Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-07

POLICE REpoRT-Last night wa
cloudy and cool. One prisoner and
three dodgers were at the station house
Mayor Strauss disposed of the follow
Ing cases this morning:
The first was one for abusive language,
wherein w. K. Spittal charged Luther
Tansill with disorderly behavior to-
ward him. 1t seems both men were in
Schwab's saloon Saturday night when
the defendant invited the plaintiff to
take hand in game Of cards. This
the latter declined to do, when Tansill
challenged Spittal for q wrestling
match in the back yard This proffer
was accepted and in the contest which
followed Tansill came out second-best.
Returning to the saloon the vanquished
became abusive, if not menacing; hence
the arrest After the charge had been
made, Mr.. Louis Cuvilier undertook to
cross question Mr.. Spittal, when Mayor
Strauss asked the would-be interlocu-
tor if he were practising attorney.
The latter replied he was not, but was
friend of the accused. His honor told
him he preferred to try the case him.
self, and the defendant gave his version
of the alleged unpleasantness. The
Mayor determined to divide the costs
Of the warrant equally between both
plaintiff and defendant.
When this case had been disposed Of
Rev. Mr.. Landrum and several mem
bers of the Free Methodist Church ap-
peared and charged one Benjamin Wa
tiers with disorderly conduct and with
using "cuss words" in front of their
place of worship on south Lee
street. The reverend gentleman
gave very clear and succinct
statement of the case, wherein he as
serted that his church was entitled to
police protection, and said his congre-
cation had been for some time more or
less the object of persecution on the
part of disorderly boys and young men
who congregate in and around the
meeting house, not for their own edit
cation, but for the purpose of annoying
those who gather there through religi-
Gus motives. The evidence being posi-
tive the Mayor fined Waters So, repri-
manded him and told the plaintiffs that
should any further disorder occur in
and around the church to bring the
names of the delinquents to him and he
would carry out the law to its fullest
extent.
The last case was that of Harry Poss,
who was accused by George Bellew
with stealing his pocket book with its
contents. 1t seemed that Bellew, after
drawing about $75 or $50 from the bank
Saturday evening paid several bills for
labor, &c, and later entered Mr.:
Fegan's saloon, where he met Poss and
with him took several drinks. Suisse
uuently he entered Mr.. lannon's saloon
and called for more liquor, but being
nv li1i., time drunk. the landlord re-
fused to sell him any more intoxicants.
He and his companion appeared next in
Richard Burnett's saloon, where he
called for drinks, and where he flour
shed his pocketbook and, according to
the statement Of the proprietor, was
very drunk leaning his head upon the
counter, &c. Mr.. Burnett said at this
iuncture Poss picked up the pocket
book and remarked ''I'll get this" He
opened il and remarked there's TWEEN
ty or twenty-five in it, Mr.. Burnett
told the accused to give Bellew his
pocketbook and further that he Our
nett) had already had trouble by a man
losing his money in his place. He then
saw Rellew take the pocketbook and
place ii III ln inside coat pocket, when
the two men left his house. Another
witness. Mr. Brophy, testified TO seeing
Bellew put the poci:etbook in his peck
ct, also that both men were drunk.
The plaintiff seemed obiiyious to every
thing which happened after leaving the
saloon, and missing his pocketbook
Monday morning supposed Poss had
taken it, He didn't remember replac-
ing it in his pocket in the saloon. Poss
was represented BY Mr.. Charles Bend
helm and the prosecution by Mr. Leon
ard Marbury, Commonwealth Attor-
ney, and considerable time was con
suned in examining witnesses, sc. No
positive evidence having been adduced
againt Poss, everything being presump-
tive, he was finally discharged,
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