Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-19
GREEN GOODS MEN
Trial Of the Mixed Crowd Before
the Police Court.
ONE OF The PRISONERS CONVICTED
Carrying Concealed Weapons Was
-..., the, Charge Against Him.
\ VANISHING BLACKJACK

50 'rssr.,s : ~ : ?
"A VANISHING BLACKJACK
w. Il ...--e -sJ
There was a large audience in Judge Mil
ler's, court today, end many who could not
| get in the court room applied for admis-
sion, as they were anxious to hear the
| trial of the cases involving the charges of
concealed weapons and suspicion against
| some Of the parties to the alleged green
! goods" game, heretofore published in The
| Star. The men known as Alexander P.
Hill and John R. Hickman, alias "Spon-
sler," were in the dock. while the West
| Virginians, Ira Greenhouse and ]. 0.
| Wheeler. occupied seats in the audience,
| having been released from custody on col
| lateral.
Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny first call
ed the case of Alexander P. Hill. and Law
yer Sillers, who represented him. entered
| plea of not guilty.
| Policemen Mendenhali and" Kinarnell were
| present to tell of the arrest without going
| into detail concerning the green-goods'
game The pistol was shown, as were th n 5he
toll was not loaded, but he had round OF
cartridges in his pocket. The pistol was
| center-fire weapon. while he had rirn-nre
| cartridges.
Ptre prisoner a good-natured looking
| man. who weighs fully 200 pounds. and VINO
has the scar, of a, pistol shot wound In ms
| arm, got on the stand to say something IN
| his own behalf. He seemed very Hiuch
| worried, and answered only such questions
| as his counsel told him to answer showing
| that he had something he desired to moe
| But he was frank enough to admit that ne
i came here in relation to the green-goooS
| business, although he cfafmed that ne
came. to. see apd hear IF the game game ana not
| to operate IT.
| said, land did not intend to buy any, as
| had no moEey.' 4u.. l,.i --s......a
The pistol, he said he bought in a store
1 either in Washington or Georgetown, ne
| did not exactly know which, as this Is his
| first visit here, and he is not acquainted
| with locations.
"where do you liver" he was asked.
"Fai.mont West Virginia." he answered
How large place is Fairmont!'
| II dent know"
Don't know what the population is?'
| mo, SIR" =
WHO is the postmaster Mr.. Mullowny
| asked.
| "Lcnnie Carr think"
| why did you come here?' $780, >,
| II cume here to see green goods man.
| Mr.. Mullowny here produced a letter
| taken from the prisoner. which purported
| to have been written by man named
| Boyd, and addressed to another member OF
the same family. This letter contained in
| formation about the issue of $3o,OOO worth
| of green goods" The prisoner was asked
about the letter. and he said 1t was given
| 20 him by a man whom he supposed was
| one Of the Boyds.
BY direction of his counsel. the defendant
| declined to answer several questions
| Counsel then attacked the proof. claim
| ing that the weapon, being unloaded. did
| not come within the provisions of the law,
! and he also claimed that the information
| was defective, in that 1t charged pistol
| and not a revolver.
| The Charge.
| These exceptions were promptly over
ruled, and after argument Judge Miller pro-
ceeded to charge the jury. In his charge the
Judge read the law and dwelt upon the fact
that the absence of cartridges in the weapon
did not affect the case. There, was only
one exception under the law (Which he
might cIaip},. and that was the provision
| allowing the carrying home OF weapon
directly after it's purchase as matter of
merchandise. And the court told the jurors
that if they found from the proof that
such were the facts in the case they should
acquit. -..,.,..
reach the conclusion that the defendant
was guilty as charged, and counsel gave
notice of motion for new trial.
The Hickman Case.
Mr.. Mullowny next called the case of
Hickman, and the weapon charged in the
information was a blackjack or siungshot.
In opening the case however, the prose-
cutting officer exhibited two Of the weapons
charged and also pistol. One Of the black
jacks was filled with cotton and the other
with shot.
Mr.. Greathouse was the first witness call
ed and he told of his visit here in connec-
ton with the ''green-goods" game. as here
tofore published. and then went on to detail
| the movements of the quartet while in this
city The 'tgreen-goods" question was first
suggested by the defendant Hickman, and
in answer to Judge Millers question he said
he came here with the understanding that
he was to get $1,000 for $500. He under
stood that the $1,000 was to be in good
money. One night he said Hickman had
$3.50 Of his money.
did you come here for the purpose OF
doing up the 'green-goods' MANI" Mr.. Sill.
lers asked the witness.
That doesn't make any difference" was
the West Virginian's response. -
Are you county commissioner of Brax-
ton county," '7'''-A-' ''' IL
II am"
! And have something to do with the finan
: cial condition of the county" remarked
| counsel. Il suppose times must be hard VI
there"
Filled With Cotton.
: The hotel clerk at the Hotel Slater was
called and he said he saw in Iuckman's
pocket what appeared to be a slungshot.
Policeman Mendennall was called and he
testified that when he arrested Hickman
he found in his pocket the cotton-filled
slungshot. 'a1I 5its go Hnf1h-r
The dangerous character Of the alleged
weapon was discussed, and the officer said
he thought it was used a blind, and Ii
Is not properly a slungshot.
Mr.. Mullowny attempted to show that
the alleged weapon might be used with
sand-oag effect. but Lawyer Silers said II
was no such weapon, and he said no one
could be injured with it.
/ " would like to know something of the
uses of this thing" said Judge Miller.
J, at will knock man down., said Mr.
Mullowny. .-..-..... ---.,..
| That's absurd said Lawyer Sillers, 81