Evening journal., 1893-11-25
SIX MONTHS FOR HOUES
The Jury Only Fifteen Min
utes in Reaching a Verdict.
SIX MONTHS IN JAIL FOR IT
Fame Castles Treasurer Soon Convicted
and Sentenced to Pay $50 Fine and
TO Spend Six Months in Jail-Hayes
Fined for Contempt by Appearing
in Court Under the InHueuce."

Fined for Contempt by Appearing |
in Court Under the Inhueuce."
The closing hours of the Court of
General Sessions began at 10 o'closk this
morning. In the case of Nelson X.
Walker, colored, charged with writing
lottery policy. Alto ney General Nichol
son asked that the capias be vacated and
the recognizance dismissed On Thurs
day the bail bond was foi feited for non.
appearance. The bondsmen produced
the defendant this morning, and he was
sentenced to pay fine Of 500 and costs
Mr.. Bacon made another request that
the case against Lewis X. houes be
postponed until the February term. To
this the attorney-general refused TO con-
sent and Clerk of the Peace Biggs pro-
ceeded to draw the jury.
Mr.. Bacon asked the court to exclude
from the jury box all members of Fame
Castle, No. =, Ancient Order of the
Knights Of the Mystic Chain This re
quest was granted, but none of those
drawn were members and the jury was
drawn without further comment.
Houes, the Republican star witness
whose testimony unseated John NJ
Griffin, Democratic Councilman, sat be
side his counsel, the fraudulent CONVEX
sion of money as bailee He did not
look TO be any nearer deaths door than
be did when he appeared before City
Council in Maguigans behalf
The state called William X johnson,
a member of the castle He said he was
collector Of dues and Houes was
treasurer. Money had been paid TO
Houes and he has not made any return
Houes was not under bORd The mem
bers had explicit confidence in him. de
has been treasurer for two or three years
and his term will not expire until the
last Monday in December.
The court admitted in cordence the
by laws of the organization.
Mr. Bacon obi cJed t. the admission in
cordence of Union National Bank. book
Houes might have changed his bank at
any time. The court ruled that it was
admissible for what it was worth.
Recording Scribe John Percy testified
that the bank book had been IN use by
the castle for about turee months. The fal-
sity of the entries were first suspected on
October 81 The witness, in looking
over the bank book submitted by
HOues in October, found entries
not made by the bank officials.
He acquainted Assessor Whann
with his discovery aad they went to the
bank aud found that the money was not
there At the next meeting the castle
demanded the bank book and Houes gave
it up. This was followed by his arrest
| Percy suggested that the matter be ami
cably settled. Houes said, Gentlemen,
have spent this money. If you will
give me until January 6. will pay il
back As security was required and
Houes could not give it the bottom fell
out of the amic able settlement.
The Entries Were Bogus.
Bookkeeper William Butz, of the Unior
National Bank, testified that all entries
made in the bank book after July were
bogus, and no deposits were made aftei
that time.
Assessor Charles Whann testified that
Houes confessed that he had taken al
the money paid after July and spent
it. The castle offered every inducemeni
to get its money and did not want any
thing else
/ Thomas HogDe testified that in the
confession Houes said. If you will give
me until January l will pay it back Il
you send me 10 tie upper court you
won't get a d-d cent
Will am Beerbrower saw the money
paid TO Houes and said that Houes il
still a member of the castle
The state rested aud the defense fol
lowed suit, without calling q witness
out insisted on argument. Attorney
General Nicholson contented himsel
with few remarks to the jury
Mr. Bacon said that it was the frs
case tried under the new law. He argue
to the court that as Houes owned some o
the money, he could not steal from him
self. 1t was repugnant to the law tina
man could steal property belonging q
himself. The crime is not complete, be
cause the property is partly his own.
He then addressed the jury. He de
nounced the castle for ingratitude il
bounding member and dragging hin
from sick bed, and said that the jur
must give him the relief the castle II
rused.
MIR. Bacon Had to Retract.
"The attorney-general has bsen bull
dozed into insisting that this man
tried this term, said Air. Bacon.
Mr. Bacon" said the chief iustic,
tapping his gavel, you must retrae
that statement before you proceed.
IL meant, If it please your honor, ths
he has been pressed and urged Is this
4 | right2
r "There is no evidence of that and 20
have no right to use it, Just drop thl
point
Mr. Bacon retrac'ed what he had sal
: and, concluded his argument fe'
minutes later
Attorney General Nicholson made Il
= closing argument for the state, but d
not consume much time ia doing il.
Houes Fonnd Gnilty.
Chief Justice Lore charged the jur
: and in fifteen minutes the jury retuus
f with verdict of guilty. Mr. BacC
IS made motion for an arrest of jud
# ment, but subss quently withdrew il.
pleaded with the court to exercise
clemency In his clients behalf
The court sentenced Houes to pay 81
fne, costs of prosecution and six month
Il Imprisonment. The other six cas-
" against him were retired by the attorns
general.
The state entered plea of nolle pros
oui in the case'of the State VS.. Alexand
= McGovern accused of making highws
u robbery upon Joseph Hayes Hayes W
'i 6ned $40 for contempt of court and bsiI