Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-08
AN INFORMER OUTWITTED.

John A. Rayburn Does the Detective Act
Among DiserderIy Houses-sevsnseen
Informations Made-0ne Case Heard by
Robe, In which the Detective Was Left
John A, Rayburn, riverman who for
several weeks had charge of the dining room
in the Homestead mill, has been running q
Law and Order Society Of his own. Yester-
day his first case was heard by Alderman
Robe, and Mr.. Rayburn came out at the
small end He is now threatened with
prosecutions against himself, and there may
be some very interesting developments be-
fore the affair is closed.
Rayburn last week made before Alder
man Robe informations against II Keepers
of disorderly houses charging them, under
the'act of 1856, with selling liquor on Sun
day. Under that law the fine is 500, OF
which one-balf goes to the prosecutor-if ne
does not testify in The case. It seems that
Rayburn did not know about this ''if
Several of the women prosecuted retained
John Marion as their attorney, and they
told him that Rohe's constable, when he
served the warrants, advised them to go
quietly to the alderman and pay the tne;
would be made against them.
Eleven of the cases we're set for hearing
yesterday morning. When the first case
was called Rayburn was not present, but
his chief witness, Richard Elliott, was on
hand and testified. No lawyer appeared
for the prosecution, but Mr.. Marion was
there for the defense. Elllott's testimony
was racy, and he himself was good speci-
men of the rounder. He interlarded his
statements with abundant slang and pro-
family. He had come from Philadelphia
he said, to work in the Homestead mills,
where Rayburn employed him as q steward
He lasted little over q week there,
afterward made a trip to Cincinnati
on the steamboat Pacific, and since then
had done nothing except to make two
rounds Sof the disreputable houses with
Rayburn. These tours were made on Sun
days, August % and September 4. He said
Rayburn spent all the money, buying beer
in each place. Elliott had no cash. "Pm
a broker" he said. He declared he had no
idea at the time what Rayburn was at, but
noticed that he put down the name and
number of each place. Elliott said Ray
burn was paying his board. "1f he didn't"
he said, ''I'd have to carry the banner"
Just as Elliott finished Rayburn ap-
peared. The Alderman asked him if he
wished to testify. Rayburn turned to the
constable and said: 'I told you not TO set
any time for hearing In these cases"
'sNever mind that" said Attorney Marion,
'the time has been fixed and this case is on
trial" Rabburn then wanted a continu-
ance to get lis lawyer, but the Alderman
said he did not need a lawyer. Rayburn
then testified to buying beer from the de-
fendant on Sunday, August 2S On cross
examination he said he had lived in Pitts
burg, off and on. for % years He had been
q riverman most of the time, had been
policeman in Cincinnati and had done de-
tective work in Pittsburg. When asked
for whom he is now working, he declined to
answer.
Alderman Robe fined the defendant $50
and costs Rayburn was chagrined when
told that he could get none of the fine be-
cause he had testified. The Alderman after
ward called Marron aside and said: 81
hear you intend to have Rayburn arrested?"
"WelI," answered the attorney, Eve ex-
pect to institute some prosecutions The
Alderman scratched his head awhile, and
finally said: 81 guess there has been mis-
take in this case, and this fine will be re-
voked." The ten other cases were con-
tinued until the morning of September 10.