Evening star., 1916-01-09
ALEXANDRIA, AFFAIRS
Wanderers Generosity Leads
to His Being Taken in Gus
tody by Police.
VERDICT IN RAILROAD SUIT
Jury in United States Court Makes
Award of 5000 to Woman
for Husbands Death.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, January S.-A
well dressed man, giving the name OF
William c. West, forty-five years old
but declining to state where his home
Is. was found on Lannon's wharf about
o'clock tonight and taken in custody
by Alpheus Robey, special watchman
He was escorted to police headquarters
The man had given away his overcoat
and scarfpin and also claimed he had
given away his money.
There is no charge against him at DO.
lice headquarters, although he is being
held until the police can look into his
case, which is being investigated by
Chief Goods.
In his pocket was a letter signed
w." addressed to The Chief of Pc.
lice" 1t was in a stamped envelope
and written in ink. 1t read, in part:
Pardon me for committing this wick.
ed crime in your city. 1 am a native
of your state and love every inch and
grain of its soil. 1 prefer to die in it
God will forgive, and 1 want you to dc
likewise.
Thsee weeks ago my wife left me on
account of my drinking. which lasted
four days. she being a Christian, and
But the past two weeks 1 have searched
for her in vain. / would prefer death
than live without her. So for the past
week have tried to starve myself, and
it's impossible.
my wife is from Painesville, Lake
county, Ohio. Her last address was
General delivery, Washington She
will take charge of my remains.
Il have given away all my personal
effects. and, whatever you do, spare no
expense to locate her. so as to take
charge of my body, and she will pay
you, and may God reward you and pro-
tect you in the future"
West told Chief Goods that he had
been in Washington for the past four
weeks. He. however. declined to give
relatives in Washington. He said he
had stopped at different hotels while in
that city.
5000 Verdict Against Railroad.
A verdict for $4,000 for the plaintiff
was given by jury in the United States
court for the eastern district of Virginia
this afternoon, Judge Edmund Waddill
presiding. in the suit of Virginia McGuinn
Administrative, against the Southern Rail-
way Company. Counsel for the defend
ant company noted an appeal.
The object of the suit was to recover
damages in the sum of $25,000 for the
death of her husband. Henry McGuinn. a
section hand employed by the defendant
company. who was killed at Edsalrs sta
ton, Fairfax county, by a delayed train
southbound, which was operating over a
northbound track.
q.
court, and it was o'clock this after
noon when 1t was given to the jury
The jury, with r. E. Miller as foreman
was out but half an hour before reach.
ing its verdict.
This is the first time i'm the history
of the local court that a damage suit
under the federal liability act has beer
heard. Under the state Jaw the maxi
mum amount that can be sued for
for death is $4,000.
torneys Leo P. Harlow and Charles
Bendheim, and the defendant company
was represented by Attorneys Moore
Keith. McCandlish & Hall.
Church to Entertain Delegates.
Plans are being made by the members
of the congregation of the NJ E. Church
South for entertaining the delegates
who will attend the Baltimore confer
ence Of the NJ E. Church South, which
will be held here beginning March %
The conference will be in session a
week. 1t is composed of 302 preachers
and so laymen.
The following committee has been
appointed by the church to have gen.
eral supervision and make the neces-
sary arrangements for the delegates
gett, N. S. Greenaway, DR.. c. E. Out
calf.
According to the annual report OF
George P. Coleman. state highway CON-
missioner, many roads have been i'm
proved in the state during the year.
In Alexandra county he mentions a
road from arlington to Alexandria. six
teen feet bituminous macadam, 40 miles
long, cost $50;047.
A list of the roads improved in Fair
fax county is given, together with the
total cost, amounting to SIPS, 1921.
Divorce Decree Set Aside.
In the circuit court today an order
was entered setting aside the final de.
cree for divorce given several days age
against May C. Pessagno. in order to
and complete her testimony. and the
term.
In the suit of Charles P. Posey
against Mildred NJ. Posey decree was
entered removing the case to AleXan-
>dria county for hearing.
In the corporation court final DEGREES
fort divorce on the grounds of deSertior
were entered in the following cases
Bertie Mills against Henry Mills, Mag
gle c. Turner against A. G. Turner. an6
Robert A. Totten against Blanche Edna
Kendig Totten.
The state corporation commission
has granted a charter to the Balti-
more Tube Company, incorporated. this
city. with a maximum capital stock OF
the par value of which is 800 a share
Oficers are: Charles, S. Moore, presi-
dent, Baltimore, and Gardner S. Boothe,
secretary, Alexandria.
Elks Arrange "Roll Call"
Alexandria Lodge, No. 75S. Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks, has ar
ranged for a roll call" meeting Mon
day night at its home at the request
of Grand Exalted Ruler Nicholson. All
m members Of the lodge are urged to be
present and answer roll call, and If
unable to do SO, to send explanations
of their absence. Many of the older
members are expected to attend. Fol-
lowing the meeting refreshments will
be served.
Laurence d. Kitchell of st. Paul,
Mimi, will deliver an illustrated lee
ture on the Glacier National Park in
Montana" Monday night in the Young
Pennies huildinR The affair will be