The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-12-20
A SUIT FOR DAMAGES.
Ex-Chief of Police Neiswenter
the Defendant.
Is TIE CAUSE.
Mrs. J. 5. Thomas Brings Suit to Recover
Damages Because, She Alleges, Her Hus-
band Has Gambled Away Large Sums OF
Money at Neiswenter's Hotel.

Quite a sensation was caused in town to
day by the announcement that ex-Chief of
Police Daniel Neswentor had been sued for
heavy damages for maintaining gambling
place.
| Although the particulars published in this
mornings paper were not quite correct the
facts are substantially as published. Mr..
Neiswenter is sued and the party suing seeks
to recover money lost at gambling, but the
plaintiff in the case is not the one who lost
the money. 1t is the wife.
Mr.. Neswenter is the proprietor Of the
Commercial Hotel at the corner of Main and
Coal streets He is sued by Mrs. James S.
Thomas, wife of the West Coal street grocer,
whose place was recently closed by the
sheriff.
The case has been hanging fire for over two
weeks but it was thought by those who
knew of it that it would be settled without
going to court. Overtures for a settlement
failed however and now Mrs. Thomas has
added civil suit to the criminal action
previously instituted.
1t is alleged that on the night Of December
3rd last Mrs. Thomas went into the hotel
and found her husband in a party playing
cards. She picked up a broom and welded
it with such desperation that the party was
broken up and the husband beat hasty
retreat.
The next day Mrs Thomas went before
Justice Dengler and caused warrant to be
issued for Nieswenters arrest, charging him
with maintaining gambling house. Mes
wenter waived hearing and entered $500
bail for trial.
Those acquainted with the facts at the time
attached little importance to them, as there
have been a number of such cases in the town
and all have been settled without a
trial at court In this case, however, the
complainant proved to be exceptionally
determined and is said to have declared that
she would not settle for any amount of
money, that she intended to punish those
who had ruined her husbands business and
led him to gambling.
The statement published this morning that
the suit for damages is based on an allegation
AAdv OA AyGtNlAlbGl lJlui ld6lg 4Nt tlshNllAtA ulA
win and got $4,000 from Thomas at the
gambling able" was not correct. The
alleged acts of gambling took place on and
prior to December 3rd last and it is not
claimed that there has been any gam ling in
the hotel since. Mrs. Thomas does not state
that her husband lost any particular sum u
sums at tue gaming table, but alleges it
generally as large sums of money" and
asks for $4,000 damages. Her counsel is
John W. RyOn, Esq, and the suit was
instituted yesterday by the filing of papers
in the Prothonotary's office.
In speaking of the suit which was first
instituted Justice Dengler said to-day that
he had been unjustly accused of urging Mrs
Thomas not to make settlement for less
than $1,000. He says he never SO urged the
woman, or gave her any advice to that effect
Whatever he has done in the case has been
strictly within his jurisdiction as Justice
This case will be watched with great in
tarest, as in case it should go to trial and Mrs
Thomas should recover Judgment for NOR,
than Mr.. Neiswenter can pay the people who
are sureties on Mr. Neiswenter's license bono
may be called upon to make good the amount
Should the matter go that far it will be tn,
first brought in this part of the state +,
determine if sureties on a license bond ar,
responsible for any damages that may Occul
through the principal on the bond allowing
gambling in his place of business.
When seen to, day by reporter Mr.. Neis
wenter said he knew nothing of The suit fo
damages and no papers had been served OF
him. He also stated that whatever suits ar,
or may be instituted by Mrs Thomas will
not worry him, as he has done nothing t,
cause them.