The Washington times., 1895-05-27
Johnson's Reelection Quieted
the Fears of the Gamblers.
SUNDAY PASSED AS USUAL
There is Strong Feeling in Alex
andria County, However, That
Douglass win Win His Protest.
Reform Element Also Hopes Much
from Sheriff Palmer's Election.

The adherents OF Little Dickey' John
ston, reelected commonwealth attorney
Tor Alexandria county by fraudulent
majority obtained in the Jefferson dis
trlct, which embraces Jackson City and
the two race tracks, are just now very un-
easy over the prospect of a sudden ter
mination OF the official career of their
champion.
Jefferson was the only district carried
by Johnston, Washington and Arlington
districts giving Mr.. Will H. Douglas, the
! reform candidate, large majority, and
it is claimed by the reform supporters
that at least 100 of the votes polled for
Johnston were illegally cast
1t is generally thought in the county
that the election will be contested, and
If this is done there is every reason to
believe that Douglas will supplant John
ston as commonwealth attorney.
PROSPECTS FOR REFORM.
The self-respecting element considers
that the county is on the road to reform,
the newly elected sheriff having announced
his Intention TO prosecute the gambling
dens and Sunday bar rooms, and if John
ston is ousted by the contest to be In
augurated, the career of the race track
gang viii be brought to an abrupt close.
In any case it is thought that the end OF the
many dens OF vice and crime in the county
is near at hand
The excitement attendant upon election
has in nowise disturbed the gamblers aud
saloonkeepers by whom the county is over
run. The landings up the river by the
two keno houses kept by Heath and Nelson
are favorite resorts for all classes of people
| on Sunday outing. Three small river
steamers ply hourly between the wharf
at the foot of Twenty street aud
these landings during the day.
The gambling tables are kept in fun blast
Sunday, and every steamer brings a fresh
load of victims. In the lunch room and bar
adjoining, and strolling through the woods
can be seen couples of all sorts aud con-
| ditiOns. Men and women by whom the
words self-respect have long been forgotten
hold Sunday carousals. Young and inno-
cent girls look upon the examples of
| drunken debauchery Set by the older
| frequenters. They are charmed by the
| beautiful scenery, amused by bacchanalian
orgies, and attracted by the freedom of the
| place, and are led to repeat the trip until
the scene with its attending vices isno longer
| q novelty. and their moral aud physical
downfall is accomplished.
WIDE OPEN ON SUNDAYS.
The Sunday business done by the two
| gambling houses is immense. For fifteen
cents one can purchase a round trip ticket
from Georgetown to either of the houses,
and many are the victims who come away
| from them, leaving their last weeks s
wages behind.
In Roslyn Sunday Is given over almost
entirely to the crowd Of drunken gamblers
/ who iufest the place. Below the bridge
| is the Little River Fishing Club, kept by
Strike Turbie, aud a short distance from
there is place in the canal culvert kept by
Hole Simmons. Both of these are policy
| dens of the worst description, and their
! Sunday patrons oyerrun the town.
In the center of the village is Bob Gun
ningham's place, known as the BLACK
Diamond" 1t is a loafing place for
colored gamblers aud the back yard is fire.
queutly full of excited crap shooters. The
side door is open all day. On the opposite
! side of the road is the Dutch Corral kept
| by George WOLF, and their Sunday bar is
reached by means of yard entrance. WOLF
has found the business so profitable that he
| is building a large club house on the road
between Roslyn and Fort Myer.
AN APPROPRIATE NAME
"The Soldiers Death-trap'' is the start
ling title of dive just above Cunningham's
place in Roslyn. 1t is presided over by
Miss Donaldson" who, with the assistance
of several other women OF uncertain ages
aud uncertain morals, run the place on
''speak-easy' principles. 1t is a favorite
resort for soldiers from Fort Myer.
About a hundred yards above Fort
Myer is row OF frame buildings known
as ''Soapsud Row." probably so named
because OF the entire absence of any sus-
picion of soap on the premises. These
houses are occupied by white and oolored
families, and the reputation of the place
is extensive.
In Arlington village, the home of Little
Dickey," small negro shanties abound,
and most of them are speak easies. 1t is
said of the village that q thirsty man can
lay quarter on the ground, whistle and
turn his back. When he looks around a
bottle of whisky will be in place of his coin.
GOSPEL AT JACKSON CITY.
Rev. John r. Wright, president of the
National Association OF Local Preachers,
assisted Rev Mr. Matchett in the Sunday
services at Jackson City yesterday. The
crowd of loafers was unusually large, but
the amount of attention bestowed upon the
two preachers was about the same as
usual.
AT the conclusion oil his talk Mr. Matchett
asked that a building of some kind be
provided for next Sundays services, when
it is proposed to have an organ and several
ladies.
The town itself presented the usual
Sunday appearance. The saloons so fire.
quently referred to in The Times were open
and largely patronized. The majority of
the people outside of the saloons were
drunk. Harry Chandler sat on the rail
road track and listened to the sermon for
a while, but didn't seem to be much i'm
pressed.
In fact, none of the people whom Mr.
Matchett is trying so hard to convert
showed outward evidence of that spark
of feeling necessary to produce the light
of Christianity. Most of them were
there for the purpose of drinking whisky,
and seemed to regard the sermon as a mere
incidental.
SHE SMELLED A POLICEMAN,