Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-24
CONCEALED WEAPONS.
One Man Gets or and Another f.
Sentenced.

The new law, which provides more effective
penalties against the carrying of concealed
weapons than the old law, has not succeeded in
frightening off all the pistol carriers. and two
of their number were tried in Judge Mills
court this morning. One Of the prisoners was
John Henry Fisher, colored man, who sells
clans, fish and ice. He lives in Howardtown
in rooms in a house in Bland's alley, and with
him lives his wife. There were two charges
against John Henry, it being the first case
under that section Of the law which provides
against the carryi4g of weapon for an UNI
lawful purpose. The other charge against him
was concealed weapons
Policeman Geaghan of the eighth precinct
produced the weapon in question, which proved
to be a 44-caliber Colts army revolver. The
cartridges had been extracted and they were
large enough for sinkers on an ocean fishing
line.
Several men and women appeared as wit
nesses and described the Howardtown affair
of yesterday Cecilia johnson, colored
woman who lives in the same alley, was the
principal witness against him. She and another
witness swore positively that Fisher had the
pistol, and Cecilia said that he threatened to
use it.
The prisoner was sworn in his own defense
and he stated the facts clearly and forcibly with
every indication that he was telling exactly
what happened.
He said that he had some trouble with his
wife and there were SO many against him that
he played a game of "bluff on them. He ex-
planned that his game was to draw stick which
he did. and it served his purpose.
Mr.. Clagett cross-exarnined the defendant,
but his story remained mistaken.
Lawyer Moss showed that some of the wit
nesses had been il the work house several times,
and one of them said that he was now under
bonds.
Judge Mills said he was impressed with the
truthfulness of the defendants story. He
thought that the witnesses for the prosecution
belonged to a bad lot. The charge was dis
missed.
Lawyer Moss asked the return Of the weapon
to his client Fisher, he said. served nine years
in the ninth cavalry and the weapon was relic
which he cherished.
might be turned over to the property clerk for
the present. "A weapon like this in the hands
of some persons" he said, might result in
fourteen murders in short time.''
The court directed that the weapon be turned
over to the property clerk and that the regular
course be pursued to regain possession of it.
John Lee, q negro with bad record. was
next arraigned on charge of concealed
weapons, and he plead guilty. John served two
years In prison several years ago for cutting q
relative. and he told the judge that he was once
arrested in 4 larceny case. His arrest on this
OCCASION was maze Dy fOlcenlan Maddox on Il
charge of burglary and the weapon was found
on him.
The pistol amt loaded" he told the officer
The latter remarked that it was such weapons
that often killed persons, and right on the
strength OF his statement he pulled back the
hammer. which was out of order. The weapon
was discharged and the officers fingers were
badly burned.
In consideration of his plea of guilty the
judge said he would impose light sentence
$50 or ninety days in Jail and thirty days abso-
lutte.
The case Of burglary was then brought
against him by Policeman McGlue 1t was
charged that Lee entered the house Of his aunt,
Mrs. Gibson, No. 2134 New York avenue north
west. aud stole some clothing.
Several witnesses were examined and John
was held in $1,000 security to await the action
of the grand jury.