Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-04
He Sends Detectives to Raid Jack
Heath's Den.
The AFFAIR WE'LL PLANNED
Several Arrests Made and the GAM
bling ParaphernaIia Smashed.
A BRAVE DETECTIV f

HlSnC by w. y. bdluWIl, ScieCleu
specially by Gov oFerrall, and seven pick
ed men, and the entire paraphernalia cap
tured and destroyed and number of ar
rests made The raid was directed by Gov.
O'Ferran of Virginia after several consul
tations with Judge Chichester and leading
citizens of Alexandria county, which con-
WINGED him that there was no possible hope
for radiance of the dens across the river
by the officials of the county.
Consequently none of the latter We're
aware of the contemplated onslaught, and
Sheriff Palmer and his deputies We're as
much surprised at 1t as the gamblers them
selves The raid was also in accordance
with assurances given by Gov. OFerrall to
members of the Washington board of trade.
Several days ago Detective Baldwin and
his men came to Washington and began to
pay visits to Heath's resort. They played
the games, became acquainted with the
dealers, and carefully noted the various
approaches to the place. Saturday evening
their plans were suffe iently matured to be
carried into effect, and Detective Baldwin
visited Justice Birch and secured warrants
for Jack Heath and his several employees,
including his sons, Will and Jack. About
10 o'clock at night the detectives and near
ly 800 other men were in the den and the
games were all in full blast. the keno game
on the second floor being particularly well
patronzed.
A Dramatic Arrest.
Suddenly Detective Baldwin sprang upon
a. table. and, drawing a brace of pistols,
yelled ''Kenor' There was instant conster-
nation on the part of th~gamblers and play
ers. which was increased when a rush was
made for the doors and these were found
guarded by Mr. Baldwin's associates, who
were all armed like himself. Jack Heath
was not present, and his two sons, with
number of Others succeeded in escaping by
jumping from the windows. Those who
we're caught, however, were told they might
cash in their chips. and Jimmy La Fontaine,
one of Heath's employees, proceeded to give
out money for the cellulotd disks. After
twenty or more players had made the ex
change 1t became apparent that Baldwin
was piling up evidence by his seeming gen.
erosity, as each one who caShed was di-
rected to get in line, under guard of the de-
tectives.- The cashing stopped at once. Two
omnibuses were procured in Georgetown
and the detectives proceeded to put their
prisoners in them, when three men appeared
or the bluff near the place and began firing
revolvers at the officers.
One Man Shot.
The detectives returned the fire. and one
of the men, who is thought to be gambler
named Levy, fell, although a search for him
proved unavailing. During the skirmish the
teams We're frightened and one of the ON
nibuses was overturned and number of
prisoners escaped. Ten of the captured
men remained in custody, however, and
We're taken to Alexandria, where they were
locked up for a hearing.
They gave the names OF James Wesley,
Harry Turnbull. William Schafer. John
Tyler Reuben Johnson, j. w. Saley. Frank
Jones, Clarence Medley, all of Washington,
all the names being fictitious, and George
Heath. James Green and Alonzo Simms,
who We're charged with running the place.
The players who escaped spent most of
the night in the woods along the Potomac,
being afraid to come across the Aqueduct
for fear they would be arrested. The pris-
oners employed Mr.. Samuel G. Brent as
their attorney. but he was unable to Sc
cure their release on bail yesterday.
Alexandria Officials Ignored.
Neither Sheriff Palmer nor County Attor-
ney johnson knew thing about the raid
until it was successfully carried out. Com
Attorney Marbury said last
night that all the gamblers would probably
get the full extent of the law which is
81 900 fine and twelve months imprison-
ment. The gambling paraphernalia cap
tured, which was valued at several thou
sand dollars, including faro, hazard and
crap tables. roulette wheels, keno devices
and thousands of ivory and celluloid chips,
were broken up yesterday by Detective
Baldwin and his assistants.
Carefully Planned.
not hitch occurred. The detective and
his men reached the place on boat which
left the 9TH street wharf. Every man had
his instructions, and the attack worked
with clock-like precision. Every door and
to the gambling room was filed
in an instant with an armed official. The
detectives saw Heath jumping through the
window and revolver shot would have
brought him down, but the detectives re-
strained themselves.
Yesterday when the detectives went up
to destroy the paraphernalia the men took
along Winchester rifles. The destruction
attending the visit to the place was COM
plete as to the contents of the gambling
room. Valuable tables and costly euui1.-
ments We're smashed with axes. The whole
room was wrecked. Nothing that could he
utilized by gamblers was left. The place
looks as if a fierce cyclone had spent its
upon the gamblers fixngs
Alexandria county officials We're wholly
ignored by Gov. O'Ferrall in planning the
raid. 1t has long been believed and often
that these men, with poss-
BILE exception here and there, were in SYM
pathy with or under the influence of the
therefore, depended largely upon their alb
sence from the scene. They were surprised
as much when the blow was struck as the
gamblers themselves.
Man of Courage.
Detective Baldwin sent kilograms giving
the result of the raid 10 Governor O'Ferrall
as soon as the raid was over. Baldwin is a
young but ghly courageous man. He bears
three bullet wounds in his body received in
the discharge of duty. He was selected bv
the governor, it is stated because he had
proven himself to be a man in no manner
afraid of danger, and one beyond the touch
Of corrupting influences.
He is better known as a railroad detec-
tive than as an agent of the state of Vir-
ginia.- He has been here a number of times
during the past two months and consulted
with Inspector Hollinberger concerning the
raid he intended to make. and Saturday af-
ternoon he sent one of his men here to see
the inspector. None of the local officers
here, other than the inspector knew of the
Intended raid. They were in as much ig-
norance as were the officials of Alexandria
county. Governor O'Ferrall had evidently
taken the matter into his own hands, and
dii not intend to have his plans frustrated.
when the intentions of the raid
rg officers were known, some one usually
gave the gamblers due notice. so that none
Of their costly gambling paraphernalia could
be destroyed.
Gov. O'Ferrall in Earnest.
Local police officials are certain that Gov
ernor O'Ferrall is in earnest in this mat
ter, and they think the offenders will be