The Washington herald., 1913-01-26
PROCEEDINGS STARTED
TO GUST COUNCILMAN
Seat of Julian Y. Williams in Alex.
andria Body Is to Be
Contested.

Alexandria. Va, Jan. 5.-At the in-
! stance of six members Of the Common
Council quo warranto proceedings were
instituted this afternoon in the Corpora
tion Court, through Commonwealth's At
torney s. q. Brent. to determine the le-
gality OF Councilman Julian T. williams
holding his position as councilman from
the Second ward.
The councilmen who instituted the pro-
ceedings are Howard W. Smith, Frank
c. Spinks. J. Fred Birrell, II. r. Burke,
c. B. Marshall. and Albert Bryan.
They are called REALTORS. II Is set forth
in the petition for the writ filed by the
REALTORS that Julian Y. Williams was on
the second Tuesday I'm June. 1910 elected
to Common Council for four years, be-
ginning September l, 1910. and ending Sep
tember l, 1914; that during the year 1872
he removed from the city of Alexandria
and took up his residence at Cottage
Park, Alexandria County, which is just
north of this city, and has ever since re-
sided in the county, and has not since
that time been a resident of Alexandria
city.
. Judge Barley fixed upon the first day
of the February term of the Corporation
Court, which will be February 10 next,
for hearing the proceedings
There is at the present time a rather
muddled condition Of affairs exesting in
the lower branch Of City Council, and
this adds to il.
Two Seats Contested.
The seats OF CounciImen Urban $.
Lambert and Robert NJ. Graham. OF thu
First and Second Wards. respectively. ara
being contested, or at least the seat Of
Mr.. Lambert is at present. This IS
sought by Robert s. Barrett. and he was
given n favorable decision by Judge
Chichester. Of Fredericksburg. who heard
the proceedings in the Corporation Court
here. Mr.. Lambert appealed. Mr.. Des-
mond, who seeks the seat Of Mr.. Graz
ham. will he guided by the decision in
the Barrett case.
Messrs Barrett and Desmond ran for
the position of councilman and were
elected without opposition. netther
Messrs. Lambert nor Graham entering the
fight.
Councilman G. r. Yates. of the First
Ward. has just resigned. and Council-
man c. B. Swan, OF the Fourth Ward.
has stated his intention of resigning.
In the lower branch OF council there
is what is regarded as two factions, and
for some time past the council chambev
has been the scene on numerous occa-
sions OF some warm debates between
the factions.
Assault Case Postponed.
Owing to the absence OF a material witt
ness. the case of William Oehlert, charg-
ed with assaulting Anthony F. Smoot,
and also with firing a pistol in the air.
was in the Police Court to-day continued
until Tuesday morning. The witness is
said to be a soldier from Fort Washing
ton. Attorney G. l. Boothe appeared
for AIR Smoot. Oehlert was released
on his own recogniZance.
meeting OF the elders and deacons oc
the Second Presbyterian Church will be
held at that church tomorrow following
the regular services. when plans will
be made for the formal opening Of the
Westminster building of that church.
II is planned to open the building about
March ! next.
Following a pathetic plea for mercy in
the Police Court to-day, John Wilson,
who claims Harpers Ferry. w. Va, as
his home, was(acquItted on a charge of
vagrancy.
special me,ting of the alumni Of st.
Mary's Academy will be held at that in
s,itution at 7:3O O'Clock Monday night ae
which time final plans will be made for
the euchre of the alumni, which will bs
held Thursday night next at the Young
Mems Sodality Lyceum Hail.
Howard Gaskius, colored. charged with
the murder Of his wife, will be tried in
the Circuit Court for Fairfax County
Friday next, Judge ]. B. T. Thornton pre-
siding The prisoner will be represented
by Attorney Lewis H. Machen, this city.
and the prosecution will be conducted by
Commonwealth's Attorney c. Vernon