Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-19
LOTTERY TICKETS IN THE MAIL.
Hearing In tho Police Court In the Case
OF Attorney Thompson.


At three O'Clock yesterday afternoon the case
OF Chas. Thompson, attorney for the Louisiana
lottery company, charged with violating the
law in reference to lotteries was taken up in the
Police Court, Judge Miller. Mr.. Armes APP
peared for the government and Messrs. Jere
Wilson and A. B. Williams for the defendant
Post Office Inspector King testified that he
had received lottery tickets through the mails;
that he had the mailing stamp of the Baltimore
Office placed on three letters addressed TO NJ
A. Dauphin, president of the Louisiana state
Lottery, Washington, and brought them over
here, placing them in Mr.. Thompsons box
I'd" that each OF these letters contained an
order for a lottery ticket and 81. On the llth
instant a boy (John Nash) called for the letters
III box ID, but was not at first allowed to take
! them. Afterwards he got them. In reply to
the letters so sent answers were received at
the Baltimore Office and forwarded to witness
by the Baltimore postmaster. One OF these YVES
addressed to Henry Williams, los south Calvert
street, Baltimore.
Mr.. Wilson asked and learned that Williams
was a mythical person. and made the point that
the law contemplated bona fide transac tions
and that the proceeding was fraud.
Mr.. King continued his testimony, saying
that finlayson d Canova aud Mrs. Josephine
Oswald Thayer-names signed to the other
letters-were also myths. In each of the letters
was ticket ard circular.
To the court witness said that Mr.. Thompson
claimed the letters in binn ID, under power of
attorney dated July last.
Redirect:-kpew the boy Nash; saw him take
the letters from the box and carry them to 1881
L street.
THoMPsoS's POWER OF ATTORNEY
Col ]. W. Ross stated that Mr.. Thompson
filed with him power Of attorney to receive all
mail addressed NJ. A. Dauphin, Louisiana State
Lottery Company and to No. Coz 9Th street
northwest
Mr.. King said from his personal knowledge
the letters addressed to Dauphin or the lottery
company varied from IS to 800 per day.
Post Office Inspector Arlington testified that
he was watching the box on the 18th instant;
saw boy about to take the mail, stopped him.
and asked what authority he had for getting it;
but he produced none. aud told him he could
not get il, he left; had seen him get the mail
once before; some weeks ago.
On cross-examination witness said he doubted
the authority of the boy and for whom he was
getting the mail. He was working under Mr.
Kings orders.
the city post Office. testified that he knew of
the mail being refused to John Nash on the
18th instant, and that Mr.. Thompson came to
inquire about it and questioned them AS to
their authority for refusing to deliver it to
Nash, who was his messenger. Witness did not
TESTIMONY OF THE MESSENGER BOY NASH
John Nash, boy Of thirteen or fourteen
years. testified that he was employed by MIR.
Thompson in getting the mail After being
stopped from getting the mail he got it the
next morning and wrapped it up. when an ex-
pressman came and got it. He carried the mail
to Mr.. Thompson's Office usually and sometimes
he CThompson) looked at il, but Mr.. Thompson
never took it. He would take the mail from
tChel 4 mr. nd nm
would get it. Mr.. Thompson told Lin to get
the mall and the expressman wrapped il up Ii
was in the back (bath) room where he left il.
Tom Williams was the expressman and he
came in from half an hour TO an hour after
wards and took them. Witness said he put no
address on the bundle, which was sometimes
six inches thick and sometimes twelve inches
On cross-eXamlnation witness said he was
sure Mr.. Thompson did not touch the mail that
day. The letters were never opened there.
Ee-direct-When MIR. Arlington refused to
allow him ID take the mail he reported it to
MIR. Thompson, who said it was ali right, but
he should go for the mail in the morning.
At this point the hearing Was adjourned and
the question came up-this being case for the
grand jury-as to Mr.. Thompson's custody
pending the hearing The court suggested
that he might waive examination and when the
hearing is resumed move TO strike out the
waiver. This suggestion was adopted and MIR.
Thompson left the court room with his
counsel
THE HEARING RESUMED THIS AFTERNOON.
When the case Of Attorney Charles Thomp-
son. charged with violating the lottery and
postal laws, was called in the Police Court this
afternoon, Mr.. A. Il. Williams moved the court
to strike out the waiver and his motion was
granted.
POSTMASTER ROSS WITNESS.
Postmaster Ross was then called as a witness
and he told OF an interview between Thompson
and himself concerning the formers mail. He
had no personal knowledge of the defendants
connection with the Louisiana Lottery Com
pany.
Mr.. Thompson, witness said, had told him
that he (Thompson) represented Mr.. Dauphin.
Witness started to tell what his impressions OF
Mr.. Thompsons interviews were, but counsel
objected.
What was the character Of tho mail matter
deposited in that box?" asked MIR. Armes
1T was generally understood to be the lot
terry mail, he replied, but have no personal
knowledge of that"
Witness read a part Of the circular. which
gave instructions for letters to be addressed to
M A. Dauphin, Washington, DC"
On cross-examina ton witness said that the
post Office box was rented by Mr.. Thompson.
After the mail was stopped the defendant pro-
cured power of attorney from Mr.. Dauphin
and it was accepted by the department The
mail was then delivered to the defendant
SUPERINTENDENT BELL SWORN.
Superintendent James E. Bell of the city de-
livery department Of the city post Office was
next called and he testified that
Mr.. Thompson came to zee him
Mr. Thompson's driver two large bags Of mail
matter That WAS after tho nawar af attnrnav