Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-23
THE $50 FER MONTH.
A Statement ON tho subject From Mr..
S.M. Page.

The following letter from Mr.. Samuel M.
Page Is In reference 10 Police-Justice Rich.
ardson's statement about the Richmond
gamblers:
81 did not read the Dispatch Wednesday
until was leaving the city; consequently
did not know that Justice Richardson had
been interviewed, So soon as / did read II.
however, slated 10 a citizen at the depot
that the Justice would have no difficulty In
producing his informer, and | then had
made up my mind TO relieve the Justice OF
any unpleasant position that he might feel
himself In. I therefore say 10 you that
was the informer alluded to by him. and /
desire TO state further how the matter come
about. We were talking one day about
the Dismal Swamp Lottery, and L thiui'
both expressed the opinion OF lis being
illegal. During the conversation i stated
to him, never believing that it would be.
heard OF again, that an old friend OF mine
informed me that 1t required vast or
large outlay Of money TO keep 1t up, as they
were bed freely, and that the gamblers OF
the town were bled Just as freely. He fur
ther stated to me that he paid to one party
as much as $50 per month, and that
he was q high official, and that a high
official mot now in ofice), although
10 cash il for him In advance; that he got
along very well with this gentleman until
some party or parties in Alexandria EN-:
ployed special counsel to push the case
against the company. This conversation
occurred about year Tor little more) since.
The conversation with Justice Richardson
was about both the Dismal Swamp Lottery
and gambling, and while he may have I'M
derstood the money to have been paid by
the gamblers | intended to convey the i'm
preston, az I received 1t, that IL was paid
by the lottery company. did not under
stand him as saying that either the $50 per
month or the advance OF salary was paid or
made 10 any city official, but Justice Rich
ardson may have, and no doubt did so un.
dersiand. for think II more than probable
that said high officer In this city, mean
ing that the money was paid In the city.
The Justice and myself had several talks,
and think the last one on the subject was
about the Sd OF September last, when |
laughingly told him that i saw there had
been raid on the gamblers during my
absence from town, but IL seemed they did
not get much, and that L had been told by
one OF the sporting-men they had notice OF
the raid two davs before it was made.
While was absent from the city, in an
OtIer Guy, met TWO men NnOlD kneN
some years since as sports and citizens Of
Ricbmopd, and, being surprised to find the
sports in that place, asked what they
were doing there, and was told by one OF
then, in the presence Of the other, that
they had to leave TO prevent arrest. and
that the gaming-houses had been rai1ed,
but that they had notice two DAYS before 1t
happened; that the earthquake prevented
it the first night, and that they left town the
next day.
"As TO the rigid cross.examinatiOn, |
suppose spoke Of that before dozen, aud
| was justified in this, / think. by the Tact
that one OF the very witnesses on the list
had 10 be brought before the judge twice
before he could be made to answer. |
think this answer will be sufficient; and
let The blame rest where it may.
al do not wish 1t understood that | told
Justice Richardson all that i have written
here, but that the many conversations had
with the other parties was the basis OF what
/ did say TO him.
Very respectfully.
"SAuUEL VI. PAGE"