The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-06
ROBBARIHS ALL AROUND,
a Funny Poker Story Comes
from the County Jail,
VAN BAKER LOSES A BIG POT
And Threatens to Kill the Winner
Rich ToFsythe Held-Residepts
of tho Island Visited by
Burglars Yesterday,

Rich Forsythe had hearing before,
Squire Davis yesterday on a charge Of
robbery, Robbery Is felony, Ex-Pros-
ecutor Jordan appeared for the prisoner,
the defense made being that the oaense
was only petty larceny, which is, in the
eyes Of the law, a trivial affair, The
evidence was that Forsythe went into
Israel's cigar store, on Sixteenth street,
on December IL, and said; 1--WE got
something for you, Give me s. change"
Israel laid out Sc, when Forsythe, pock.
citing 1t, drew q revolver and demanded
the other dollar, Israel reached for a
Ratchet, and Forsythe disappeared with
the 81, The money not having been
secured by the use Of the revolver, but
Voluntarily laid out, and appropriated,
II Is held that II was mere larceny, II
Forsythe had gotten the other dollar at
the point OF the revolver, 1t would have
been robbery.
This is the view OF the defense,
The view Of the justice was 81, 900
bond for court on charge OF robbery,
and In default Of the bail Richard went
back to Jail.
This hearing was held at the office Of
the County jail. When Squire Davis
went up to conduct the case, Van Baker,
the man convicted Of the murder Of his
wife and mother.in.law, and now In jail
here awaiting the result OF an appeal to
the Supreme Court Of Appeals, called to
him, and requested him TO issue a war
rant for Forsythe on charge Of robbing
Baker OF $22 the night before in the Jail.
Before this Baker had sent for Officer
Shorts, and wanted him to arrest Rich.
Squire Davis did not issue the warrant,
but he got the story Of the transaction,
Baker has for several nights been net
ing as turnkey. He remains in the
corridor Of the jail through the night,
aud locks the prisoners in their cells.
Monday Forsythe, through his brother
Jack, got q deck OF cards. These cards
Baker declares are marked.
Monday night after locking the other
prisoners In their cages, Baker pulled q
bench close to the barred doorotthe cell
occupied by Forsythe and another man,
and hehnd Forsythc began game OF
draw poker.
the bench 81 so, u "jack pot" For
sythe left the door TO get chew OF
"scrap," and when he came back the
hands had been dealt, He bet, and Ba.
ker raised him. Rich raised back.
Then Van drew out a wallet, remark
ing that it contained $40, and throwing
1t In the pot, remarked:
"lhere, maybe you'll raise that l
bet SO better.N
Forsythe dropped his hand, put both
arms through the grating, and raking all
the money OF the board, exclaimed,
"Four aces takes the whole business"
Whether he had four aces Is a matter
OF dispute. AT any rate Baker held the
four kings and Rich held the stakes.
When Squire Davis refused to inter
fere to make Rich disgorge the $22,
Baker declared with marked heat:
an just give him till tonight to give
me back my money, and II he don't do
II, he'll never 60 out Of this jail except
when they carry him out in a boxl"
Whether Baker got his money back,
or whether he acted as turnkey again
last night, could not DO reliably ascer-
tanned. 1t Is believed though, that up
to this writing Forsythe has not been
Carried out in box"