Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-04-18
AssASsINS STILL
IN EVIDENCE.

The deliberate attempt on the
part of an elderly and irresponsible
man to murder John Purroy Nit
chell, Mayor of New York, yester-
day in City Hall Park, the busiest
spot in the great city, will form an
other chapter in the annals of assas-
sinations, and attempted assasslna-
tons in the United States. Three,
years ago the late Mayor Gaynor, OF
the same city, was shot down on the
eve of his departure for Europe by
a crank who was nurturlng some
grievance in connection with the
Mayors conduct of public business.
Gaynor, however, was not mortaily
wounded, and eventually recovered.
His death six months ago was due
to the wound that he received.
Less than twenty years ago Car
ter Harrison, Mayer of Chicago, was
ruthlessly slain by an outlaw, while
attempts upon the lives Of officials
of more or less prominence in differ
ent sections of the country have be-
come common.
PEOPLE in the Old Dominion are
isti.l talking of the terrible Hillsvllle
tragedy, when men resorted to the
pistol for the purpose of carrying
out their ideas of recall when courts
fail to settle cases contrary TO the
wishes of litigants and lawbreak-
ers.
An Englishman, prominent in his
day, became a justice Of the peace
at one period of his life. HIS bog
rapher in describing his qualities as
successful business man and the
honest manner in which he disposed
If public business entrusted ITO HIM,
said he lacked one essential as a
iudge-he could never dispose OF d
case to the entire satisfaction OF
both the plaintiff and defendant.
MANY others who have been placed
in positions where decisions have
to be rendered nave found them
selves equally deficient.
Nearly every man who has filled
the position of Mayor of city has
had more or less trouble with disap-
pointed people. Threats are otter
made, although but seldom carried
out. In the spring Of 1897 negro
charged with assaulting white glrl
was taken from the station house
in Alexandria at midnight ard hang
ed to a lamp post. The act occa-
stoned Indignation among blacks
ard a few nights later word was re-
ccived in this city from negro set
| tlcment in the county that horde
Of drunken blacks, armed with ra-
zors, pistols, clubs, etc., were on
their way to Alexandria to wreaE;
vengeance. The Alexandria Light
Infantry was soon stretched across
the road on Washington street eX-
tended. anxious to receive the Vls1-
tors. The latter, however, had been
appraised of the action of the author
tiles and concluded to abandon their
proposed invasion of the city.
A meeting of negroes was subse'
orentlv held in q Washington
Church, at which it was decided that
il was necessary to remove the May
or Of Alexandria in western fashion
AS result CT the conference that
official few days later received a
letter warning him to flee the coun
try-not to stop in the United
| states--as his assassination hae
been decreed. He was also told thai
it was the purpose of the conspiri'
tors to decapitate him and attacl
his head to Pullman car and senF
it into the southern country as
warning to whites.
! The object of the negroes 1ur'
has lived to tell the tale.
-O----
ryrcI-roI,,S NOTJCE