Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-11
The FAKIR SENT ON.
sToNER, WHO WANTED TO TEST The
LAW, MUST BE TRIED.
y..,,.r. Must Answer for Conducting IN
Immoral ExhIbition-Tilts Betwee"
Ministers and Counsel.

D0n1aman, anu WIN % we -
wood and Louis Wendenburg to deiehu
him. Henry Stoner. the itinerant iahir
who was arrested on the Exposition
Grounds Tuesday on the charge Oh eo"-
Quoting a game of chance. appeared ue-
fore Magistrate J. w. Tyler. In the s'uny
little awdust-strewn basement-room VI
the county courthouse yesterday for
preliminary examination. which resui'eu
In his being sen, on 10 the grand jury
The room was well filed with sports
and other spectators, and much interest
was manifested in the proceedings, when
at times were very amusing. The COM
monwealth was represented by Messrs'
Conway Il. Sands and Judge Ed'nuho
Waddill, and they first placed on the
stand Rev. W. Asbury Christian, pastor
OF Washington-Street Methodist Episco-
pal church. who. as stated In the DIS
patch, Is leading the crusade against
gambling and immortality, and swore out
the warrant against the accused.
SOME LIVELY COLLOQUYS.
Mr. Christian first recited Mt some
length the facts in the case as already
published In this paper. and then ne
was taken in hand by the lawyers TOT
the defence and put through rigid cross
examination This was not altogether
agreeable. and the witness evidenced MS
displeasure BY frequent spirited repnes.
Mr. Wondenburg asked him II he didn
think n was leaving his sphere when ne
went into the prosecution OF fakirs MI.
Christian thought not. and iterated mat
he would willingly assume any legitimate
role were he thereby enabled 10 assist III
purifying the moral atmosphere OF thls
city. Some little adlenda of more re-
ligious tone than Is customary in court
rooms elected from Mr.. Wendenburg the
request that the minister would refrain
from sermonizing in court. To this Mr..
Christian very promptly retorted mat IN
his opinion MIR. Wenienburg needed
sermon. This provoked considerable
laughter, which was frOwned down by the
Court.
Very little being secured in the cross
examination, the witness was told 10
stand aside, and Rev. T.. T. Dadmun was
called. He proved to be almost as Tor
midable a witness in the hands OF the
defence as did his predecessor.
MUSTN'T PLAY FOR KEEPS.
He reiterated what had been testified
TO by Mr Christian, and when asked Tor
his opinion regarding the game OF marbles
as played by the small boy. said that
when played for keeps II was morally ana
legally wrong. Rev Mr.. Moore had very
little to say to the defence. His evidence
was substantiatory OF his brethren VINO
had preceded him, and was very snort
and concise.
An interesting witness was Mt W. l.
Cayedo. ore of the victims Of the game
who had been playing against it when
Il was broken up by the authorities. lie
detailed how he had played 10 cents al
A time for seven turns Of the arrow, ana
how. although ne thought he ought TO
have won some thing, he did not. but
instead, lost $3.50. He was very poor
witness. ami his statement that he had
been inveigled into the game on the re-
presentation that It was just like church
fair created much amusement.
THE CYCLONE TESTlfIES.
Constable Samuels was the closing wit
ness for the pros -cutiOn, and he became
very much ratified ere he had proCeeded
very far In his story. and told 1t In as
tointed manner. He recounted the details
of the arrest Of the Stoners. and OF the
escape Of Harry. and offered many eX-
cuses for not keeping him, also.
After a short conference between
M-ssrs Spottswood Wendenburg, and
Belts the prisoner was put on the stand.
He explained lucidly and frankly the
system upon which his game was ope-
rated and showed that out OF thirty
eight spaces on the table, at winch the
arrow could stop only fifteen represented
prizes of any intrinsic value. There were
no blanks. however. piece Of jewelry
being given eyery' time the arrow was
turned. The fifteen prizes above referred
10 were watches and chains. valued at
from 81 To SO and should the arrow stop
at any one Of these the player had the
option OF taking the jewelry represented
on the space, or receiving its value IN
cash. He stated that he had opened up
his game merely on the advice or MT.
Retts. who wanted the authorities TO
pass upon its lawfuness. His intention.
he said. was TO refund every cent taken
in but before he had an opportunity OF
So doing, he was arrested, ana his sools
and money were conhscated lie was
tripped up on several minor points. but,
on the whole. he gave a clear and con-
else statement.
MIR. BELTS THE GUILTY ONE.
During the examination Of Stoner Mr..
Belts interpolated several suggestions, and
was told by Mr. Sands that he would be
gwen IL tltNNt ~ A'Sttl9 AANNA' " az -
Stoner left the stand Belts was told 10
take IL by Mr. Wendsnburg. To this both
Mr. Sands and Judge Waddill objected
on the ground that their witnesses were
not allowed 10 remain In the courtroom
during the taking OF testimony for their
side. and as Mr.. Belts had been In court
all of the time he was ineligible. To this
Mr.. Belts demurred. stating that he
merely wanted TO show StonePs connec-
ton with the game 10 be that OF an
employee Of his. and II any punishment
was 10 be melted out IL should not be
given 10 Stoner. but 10 either himself
Detts). Colonel John Murphy, or Presi-
dent Wood.
TO THE GRAND JURY.
The objection Of the prosecution was
sustained, and Colonel Spottswood asked
that Mr.. Sands request a dismissal Of
the case. This Mr.. Sands declined to do,
and an informal argument lasting prob
ably ten minutes. was gone into. As soon
as this was concluded Squire Tyler an
nOunced that he would have 10 certify
the case to the grand jury
Mr.. Christian stated that he did not
want particularly 10 prosecute Stoner,
and on the strength Of this Mr.. Wenden-
burg again asked for dismissal, pledging
Mr.. Belts 20 the assurance that no gam
Dilng IN future Snould De conducted on
the Exposition Grounds
The magistrate declined to reverse his
decision. and Stoner was bailed in the
sum of 500. with Mr. Belts as his surety.
WcstIake Goes On Too.
Immediately upon the conclusion OF
Stoner's trial W. u. Westlake. proprietor
of the dancing Match girls show. who WAS
arrested Tuesday on the complaint OF
Mr.. j. X. Perdue and Rev. Mr.. Dadmun,
charging him with conducting an i'm
moral exhibition, appeared for examina-
ton. Messrs. Periue. Dadmun, and VIII
liam Wingfleld testified 20 the immortality
of the show. saying that it was OF such
vulgar nature as 10 render 1t unfit for
the public gaze. They were very pro-
nounced in their views. Constable r. II.
Samues testified tina. he had arrested
Mr.. Westlake and that ne had witnessed
the show before so doing. The most i'm
moral procedure he had seen. he said,
was the kicking OF the girls; one OF
them kicked so high that she only missed
kicking him in the face by an inch.
Some one wanted TO know what the Of
fetal was doing so close to the damsel,
but this query ELECTED no answer, and
the cyclonic constable left the stand
This concluded the evidence in the case,
and Mr.. Tyler decided to certify IT to the
grand jury also.
Mr.. Westlake was bailed, with Mr.. Belts