St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-27
GRIFFIN IS SET FREE
BY THE cAAReE OF THE coGar 70
THE JURY. lrse5u
SPIRITED SCENES IN couR !


Tries Another .Hou se-zi "a
Represented by Wotl,. j
Man = Court Holds GriiIin9 d
Proprietorship Not Proven,
Though in Effect Admitted.
The trial OF William Fl. Griffin.
charged with running gambling house.
was called yesterday afternoon before
Judge Orr. The defense called for q
jury. and the following gentlemen were
sworn III: E. B. Barton. George IL.
Beardslee. j. Bergfeid, WI. Bayard,P
il. Beck. G.. M. Benham. X. Ii. Barnes,
William Barbeau, Charles Bennett, C.
M. Barnes, and j. w. Bell.
The result of the trial was another de.
feat for the astute Mr.. Pike, who pros
ecuted the case for the city. and Griffin
molested. The progress OF the trial
afforded much amusement for the delec.
tation of the interested spectators. The
Griffin interests. through their counsel.
T. d. O'Brlen, made repeated efforts
to ''ring in" the alleged gambling place
at the Paeifie,and tried several times to
foist upon the courta tale of woe about
police conspiracy against the-much-
abused Mr., Griffin. But the court de-
brought into the case. and there was
little trfcornered sparrIng between
counsel and the chief of ponce.
The reason for Griffin's discharge was
the fact that the prosecution failed to
prove pfeprietorship On the part of
the defendant. AS matter Of fact.
Griffin was simply "squatter' In the
premises on East Seventh street, hay-
ing paid no rent to any one. Having
the keys, he simply took possession of
the premises. as the ownership Of the
lease is at present in dispute In the
| courts.
- The first witness to be called was
Police Sergeant Sullivan, who was
with the party who made the raid on
the nightof the 18th. He testified that
ne had visited the premises on the
night of the 9Th and had seen the vari-
Gus games in,fulI operation.
:. Mr.. O'Brien objected to any evidence
not confined to the night Of the arrest.
The objection was sustained by the
court. Witness was allowed, however,
to state that on the 9th he had con-
versation with the defendant. who had
told him that he was open and intended
to run his place. On cross-examination
Mr.. OeBrien started the ball rolling by
asking the witness whether he had in
formed himself II any other gambling
hnt it.nr ~, nj OF
present. Don't you know that there:
is a gambling house known. rs the
Pacificp Dou't you know that police
officers are in the habit of informing
| people that the Pacific was OK. and a
safe place to 60 to, and that 1t would!
| not be puIled?" came the rapid ques4
tions. But Mr.. Pike objected. and the
court sustained him. /
Lieut.. Sexton, who had charge of the
raiding party. was next put on the stand.
He also stated that Griffin had informed
him he was going to open gambling
house and run ii. Being asked at the
time if the police would pull the place!
he had replied that the chances would
be good inrthat direction. On cross-exi
animation the same squabb1e took place
and became rather warm. Mr.. o Brlen
asked the witness if it was the duty of
the police to pull any gambling house
when they see one.
| SeXton-YeS. when we see one.v
| O'Brien - Don't you know that a
| gambling house called the Pacific is now
| running? @
| Sexton-I have not seen it.
| Chief Clark-Which of the two houses
| is being tried?
/ OBrien-ProbablY both.
| Clark-It looks little that way.
/ The discussion was cut short by the
court, and the examination of the wit
ness proceeded.
| SeXton-We carried away the furni-
| ture.
/ O'Brien-What was the furniture?y.
I Sexlon-Tne roulette table. faro table,
cards and chips.
| O'Brien-0h; you call that furniture:
Why didn't you bring that stuff here as
| evidence?
| This question was also objected to-
and the question was sustained. Chief
| Clark was theme witness, aud he, too
| became special mark for the counsel
of the de Tense, but with little satisfac-
ton to himself, The chief related al
Interview which lie had with Griffin, in
which the latter had stated to him thai
he was going to open gambling house,
| and wanted to know if he was to be
pulled by the police. If so he desired
that the arrests be made early in the
night, so that he could give bail. fhe
| chief informed him that he would be
arrested in case he opened house. On
| creSS-eXamination the chief stated that
he had seen the mayor. and been in.
| structed TO pull the house il it was
aopened.
| OBrien-Dfd you ever inform the
mayor that the Pacific WAS running?
| Clark decline 10 t.'r what
| told the mayor.
Then came n sher; tween
| the chief and Mr.. O. IA went
| on before Mr.. Pike llal, sc 10 ge;
| up and object.
| OBrien-Do you Know James Car.
! ney? ,.5..,
Clark-Yes.
| O'Brien- What is his business?
Clark don't know.
O'Brien-Don't you know that be il
running gambling house? Have you
not been Informed Of this fact before?
Clark swear only to what L know
Mr.. Pike here got his second wine
long enough to inteIpose all objection
to the line of crosS-eXamination being
conducted by counsel. aud the cour
ruled out the entire matter, saving tina
the same had no bearing OH the case on
trial. ~
Mr.. Pike said he had no objection.
about going into all the features Of thu
pending case, but objected to any testI
moHy outside of it.
Chief Cfark-Wei are making ties
case of this one. :
! O'Brien = Have you ever found i
necessary to make any test case i'll tiig
city before?
The court again interfered, sayin.
that the witness could not cond ucE tire
hearing.
Several other police officers appeared
| and testified THAT they had been in TIL