Evening star., 1920-05-27
ALEXANDRIA UNDER
GUARD FOR NIGHT
Military Called Out at Rumor
of "Mob Coming From
Washington"

ALEXANDRIA. Va. May 27.-
Fearing that an armed band of
negroes was coming from Washing
ton last night to retaliate as a result
Of an attempt on the part of Alexan-
drians Monday night to lynch William
II. Turner. coiored. confessed slayer Of
Thomas Morgan Moore of this city,
the city was under strong military
guard and remained so until day
break today. 1t was a tense night
for the residents of the city, many
Of whom were armed.
Every avenue leading to the city
was guarded by a volunteer military
company. while state troops patrolled
state troops. however. made their
headquarters at. the rooms of the
chamber of commerce, directly across
from police headquarters. and were
ready to respond to any call
Streets Cleared at II.
The streets were cleared of most
persons about II o'clock, and by mid
night Alexandria was normal and no
untoward event occurred. There was
| " ashinSton Hundreds of residents
| armed with pistols and shotguns,
stood guard along the main highways
between Arlington and Del Ray until
| nearly daybreak this morning. Every
! passing vehicle was stopped by the
, guards and the passengers were scru-
tinized.
Mayor Thomas A. Fisher yesterday
| received through Chief Goods the report
of possible mob coming from WASH
| ington. and he Immediately got into
communication with Adjt. Gen. w. w.
mand. and requested that troops
be sent here. The adjutant general
directed the Colonial States Rifles of
Falls Church. Fairfax county, to pro-
ceed at once to Alexandria. They came
on a special train. arriving here few
proceeded to police headquarters.
They were in command of Capt ]. F.
Bethune and Lieut.. A. E. Piggott.
There were flfty members of the COM
rany.
Call for Volunteers.
A call for volunteers was next is
sued by Capt. Louis n. Duffey, and
at 1880 o'clock he stood at the corner
of King and Royal streets and made
! an appeal to ex-service men and
| quickly secured volunteers. These
men formed in command of Capt.
Duffey and Sergt. Eugene Simpson.
They proceeded to police headquar-
ters and rifles and ammunition were
furnished to them.
Members of the Home Guard, COM
manded by Capt. T. B. Cochran, Lieut..
r. II. c. Beverley and Sergt. Fred
erick Schneider. numbering more than
forty. also reported at police head
quarters.
The volunteers were dispatched in
squads and guarded the Braddock
road, Mushpot road, Overhead Bridge
road, at the extreme entrance of
North Washington street, and a mum :
ber were assigned to duty at the
Union station.
The report that trouble was expected
between the whites and blacks spread
throughout the city. and stores having
guns sold out early in the evening.
Mayor Fisher last night stated that
he deemed it wise to have the military
at hand in case something should break
SO the citizens would be fully pro-
tected in the event of demonstra tion
of any character.
1t is now generally believed that the
talk about negroes coming over from
Washington was unfounded. and that
no such move was contemplated.
The Falls Church company left
Alexandria at o'clock this morning.
The only use of firearms reported
was in Arlington county, when some
colored automohilists were ordered to
halt, and failed to respond to the sum-
mons. Guards fired. over their heads
and they quickly returned in their ma
chine to Washington.