The Washington herald., 1911-05-08

With George Williams, the negro sus-
pected OF breaking into and robbing more
than dozen residences within a radius
Of two miles of Rosslyn, Va, in the
Alexandria County Jail, awaiting a hear
ing before the grand jury, and a posse
of twenty-five citizens patrolling the roads
during the night and early morning in
an effort to apprehend the woman said
10 be his accomplice, the authorities are
confident that housebreaking has been
quashed for good in that neighborhood.
organized into vigilance committee,
commandered and armed like the old
posses Of frontier days. this body of men
Is determined that lawlessness shall cease.
Last night the armed body stationed
themselves in and near the small towns
OF Cherrydale, Mackey's Station, Claren-
don, Veitch, and several others Of lesser
Importance and stopped for examination
every one who could not give a clear and
satisfactory account Of themselves. The
thieving, the sheriff and deputies say,
was evidently the work Of one man and
woman.
Aiding i'm the Search.
Never in the history Of Alexandria
County has so few crimes been committed
as during the past three years. notwith-
done by strange negro and not a resi-
dent Of the section. The majority Of the
colored people. it was stated, are law
abiding ana in every way are aiding the
deputies to apprehend the guilty parties,
which narrows down to the unknown ne
gro woman, now that Williams is
locked up.
Crandal Mackey, whose house was en-
tered and his wife assaulted by a man
INa
that he had no doubt that Williames
was responsible for the burglaries. A
search of Williams house led to the dis
covery Of a ladies' gold watch, identified
by Mrs. Wallace Pearson as her property
Williams said yesterday, under a fire
of questions by Sheriff Palmer. that he
had bought the watch from a man whom
be had never seen before. This state
ment was discredited by Sheriff Palmer,
who also believes Williams the guilty
party.
Williams, a negro Of great strength
and cunning, refused to discuss his
case. He is alleged to have ridden a b.
cycle while robbing homes, staying on
the outside while his accomplice entered
and secured the plunder. This theory IL
borne out by the fact that in each in
entrance and exit had been found pinned
back. a circumstance no man would be
apt to do.
Seek Woman in Case.
The posse was organized because Of
the recent assault on Mrs. Mackey and
the robberies. beginning in March, when
Maj. A. w. Weaver's house was entered,
and lasting until April 2S when the others
were robbed. Every effort is now being
used to apprehend the woman in the case
1t was pointed out that since Williams
arrest no other burglaries have been re-
ported.
Boys of the neighborhood have entered
into the spirit of the thing in great shape.
Several were seen yesterday, under six
teen years of age, strutting around with
a big revolver in a hip pocket and a pair
of handouts dangling from their belts
Asked what they intended doing with
them. they replied catch niggers."
negro stopped on the Military road
about o. clock yesterday morning and was
shot at by four men when he refused TO
halt and give an account of himself.
Those in the party were Constable Harry
Collins, Lawyer w. c. Cloth. w. II.
Gains, and R. N. Patterson. The man
was approached and told he was under
arrest. He Immediately started on the
dead run for the woods with bullets
pattering around him. More than twenty
shots were fired. ne was not struck.