Evening star., 1944-04-30

to Argyle, on Piney Branch road, prior
to this date, as the directory generally
failed to make mention of people living
in the County Of Washington. Boschke's
map of 1857-1860 gives him as living
there, and he died there, as we find by
The Star of February 8, 1870, which
prints the following:
Death of an Old Citizen.-Thomas
Blagden, one of our Oldest and most
respected citizens, died at Argyle, in this
District, this morning in the 65th year
of his age. Deceased had been during
his whole life one Of the most prominent
businessmen of this city, commencing,
as he did early, in the lumber business,
on what has ever since been known as
Blagden's Wharf, at the foot of Third
street east, and among other results of
his prosperity is the row of magnificent
residences bearing his name, on In
diana avenue between Third and Four
and-a-Half streets. The father of the
deceased was killed by the falling of
bank at the southwest corner of the
Capitol during the erection of that
The Argyle mansion stood for many
years, and until about eight years ago,
on Upshur street west of Sixteenth
street. Prior to it being purchased by
the Blagdens, 1t is said to have been the
summer home of Baron Bodisco. the
Russian Minister, who married the
youthful Miss Williams of Georgetown
when he was beyond middle age.
But we must not lose sight Of Coxeys
Army, which incidentally, and accord
ing to roster Of April 20, then num-
bered 424 persons. After its long march
from the Piney Branch race course, it
finally reached the Capitol Grounds at
1880 pm. May l, and here it ran up
against stonewall of police opposition,
and when Chief Marshal Brown made
an effort to make a speech he was pre-
vented from doing So though clubs had
to be used on him and upon the Coxey-
ties generally who crowded around, but,
nevertheless, Brown was dragged away
under arrest. During the meantime
Coxey made demand to be allowed to
speak from the Capitol steps, but In
stead he was escorted out of the grounds
by 1t. Kelly Of the sixth precinct. Other
officers detailed here at the time in
cluded Sergt. Mulhall, Capt. Gardner.
1t. Wilkins OF the Capitol police force,
Capt. Rodgers of the New York force,
Capt. Austin, Detective Lacey and
others.
Coxey Arrested
At one time in the proceedings, Brown
and Coxey in some way eluded the po-
lice officers and ran across the Capitol
? Grounds, but were soon captured, to-
gether with Christopher Columbus Jones,
who was captured by Policeman Flather
Of the fourth precinct and charged with
interfering With an officer. Policeman
Scramlin of the second precinct arrested
Brown for disorderly conduct and both
Jones and Brown were taken to the
fifth precinct and locked up.
The next day, on May 2, Coxey, Brown
and Jones were charged before Judge
Miller with unlawfully entering the
Capitol Grounds, breaking shrubbery,
walking on the grass and displaying a
banner which had for its purpose the
bringing into public notice a certain
organization known as the u. S. Coxey
Good Roads Association"
On May 9 following, all three were
convicted before a jury consisting of
William w. Hazlett, George c. Ma
gruder, William L. Bailey, William Col
ley, w. B. Holtzclaw, George o. Jones,
William Hollinder, John F. Dade, John
o. Crown, John J. Eichorn, Robert B.
Tretler and Henry c. Reinhart, and the
entire aggregation soon left town, its
members much wiser than when they
came. But, after all, 1t did make news
at the time.