Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-02
VIRGINIA NEWS.

The councils OF the cities and towns
of the state met yesterday and organic
ed by elccting officers.
Approximately 679, 500 acres Of land
in Altoona and New Mexico have been
opened to settlement under the home
stead laws by authority OF the secretary
Of the interior.
The Court OF Virginia convenes in
Staunton next tuesday for the fall term
with only twenty-four cases Oh the
docket. This is the smallest docket in
sixteen years Judge r. Fl. Caldwell
is sick, and will be unable to be present.
All OF the insurance on the Melville
Wooden Mills property at Frcdcricks-
burg which was destroyed in the re-
cent fire there, has been adjusted to the
satisfaction of the owners, and the en-
tire sum OF $50, $50 will he paid.
One million, seven hundred and
thlrly-scven acres in California and
Nevada will be opened to settlement on
November 81 and to entry one month
later. This area was restored to entry
yesterday by acting Secretary OF the In
terror Pierce.
John w. Wise, aged 60, wealthy
business man, dropped dead at his
home near Bridgcwater yesterday.
While standing in his room he fell
across the bed a few feet from his wife,
and died instantly.
James Dougheny, an oller on the
Merchants and Miners steamer Mcrri-
mac. was crushed to pulp yesterday
when he fell into the machinery OF the
vessel just as she was docking at New
port News. Dougheny had been en-
ployed aboard the Merrimac for Is
wears. He lived in Baltimore.
The Hampton Roads coal ports broke
the record for coal shipments during
the month ending "Wednesday and
dumped approximately 1,O0Q,0 600 tons.
The Virginian Railway exceeded It's
record by about $4,000 tons, putting
11G. SO tons over its pier during Au-
gust.
Murel Keith, % years old, daughter
of the English actor, Royston Keith, OF
London, threw herself beneath the
wheels OF suburban electric car in
front of the Union Theological Semi
nary, two miles from Richmond, early
Yesterday morning. She was picked
up shapeless mass. Miss Keith spoke
several languages, was al accomplished
vocalist and an efficient stcnographer.
The cause of the suicide is unknown.
The city of Richmond is threatened
with law suits as the result OF expert
ments recently made, with the idea of
laying the dust OF the streets. Oil was
sprinkled over several thoroughfares,
and il is claimed by many citizens
that their carpets, floors and furniture
have been damaged by the oil. Clifford
Smith, president OF the Clifford Smith
Company, has lodged a formal COM
plant in writing.
After brooding for hours over fam
lily quarrel which had lasted we'll into
Wednesday night, j. j. Smyth, bar
tender Of Norfolk, 30 years old, yester-
day shot and killed his wife, and, it is
believed, fatally wounded his 12-year-
old daughter, Rita, who, pleading with
her father not to shoot, ran between
her parents rs he drew his pistol. The
wife. with at least three bullet wounds
in her body died just as she reached
the hospital, and the child can hardly
recover. Smyth surrendered to the
police. He expressed no regret ut the
murder of his wife, but was overcome
in Jail when told that his child would
die. Jealousy is assigned as the cause
of the tragedy.
The Sixth Virginia district republican
convention met at Roanoke Yesterday.
Lynchburg having \ contest, sent two
delegations, and the committee on ere
dcntiaIs reported IN favor OF seating
both, allowing each half vote. The
report was adopted. The object OF the
convention was to nominate candi-
date to oppose Carter Glass, democrat.
No one could be found to accept the
honor. James S. Browning refused to
make the race and Thomas Lee Moore
declined on the floor of the convention
after being placed in nomination. The
matter was left to the discretion Of the
district committee with power to act.
Precautions Against Cholera.
New York, Sept. 2.-Detained all
night at Quarantine because 4 case OF
illness on board could not be properly
diagnosed, the health officer fearing it
might be cholera, the Lusitania was
permitted to come up to her dock to-
day. Health Officer Doty explained
that while he was reasonably certain the
patient did not have cholera, he could
not afford to take chances because Of
the spread OF the disease in Europe.
Make a note now To get E,lyfS Cream