Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-09
INVESTIGATION
AT HOPEWELL
Fight Between Coroner and
Sheriff Narrowly Avert
ed by Those Present !.
MAY BE AFTERMATH
Coroner Charged Sheriff With Drink
ing Liquor in Hotel-Latter Pro-
nounces Statement a Lie.

Petersburg, Sept. 9-That leakage IN
the grand-jury room at Prince George
Courthouse have hampered the ad-
ministration of justice in connection
with the investigation of lawlessness
at Hopewell is indicated by develop
ments which have come to light with
in the last few days.
In one of the leading hotels "l this
city on Monday afternoon Sheriff w.
F.. Boisseau, of Prince George County
publicly accused DR.. James II. Har-
grave, Of Hopewell, county coroner, OF
making statements before the grand
Jury regarding the shcrilf's conduct at
the powder-plant town, which the
chief peace officer of the county de-
clared were absolutely false. Only the
intervention of Deputy Sheriff ltaw-
thorne, Of Prince George, and other
friends prevented an exchange Of
blows. or perhaps more serious trou-
hlc.
The statements attributed to Cor
oncr Hargrave by the sheriff were to
the cIfec. that RoiSscau knew that j.
ulror and other intoxicants were he
ing sold ut ITopcwcll previous to the
revelations which led to the removal
VI the former police force on August
} and the subsequent grand-iury prohs
it was asserted tlrat the Er;'',d I'''y
drunk intoycants IN the HopcwcI'
Hotel OH at least one occasion during
;hc month Of July. and that the drinks
we're paid for by the agent Tor h
Baltimore brewery. who had his head
quarters in llopcwcll
Sheriff Boisscau denounced the state
mcnts which, he said. had been made
by the coroner as absolutely false,
and in plain words told DR.. JlarErav'
that he was IL "liar." Deputy ]faw-
,hore stepped between the two men.
and to hy-standcrs it appeared that 3
fight would have started then and
there but for the timely interference
Of the officer: who is Il husky man of
six feet.
Z The sheriff handed his pistol tn Il
friend and afterwards remarked that
ne had invited the coroner to meet
him "in the woods" OF any other place
The latter might name and they wound
there settle the matter. The two mch
we're separated into different groups
Of their friends. but neither left the
hotel for an hour OF more. Attempts
to patch up their differences proved
absolutely futile. Each officer showed
his resentment Of the others attitude.
The sheriff was plainly incGnscd and
intimatcd knowledge of certain acts
on the part of the coroner.
The break between the sheriff and
the coroner Is regarded as confirma-
ton of authenticated reports thai
the secrecy of The grand jury III scS
sion at Prince George Courthouse ,
since August had been violated en-
more than one occasion. Men invov-
cd in the lTopewell investigation arc
said to have been given an undue adj
vantage over the attorneys for the
Commonwealth. To what extent these
/ so-called ''lcaks" have gone is not
known definitely at this time but
there is reason to believe that there
have beer systematic disclosures
which have operated to give mcl
whom the grand jury might indict al
opportunity to cover their tracks o'
escape arrest altogether.