National Republican., 1883-10-18
THREE CARD MONTE.
How Strangers Were Fleecod by That Attrac-
tive But Deceptive Game.
Trial OF Thomas Dunn aud Robert Murphy
Other Business Before the Courts.
TRIAL OF THE MONTE MEN.


Thomas Dunn and Robert Murphy, indicted
for larceny, which is another case growing
out of the investigation Of the citizens COM
mittec, was heard. The government was rep
resented by District Attorneys Taggart and
Corkhill and Special Attorney Wells. Dunn
was represented BY A. i. Williams aud
Murphy by Judge Pelham and w. w. Belts.
Iunn and Murphy wcro indicted in May last
fol tho larceny of gold watch and chain
valued at tl7J and $50 in money from II. b.
Thomas. Tho defendants were arrsigned
aad pleaded not guilty
Tha following wore selected as jurors
John a. Schneider, BARTLETT w. Page, George
Y. Pyle, George w. BSnagin. Columbus j.
Eslin. W. II. Scott, Henry Bailey, John j..
Vos;, Victor J. Becker. Robert Z. Froy, Clar-
snoe Beall, and David Nachman.
Tho defense took exceptions rs 60 the gov
ornnlent exercising the right of challenge and
70 the ruling OF the court that the defense
had but four challenges. Tho case WAS
opened by Mr.. Taggart for the government,
who stated that the victim was robbed of his
watch by means Of the three card monte
game in Mr.. Hudson's saloon, corner of Four
and.a- half and N streets southwest, and the
government expected to show that both do
PENDANTS were implicated.
Mr.. Thomas, of Abingdon Va, testified that
in January, 1882, while in the city, he was
accosted at the botanical gardens by one or
two men who said they were goingUo see where
Mrs. Surratt was executed. Witness was in
vited to go along, and went down Four-and.a-
half street in car with the strangers, They
stopped at saloon and called for hot lemon
AIDES; while at the table an old man came iu, sat
down and ordered drink. This man spoke of
having learned in Baltimore n new game
The company got to betting, but witness de-
clined to bet, saying that he believed the old
man was sharper They replied that he was
not, but he ought to be taught n lesson. He
was then pursuaded to bet, and put up his
watch and chain, which he lost They were
then ordered out by the barkeeper, and left
Witness went to friend, aud then to De-
tective Flinders, who said he could get the
watch by the payment of $50. Flinders said
that the watch had been pawned in Baltimore,
and that he would require $5 for expenses
$40 for services, and $50 to redeem the watch.
Witness paid him the money 800 Pnd got
the watch, and at Flnders's suggestion that
the parties wanted to see him (witness) with
the watch he walked to the corner of the
avenue. Witness had recognized one of the
men since. Ho was on the stand the other
day under the name of OLeary. He was the
younger of the two mon he met at the bo-
tanical garden. He could not say that he had
ever seen the two prisoners before.
Counsel for the defense said that they had
no questions to ask, as they were not counsel
for OLeary.
Charles O'Leary was sworn. The defense
asked that it be noted that O'Leary had been
convicted and pardoned. Mr.. O'Leary testi-
fled that Scribner engaged Thomas in CONVEX
sation, and raised his hat as signal, when he
went up and was introduced. Going through
the botanical garden they went to see where
Mrs Surratt was hung and stopped at Hud-
sons, where they ordered hot lemonade. The
barkeeper, Dunn, said it would take him
tt,,,n 20 10 tlnyn o,1 ;,,N taI fhap
to an adjoining room, where they sat down.
Here Murphy came in and the game was splayed.
Witness then explained with the cards the
game, how the watch was lost by Thomas, who
bet against doodle" supposed to be $40
After he offered to redeem it witness gave
th,.Sgnal by a cough for the scare to come in.
Mfctsss said he saw the watch in Dunn pos
session that night and witness offered $50 for it
The watch was returned, as he understood,
and witness and Scribner got their share from
Dunn. Witness had met Dunn and the Others
that morning at Holiness, for they would ar
range where they were to work. Dunn said
Hudsou's saloon was right for that day. Dunn
was brother in law of Hudson, and the rule
was this: 10 per cent. of the proceeds was to
be paid for the privilege of putting man
behind the bar. Witness worked with Dunn,
Scribner, and Murphy for six weeks. Wit
ness on cross examination said he did not see
any others at Hudsons at the time of this
larceny outside of the five engaged.
Upon redirect examination the witness said
Thomas would not have gotten the money If
he had won; they would have required him
to guess a second time, and if he won again
he would be paid, and second bet made.
John L. woodward testified that he got the
watch from Scribner or Boose; was satisfied
that Dunn did not give it to him. He was at
Holiness at the time, and Dunn was not there,
Flinders said that some of the boys had won
watch at three card monte, giving descrip-
tion of the watch, but he mentioned no names.
Witness told him that he had bought the
watch, and witness got it and gave it to Film
ders, who paid him $3.50. Witness paid 500
to O'Leary at Mrs. Fosters saloon, on Eighth
street. Dunn was in the room, and ScribneI
was about there, but he did not see Murphy
Witness had conversation with Dunn last
summer, and asked him the name of the mar
who lost tho watch, and he said that he did
not know.
Mr.. Taggart expressed his disappointment
at the witnesss testimony, and was proceed
ing to closely question witness, but was
checked. Witness said that he had erred in
portion of his testimony.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Williams, he sait
that he went to Mr.. Wells about week
ago. and informed him that he made mis-
take.
Redirect to Mr.. Wells 1t was about n weet
ago. Witness said that the diisiutc was as Il
lHc dlHouuJ paul.
After u recess Of half an hour, Mr.. Charles
Z. Flinders was called for the defense, and
testified that he was q private detective IL
January, 1882. He had seen MI Thomas ol
two occasions. He came into witness's office
stated that his business was confidential
and that he had lost his watch, and told il
what way. The witness said it was by thre
card monte that the watch was lost, anc
described to him three men. He suggested
that no get warrants for them, and Thoma
refused. The witness started out, and tn
first man he met was Charles OLcary. HI
said "O'Leary, you got mans watch yes
terday?"
The government objected.
Mr.. Williams said that they proposed +
show that O'Lcary had control of the watcl
and got the money for it.
His honor said that they could not go int
that, because they had not laid the founda
tiou TO contradict OLeary.
The witness testified that he had conyer
sation with O'Leary about the watch, AM
aftcrward obtained it from William Wood
yard.
Thomas Dunn, one of the defendants tool
the stand and denied that he had anything t
do with the case undor consideration, or tina
he dealt with O'Leary in the matter He ha
been the "steerer" aud the 'scarer," but onl
few times, not exceeding fifteen or twent
times. King John Henry Murphy, an
O'Leary were in the combination at tina
time. Had not played at tho Van Ness place
arsenal grounds, or Jarvins's; only played a
the end of the Long bridge, in the open field
Sometimes took them over to see bapti2in
49,