The Washington herald., 1916-01-09
POLICE GIVEN
farewell NOTE
Missive Surrendered by De-
spondent Man Arrested on
Alexandra Wharf.
TAKEN TO STATION
Letter Says Wife Deserted Him Weeks
Ago-Declares He Tried to
Starve Himself.

Alexandria. Va, Jan. s.-A stranger
giving the name OF William c. West, IS,
well dressed, found at s o'clock tonight
on Lannon's wharf. was escorted to po-
lice headquarters by Alpheus Robey,
special watchaman, after II was claimed
he had given away his overcoat, scarf
pin, and money.
When reaching headquarters he had
in his possession letter addressed THE
Chief OF Police" 1t was written in ink,
enclosed in a stamped envelope, and was
signed Wv"
The letter reads: Pardon me for COM
mitting this wicked crime in your city
every inch and grain Of its soil. pre-
fer to die in IL. God will forgive and /
want you to do likewise.
Three weeks ago my wife left me on
account Of my drinking which lasted
four days, she being a Christian woman
and detesting drink, could ont blame
her But the past two weeks I have
fer death than uve without her. So
for the past weee have tried to starve
myself but its impossible.
My wife is from Painsville, Lake
County, o. Her last address was Cen
eral Delivery. P. O., Washington. She
will take charge OF my remains
I have given away all Of personal ef-
expense to locate her so as to take
charge Of my body as she will pay you
and may God reward you and protect
you in the future"
West told Chief Goods he has been in
Washington for the past month and
came over to Alexandria today. He de-
clined to say where he was stopping
nor would he tell where he is from.
In the United States Court this aft
ernoon verdict for $4,000 was given
by a jury to Virginia McGuinn, admin
istratrix, against the Southern Railway
Company.
The object of the suit was to recover
s25.OO0 for the death of Henry Nc
Quinn, who was employed as a section
hand by the defendant company, and
who was killed at EdsalTs station,
Fairfax County. Counsel for the rail-
way company noted an appeal. This
was the first case ever heard in this
court under the Federal liability act.
The plaintiff was represented by At
tOrneys Leo P. Harlow and Charles
Bendheim, and the defendant company
was represented by Attorneys Moore
Keith, McCandlish, and Hall
The annual meeting and banquet Of the
bar association of the sixteenth judicial
circuit will be held next Saturday. r.
Z. Lee Camp, Confederate Veterans, will
hold its annual banquet in observance
Of Lees Birthday on January 10 in Lee
Camp Hall The Cardinal Athletic Club
will hold its banquet the night of Janu-
ary % at the Hotel RammeL Members
OF the Alexandria Automobile Club will
give their first annual banquet on Janu-
ary IS in the Westminster Building. A
partial list of the speakers include
George P. Coleman, State highway COM
missioner of Virginia; A. Batchelder. Of
the executive committee Of the Ameri-
can Automobile Association, and E. l.
Ferguson. head of the touring section Of
the American Automobile Association.
An illustrated lecture on Glacier Ma
tiOnal Park will be delivered Monday
night in the Young Peoples Building by
Lawrence D. Kitchell, of St Paul. The
proceeds will be for the benefit of Grace
P. E. Church.
In the Circuit Court today the di-
vorce decree given in the suit Of
Joseph A. Pessagno against May c.
Pessagno was set aside and an order
entered granting defendant leave to file
a cross bill and complete her testi-
mony and the case continued until the
March term Of court In the suit of
Charles P. Posey against Mildred NJ
POsey, a decree was entered. In the
Corporation Court final decrees for di-
vOrce on the grounds of desertion were
given in the cases of Berthe Mills
against Henry Mills; Maggie c. Tur-
ner against A. G. Turner, and Robert
a. TOtten against Blanche Edna Ken
dig Totten.
A charter has been granted by the
State Corporation Commission to the
Baltimore Tube Company. OF AIexan-
dria. with maximum capital stock of
s5,000,O00 and a minimum of 1000. Of
ficers are Charles S. Moore. president
Baltimore, and Gardner l. Boothe, sec
retary, Alexandria.
The bodies OF Mrs. Alice Florence
and her son. Daniel Florence. who per-
ished in a fire which destroyed their
home in Del Ray, Alexandria County,
yesterday. will be shipped to Manassas
Va, for burial.
BAND CONCERT PROGRAM