The Washington herald., 1909-05-14
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU.

AA5HtNGfUN HERALD PT-REAT
sc king Street.
Alexandra, Va. May I3-A conflict OF
authority over the death Of Joseph Earl
Wills. the eleven-year-oA son Of joseph
". Wills, who was electrocuted late YES
terday afternoon in Alexandra County.
by coming in contact with live wire. de-
veioped this evening when two corcners
juTies held inqUests at different places
within three hours Of each other. Each
practically gave the same verdict. which
was. IN substance. that Wills came 10 his
death by coming n contact with an IN
protected electric wire Of the Washington.
Alexandra and Mount Vernon Electric
Railway Company.
The first inquest was held AZ 40 O'Clock
by Coroner Ashton. al s.. Elmo. where
young Wills met his death. and the sec
ond inquest was held tonight al 80
clock by Justice Of the Peace Isaac c.
BmTell. at the lstter's home.
Coroner Ashton said Justice BurreH
had no authority TO hold the inquest. and
Justice BurrelI said that on che grounds
Of jurisdiction, Coroner Ashton had 10
right The matter VIII dOGbtless find its
way into the courts for final settlement.
was composed or the following. J. Virgil
Barrett. foreman; F. P. Zepp William !.
Moore. Thomas Taylor, Henry Albert and
John Msrcber. This jury examined bit
one witness. a white boy. who was On
The abutmeGt at the time young Wills
net his dest1.
The second jury convened promptly AZ
80 O'Clock. md was nearly two hours n
reaching its deliberations. II was COM
posed Of ". p. Varuey. foreman; J. Y.
MehrIing. Edmund Clark J Z NIaTCher.
fr-- John AIarcher. ST. and R Il Roberts
The scene Of yesterdays FIRE. which
destroyed the lumber plant and planing
mill Of ". \ Smoot < Co. was to-day
visited by many sightseers- The work CT
clearing away the debris viii not be
begun until the loss is adjusted by the
Underwriters Association. which viii, Il
is expected. be within few DAYS Il IS
now estimated that the total loss By tze
fire viii not quite reach 500 OF which
Snoot & Co viii probably lose all except
about S-c9o.
Orders we're to-day being taken by
Smoot * Co. The firm also has installed
an engine and boiler az the south side
OF their plant. which VIII be used II
connection with their WORK
4 special meeting OF the city council
viii be held tomorrow night 70 consider
granting Smoot & Co permission 20 lay
switch IN Henry street 70 lot II
Cross street. where they viii temporarily
store lumber.
A fairly weH-dressed man, giving his
name as Ellis L ROssen. thiTty-one years
old. who claims New York as his home.
and who SAYS he is a schOoI-teacher b.
profession. although he has not recently
followed that vocation, vas arrested about
S o'clock this evening on suspicion C
being Of unsound mind
Rossen is laboring under the impress
sion that he IS about 10 secure q position
as United States consul 10 some foreign
post. and that his mail Is being held I'D
By foes. he says he has written a letter
10 President Taft. and has communicated
with Mrs. Taft 70 know whether o. not
she viii have him as a tutor 10 her
children
According 10 Rossen. he has been de-
ciared sane three different times By juTies
in New York. and carries with him
number OF newspaper clippings. He claims
70 have ably defended himself on each
occasion
Rossen arrived here last Sunday and has
heen stopping At local hotel His &C
ticns created suspicion when he made an
Intellectual effort to get the White House
over the telephone Rossen probably viii
be held until commission can examine
into his sanity.
The VIII OF Richard H. Lyles was ad-
mitted 10 probate in Corporation Court
to-day. He left his estate 20 his widow,
who qualified as sxscutriz-
Katheleene Funk has been adopted by
Ambrose Kincheloe and wife. and the
girl was granted permission by the court
10 change her name
Capt. solomon simmons was to-day AZ
raigned before United States Commission
e. r. P.w. Garrett for alleged failure 70
pay his steward The commissioner d.
rected that he pay the steward, together
with the cost Of the case
A delegation Of seven members Of Old
Dominion Commande-y. Knights Templars
and two from Jackson Lodge Of MasOns
viii tomorrow meet the body Of T. H
Netherland upon its arrival here and ac-
company II 70 Richmond. where it viii be
buried
Arrangements have been made for a
meeting Of the Citizens Improvement
Association. Jefferson district. Alexandra
County. which will be held tomorrow
night at Mount Vernon avenue school
house.
Announcement is made that a local
branch Of the Audubon Society, win
headquarters IN Richmond. viii be formed
here tomorrow afternoon. at a meeting
to be held at o'clock in The rooms OF
the chamber Of commerce.
The funeral OF Nathan woH5e-g viii Be
held at O'Clock tomorrow afternoon
from his home, so Cameron street RABBI
Stern. Of Washington, viii conduct the
services
The funeral Of little Earl Wills. who
was elecrocuted yesterday evening. VIII
be held al O'Clock tomorrow afternoon
from his parents home. Hume Springs.
Alexandria County.
Before a large and appreciative audi
cree. the Lyceum Dramatic Club tonight
presented a minstrel performance. The
proceeds viii be used toward making Up
the parade deficit
West River Show in june.
Specssi o Tho washiugton Herald.
Annapolis. Nd. May Tl-The West
River Colt and Horse Show Association.
one OF the most successful organizations
Of its kind in Maryland. viii hold its an
nGal show on the farm OF Graham Ellzey.
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