Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-26
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Bland Held for Grand Jury on
Charge of Arson.
POLICE ARE HIS ACCUsERs
ALLEGED to Have Fired Store After
Taking Out 1nsurance-Deaths
and Funerals.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 26, 1910.
Following a preliminary hearing in the
police court this morning, George w.
Bland. about forty years DID, suspected
of setting fire to his store, vas held for
the action of the grand jury. The fire
occurred Sunday night last, and follow
ing an investigation by the police Bland
was arrested by Chief hoods and Police
men Beach, Bell and Rawlett.
The police this morning testified to hav
ing made an examination of BANDS store
yesterday morning. small quantity of
wall paper, together with small fragments
of other paper saturated with what is
supposed by the police to be kerosene,
were exhibited to the court. There was
also coal oil can and a lantern which
were exhibited to the court
According to the testimony Of the po-
lice and Chief George w. Petty Of the fire
department, the fire started in the rear
of the store and some of the paper ex-
hibited was found beneath the floor where
there was small hole Bland told the
court that he left his place of business
shortly after II o'clock Sunday night and
in less than half an hour afterward he
went to bed. He later was told his place
was ON fire and got up and went to the
building. The accused explained that the
oil on the paper was probably from a
lamp which had fallen from the wall dur
ing the progress of the fire. He added
that there was no trace of the lamp since
the fire Bland said that July Ii last he
took out 500 insurance on his stock of
goods.
young man named Risdon testified
that upon discovering the fire he ran to
BANDS home and told him his place was
on fire. Bland, he said, was in bed and
he hastily dressed and went to the fire.
Police Force Lieutenant.
Considerable interest is just now GEN.
tered in the election of a lieutenant of
the police force to fill the vacancy caused
by the death Of James Smith, which will
be made by the board of police commits
sioners at it's meeting which will be held
tomorrow evening.
1t is reported that Second Lieut.. ].
Frank Belts will be chosen first lieuten-
ant, and that the second lieutenant will
be chosen from the ranks among the pri-
Yates. Many names have been mentioned
in connection with the contest for the
Workmanship. There have not, however,
been any formal applications made out
for the position on the part of those
whose names have been mentioned. Some
who have been mentioned in connection
with the position announce they would
not serve if elected There are others,
however, whose names have not been
mentioned who are receptive candidates.
1t is also reported that William SchOeni
will be chosen private on the force to
fill the vacancy which will be made by
the promotion of one of the privates. The
result is awaited with interest.
Nelson Banks and John Bryant, ne
groes, arrested yesterday on suspicion
of attempting to enter a house on the
north side of Queen street between
Royal and Fairfax streets, were again
arraigned in the police court this MORN
ing. Banks was fined $40, to which
there was added a sentence of thirty
days In Jail, and Bryant was acquitted.
In summing up the case the court an
nounced that the evidence before it was
insufficient to hold the men for the &C
ton of the grand jury.
Other cases disposed of were as fol-
lows: Melvin Newman, colored, assault
ing and beating Fred Diggs, acquit-
ted. owing to the absence of the plain
tiff; James Harris, colored, assaulting
and beating Sarah Levi. colored.
fined S..