Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-05
IN THE COURTS.
baltimore Convicted of Arson I'm
the First Degree.

The trial OF the negro, John +. Latti-
more, was concluded in Department
yesterday morning. After argument it
was given to the jury, and in very short
space of time these twelve men good and
true returned verdict of guilty of arson
in the first degree. The case was hard
one to get verdict on. This is evidenced
by the fact that the negro has been tried
two or three times before and no result
reached. The trouble is that the evil
dence is purely circumstantial, and il is
difficult to remove all reasonable doubt
from the minds of sll the jury. In this
last trial the matter was put
in the hands of Detective Marsh,
who worked il up with grea:
skill and the conviction is largely due to
his thorough work. Deputy District
Attorney McComas aided by his
effective cross-exsmination of the
defendant, which had the effect Of get
ting the willy negro excited sufficiently
to make him talk. Sentence will be
passed hereafter.
This case Vas fallowed by the trial of
Burdette Chandler, sn ex-councilmgn,
charged with taking bribe as nembe
tric clock game case. The details hare
al appeared several times in the HERALD.
Z. q. iced, clerk Of the Council, was the
first witness. He was put On to show
tina, Chandler was in the Council
and voted On the licensing Of the
clock. There was grea. legal dispute
between W. P. Gardiner, Chandler's
counsel, anG the District Attorney as to
the admission Of this testimony. The
main point raised is that the indictment
charges that in January 4, 1888, Chand-
Ter got $500 from T. o. Rodman, man
ager OF the Turf and Grain Exchange,
owned by Rodman, of this city, and
Henry Schwartz snd Jerry Driscoll, of
San Francisco, and that he received the
money under promise that he would
vote in the Council against the suppress
sion OF the clock game. But the clock
game was not licensed at all at the date
referred to in the indictment. No such
license was issued until the 10th oi
March, more than two months later
The ordinance to lisence the clock was
before the Council at the time, and it be-
gins to look as if the charge ought tt
have been that Chandler took the money
to vote for the passage of the ordin
ance. The facts were finally allowed
to be put in, although the court init
mated very plainly that he thought
Judge Gardiner was perfectly right il
the position he took. AS the prosecution
was allowed to 60 on and put in all tht
testimony there was on their side, they
rested before court adjourned.
After Mr.. Teed there were examined
Henry Schwartz, Sidney Lacy and Mr.
Rodman. The three told in substance
of Chandler going to the Turf and Grsir
Exchange with the supposable intention
of breaking the bank behind the clock
But the electric current was too stronl
for the city dad, and broke him. Then, il
the language of the sporting fraternity
Chandler "squealed." In December
he got 5000 back, having made
threats that if the money was
not paid he would make it cost the firm
q good deal OF money. So the money
was given him under promise that he
would not come again to play. Then in
January he came and said he was big
loser and that he wanted more money.
He was reminded Of his promise not to
play, but he said he played through third
parties. He said he must have money,
that he had pawned his wife's jewels
and she was going to a party and if he
did not get the things for her che would
find it out and make Things dissgreeable
at the house. By threats of making it
cost the firm heavily, and saying
he had a pull" as the Mayor
would stand by him, he got
$500. He then promised not to play
again and to be a friend to the game
outside. Later he struck the clock
people for 81 900 on the same old plead
ings, but did not get it. That is in
substance the testimony of the three
witnesses for the people. When the
District Attorney announced that the
people were ready to rest, court ad
journed. No doubt motion to quash
the Indictment will be renewed this
morning, and it may be granted.
The Edelman cases came up in De.
partment 3, and were continued until
Saturday, at which date Captain Knox
and Major Furrey, of the late Grand
Jury, are cited to appear again.
The case of Banping against Banning
came up in Department 2. The case
is an old one and has been up before
the Supreme Court. 1t is in regard tC
the partition of q part of the BANNING
estate, and the only question at issue il
brought by the defendants, who are con
testing the title Of heirs and the validity