Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-18
SECOND OFFENSE CHARGED
The Notorious John Shea Again on Trial
Today.
Another Liquor Case Brought Against
Him - Denies the TeStimony-
Sergeant Days Witnesses.

The Shea liquor case was the only case
on the Police Court assignment for jury
trial today. John Shea, the defendant, is
the resident of Maryland avenue southwest
whom President Cleveland pardoned some
months ago when he was serving a sentence
in the workhouse for keeping an unlicensed
bar In the case today the charge was
second offense under the liquor law. which
is Jail offense. When Prosecuting At
tOTney Fugh called the case for trial Col
christy and Lawyer ONeill, for the defend
ant asked that the case go over because Of
the absence of witnesses for their client,
but as they could make no showing CT hav-
ing made effort to get them in court,
their applicat ton was refused. the Judge
saying however, that if it became necessary
to have witnesses he would give them the
opportunity, even il he had to respite the
jury.
Sergt. Daley. who has figured In so many
liquor cases in South Washington, was the
first witness called. He testified that on
Sunday, September 10. about $50 O'Clock,
he gave Ia a colored man named Eugene
Mercer bottle and sent him to Shea's
place. Witness said he searched Mercer
before he went in to see that he had no
ether bottle For the purposes of identi-
1icdtion the bottle was scratched with a
key and the cork was also marked. When
Mercer came out the bottle was filled with
WHISKY.
On cross-examination witness said he did
not promise to pay the coiored man for
making case, but he thought the witness
understood he would get witness fees in
the case.
Eugene Mercer. the coiored witness, was
next put on the stand. He testified that he
had been in Shea's place number of times
especially on Sundays. and. had bought
liquor. on September III he went in Shea's
about ! O'Clock and got drink of whisky
Mrs. Shea waited on him. She got the
liquor from a small closet in q room in rear
of the store. and gave him drink in a wine
glass. When he went in there in the even
ing for Scrgt. Daley he got a half-pint
bottle of whisky. and paid twenty-five cents
for IL. Witness said colored woman
named Martha BROKER had been in Shea's
with him. and he had treated her to drinks
of gin. That was in February. Witness
said he always drank whisky. On the night
of September IL, when ne went to Shea's
John Shea was sitting in front of his house
Sam Newton, he said, got the bottle for
Sergt. Daley, and the latter gave 1t to him.
where did Mrs. Shea get the liquor
from?' Mr.. Pugh asked witness.
From a closet under the steps, was his
reply.
Did you see in the closet?''
''Yes, sir"
What did it look like?'
Just like closet
I'm what was the liquor kept?
"A jimmy john"
Lawyer ONeill crosS-eXamined him. Wit
ness said he was employed in kelly's saloon.
He denied that he rad gone through Louise
alley and solicited orders for liquor to be
filled by his employer. Witness said he
was never arrested but once in his life, and
that was seven years ago. He was arrested
for profanity.
Martha BROKER colored who lives In
Shea's court. testified that on one occasion
she was in Shea's place with the former
witness. and he treated her. Mrs. Shea
waited on them. She was unable to fix the
exact time she was there.
After recess Mr. Pugh called colored
man named Samuel Newton, VITO gave
evidence cCrroborating SerSt. Daley con-
corning his evidence about giving the bottle
to the witness Mercer.
Deputy Clerk Harper testified to the
prior conviction of Shea.
This closed the evidence fer the prosecu-
ton, and Col. Christy moved that the court
take the case from the jury.
The court overruled the motion, and the
defendant took the stand in his own be-
half. He ties titled that he is in the grocery
business at No. 32J Maryland avenue. and
this ne sail. does not comprise the sale of
liquor. Since he was released from the
workbouse. he said. no liquor has been sold
In his place He had told his wife not to
sell anv liquor.
Defendant said he had not bought any
liquor to sell since his release. Concerning
been in his (Shea's) house. Mercer. he said.
hangs about Kellys place.
Does Kelly keep saloon?" the judge
asked.
Yes SIR answered Shea: land he keeps
a pretty tough place"
Defendant was on the stand when this re-
port closed.