped In the Face.
Finally, i is tie unanimous sense /
Of this jury. based on the testimony
submitted. that this community as Wen I
as the said railroad company have re-