Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-24
THAT $4,000 LOTTERY PRIZE.


Narrative Accurate in Ala Essential
Partictslars-Othcr Interesting De
yelOPnsents I'm Connection with the
EyeRt-COpy at the Check Paid to
MIR. May by the Lottery People.
The article published In THE STAR On Tuesday
last regarding the SIS, 900 prize drawn by Edward
Fl. May, Of this city, from the Kentucky State
Lottery, seems to have considerably disturbed
our morning and afternoon contemporaries, two
OF (which positively denied the story. The
lengthiest denial was published yesterday In
journal interviewed Mays wife and made her
deny all knowledge OF the affair. Among other
things Mrs. May was reported as saying:
"What's that" ''Drew prize in the lottery?
Well, knew he had been buying lottery tickets
for some time past, but ! had not heard any
thing about the prize. l have not heard any
thing OF 1T. Mr.. May Is my husband, and If he
bad drawn any such amount Of money / would
know something about it,
The Republican also stated that the book
keeper of the Citizens National Bank had de-
MED positively that the check had been paid at
that nsis, bank: The concluding paragraph of this
article was as follows:
The reporter returned from his investigation
SATISFIED that Mr.. May is not properly the sub
ject OF congratulation, and that the story was
set afoot in the interest of the lottery company
as an advertisement. Whether Mr.. May is a
party to the transaction cannot be aSceftatned
mnt ne returns to the city, but in case he Is he
lily before the story was published as to what to
say to reporters"
The Post contented itself by limiting that THE
STARS article bore strong internal evidence of
an advertisement, while an afternoon paper
boldly denounced it as hoax.
In view Of all these facts 1t now becomes our
pleasant duty to note that our morning con-
temporaries, despite the positiveness OF their
misguided reporters, have made ansende honor
able by publishing articles to-day that unuues-
t1onaOly confirm THE STARS original state
ment.
The Republicans dish of crow was the largest
Of any but one, and to- day 1t says:
=, "a Republican reporter investigated the pub
1ngton, had drawn the $l5, 600 prize at the last
drawing OF the Kentucky lottery, and had re-
ceiyed the money: Interviews with Mays wife
bank who could be found Tuesday evening
were published in yesterdays Republican, The
erect OF both statements were to dtscredit the
deny it. from WITCH an inference " was S araWS
that the statement was published simply as an
advertising dodge. Now May comes forward
and positively denies that the story was true
and the officers OF The bank state that the
$4,000 check was deposited with them and
honored.
"Mr. May was interviewed by The Republican
reporter yesterday, and made statement to
the effect that he did draw the prize of SIS 900,
and had been paid the money by the lottery
company. He said his wife had equivocated
when she stated last Tuesday afternoon that
she did not know any thing about her husbands
good luck. The Republican article was all right
except as to the grammar, and as he protested
10 DE thorough grammarian he could only
take exceptions to it on that ground. There
were two other parties interested In the Ticket
and they had received their share OF the pro-
ceeds. He had not authorized the story in THE
STAR, but agreed that the lottery managers
should use his name In a short dispatch to be
oil
In lottery tickets good many times prior to
this ana expected to do SO again. He was a
preacher, but had not prayed for the success OF
his lottery venture, as had been represented
he had deposited his share OF the money In the
Bank OF Washington and proposed to use 1t as
Bank yesterday stated that the check had been
received there and hOnOred. 1t was explained
at the bank that the boOk-keeper, Mr. Gabriel
Chase, who denied that any such check had
been received, did so In good faith, but that he
knew nothing whatever Of the transaction. An
interesting incident told in connection with
Mays luck is that two gentlemen, Messrs VIII
liam and Wallace Church, were equal owners
with May in the lucky TICKET. When May re-
ceived the dispatch notifying him Of his luck
he Immediately went to the Church brothers
and asked whether, in case their ticket
allow him $500 each. This they agreed to-, and
by that means May secured an additional 81 900,
making his share OF the s15 900 amount to So, 900
Mr.. VIM. Church, when questioned by Repub.
ltcan reporter, would not make any statement
about this latter transaction, but declared en-
pnatically that the prize was drawn and paid.
The check was deposited In the name of the
Church brothers. May receiving an equivalent
in the form OF check from them"
The Post OF to-day gives as the result Of an
Interview with Edward Il. May the following
statement:
"After many trials Of luck, in which two
young men, sons OF prominent lumber dealer,
q rf7nn nj Arov
decided to leave this In the lottery, and added
another dollar. One Of the six tickets thus
bought, and which were the joint property Of
was verified by the telegraph dispatch and let
ter Of July 16, announcing the luck of the num-
Der, from the New York firm who run the lot
York, where the certifed check was obtained ned
This was brought on, and on Monday, after the
delay consequent on shortness OF currency,
cashed at the Central National bank. The
money was divided and on Tuesday the regular
share Of Mays, 0G0-Was deposited Al the
Bank of Washington. The bank book, WITH
the above credit to Mr.. May, was shown
as proof OF this last statement. Mays share,
partners, amounted in all to $1,000, viii prob,
ably be for the present devoted to establishing
scheme being for later consideration. May says
he has had great deal too much leisure for a
WorkingmaD, and although he has applied it In
the service OF the Master, would like less spare
In the Republican with Mrs. May, Is denounced
by her to be either very stupid or wilfuliy
false report She said. In answer to the re.
porter's peremptory inquiry. IL don't know any
thing about the matter" but never denied the
correctness OF the fact OF her husbands dra wing
the prize. The silk dress item she Of course
denied, but the interview ended with these two
statements. AS guaranty OF his standing Ia
the community, the bank cashier also sustained
the fact OF caShing the check. Mr.. May showed
the Post an old commission, hOnOrably held for
six years, as notary public for the District and
also petition signed by large number of his
nefghbOrs, including nearly all the influential
business men in South Washington, asking Mr..
Hayes for an appointment as Justice of the
peace for that district"
1t viii thus be observed that TIE STAR, as
usual, published In the first instance an acca-
rate and truthful account OF the affair."
The following is copy OF the certified check
given to Mr. May, by Williamson & Co.. the
Eastern agents Of the Kentucky State Lottery,
On the 18th inst:
Int. Rev. : No. 1872. JERSEY CITY,
stamp July Is, 1879. :
:''.''''''''' FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Pay to the order OF Edward Ill. May.
Fifteen thousand. ................D Dollars:
{For Capital prize, July 15.)
$4,000. Simmons & Dickinson. !:
Stamped in red letters across the face OF the