The Washington times., 1894-10-26
LACEY'S FLANK MOVEMENT
Exciting Episode During Trial in
Judge Miller'S Police Court.
HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED
saloon-keeper Clark Comes to Grief for Tam
pering with a Government Witness-His
Runner Cleverly Captured by Detective
Henry Lacey-The Latter Commended

A remarkable scene, and one that will be
remembered by the principal for some timeto
come, was witnessed in Judge Miller's police
court about o'clock yesterday afternoon.
William A. Clark a young white man, who
figures as proprietor Of the Delmonico bar
room, No. 1916 Pennsylvania avenue north
west. was on trial, charged with selling liquor
TO minors. The case had been tried Wednes-
day afternoon, but the jury failed to agree
upon verdict, and a second trial was in prog
ress. until it was interrupted by sensational
incident. witness named George Beach,
who is employed in Fourteenth street pro-
vision store. had been summoned to appear in
court yesterday, but the summons was re-
turned marked. Not found"
In the meantime Prosecuting Attorney
James /. Pugh, jr.. received Information that
witness Beach had been tampered with and
was hiding himself so that he could not be
brought into court 10 testify against his friend
Clark.
Mr.. Pugh thereupon called a policeman and
instructed him to 90 to Beach's place OF busi-
n ass and bring him into court. This ofhcersoon
returned and reported that Beach could not
be found. Mr.. Pugh then requested Detective
Henry Lacey, who was in court. as a personal
favor to tind the missing witness.
Certainly replied the colored sleuth. 'If
he is in town 1 will get him.
Detective Lacey was absent on this mission
about forty minutes, when he returned to the
court room with a prisoner. But the captive
was not the missing Beach. Instead it was a
white youth, about seventeen years of age,
named Howard Dickson.
DETECTIVE LAcEY's GOOD WORK.
Detective Lacey informed the court that
when be reached Beaeh's place of business he
found the prisoner in front of the door await
ing Beach's arrival While Mr.. Lacey was
talking to the proprietor OF the store, Dick
son, who did not recognize the detective
came up and said in his presence:
when Beach comes tell him TO shy HIM
self, as the cops are coming for him in the
patrol wagon. Clark does not want him 10
appear in court and testify against him"
Dickson then started to board a Fourteenth
street car, when the stern voice of Detective
Lacey commanded:
'HOld on, young man, / want you"
When this statement was made in court
there was a scene Of excitement, and Jury
men. lawyers and spectators craned their
necks to catch Judge Miller's comments.
His honor commanded young Dickson TO
take the witness stand. He then testified
that he met the defendant Clark at court
yesterday forenoon and Clark gave him car
fare and told him TO go out to Beach's place Of
business and tell him TO shy himself, as he
CLARK did not want him TO testify in the
pending case.
What is your occupation?" asked the
Judge.
Milk wagon driver"
This is a lovely piece Of business you have
been engaged in. continued his honor. and
the police will watch you from this time on
Here you have been loafng about this court
room and when an officer goes out TO summon
witness you rush out ahead of him and de-
feat the ends Of justice by notifying that wit
ness that he is wanted and to shy himself.
Now get out OF this courthouse and never
come in it again. "
The Judge then related a case that hap
pened several weeks ago. He said: II sent
an officer after a witness. and. before he
could get to the witness house, four loafers
who had been In the courtroom got there
and spirited the witness away These fell
lows travel on bicycles, in cabs, or any other
way, in order to get ahead Of the messengers
from this court"
ATTORNEY sILIERs' ACTION.
At this iuncture, Lawyer Albert SiIlers,
who was representing Saloon Keeper Clark.
arose and said he was greatly surprised to
see such proceedings on the part of his client.
And. - he added, ''in justice to this court and
myself, now retire from the case, and thus
show my disapprobation Of such methods
Clark was then called TO the stand. and be-
sides making feeble denial, refused to say
anything about the matter.
Judge Miller then gave the case of selling
liquor 10 minors against Clark TO the jury,
with instructions to find a verdict against
him. While the jury was out Clark was ar
raigned on the additional charge OF contempt
Of court, and Judge Miller remarked:
hot I .1f ,fs
had more satisfaction in imposing a sentence
since l have been on the bench. don't know
what the District Commissioners could have
been thinking about 10 issue liquor license
to such a man as Clark. pointing to the
prisoner. Vampires like you cannot go un-
punished in this court. II we have to sit here
day and night no man will ever get through
this court 10y means Of perjury. You keep
vile resort, sell liquor to boys and when you
get tired OF them they are thrown out OF your
bar by q big 'bouncer'
BY this time the jury returned with YER
dict Of guilty against Clark in tho case of
selling liquor to minors, and Judge Miller
imposed sentence on the culprit.
In the contempt OF court case" he said.
you can pay a fine OF $40 and 90 to Jail for
forty-eight hours, with twenty days impris-
onment in default OF the fine. In the other
case your fine is 500 lthe maximum amount)
or six months in the workhousei in default"
Ten minutes later Clark, handcufTed to a
big negro thief, entered the van and was
driven TO jail. Judge Miller afterward re-
mitted the forty-eight hours imprison-
ment. After the court had adjourned, Prose
cutting Attorney Pugh. in recognition of the
valuable services of Detective Henry Lacey.
wrote a letter TO Major Moore, chief OF police.
c0ngratulating him on having such an eff
cient officer as Mr.. Lacey in his service, and
stating that he (Lacey) deserves the hearty
congratulation of both citizens and law Off