The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-12
SAYS He WANTED TO SETTLE.
JACK MORDECAI MAKES a CHARGE
AGAINST JUSTICE KING.

Mordecaf and Two Others on Trial
for GambIing-RObinsOn Holmes.
Who SvOre 20 the Warrant, Ar
rested for Perjury and the De-
PENDANTS Observation-Disclosures and
Another witness said Justice Me-
Leod King First Wanted $50 10
Shelve the Cases and Then Agreed
10 Take sI5.
An interesting and rather sensational
trial took place in the city court yester-
day. John Quarterman and Ben Hicks.
both colored. we're charged with gambling
in place kept by A. y. Mordecai. better
known as Jack Mordecai. on the night OF
Jan. q. and Merdecai was charged with
keeping a gaming house. The proceedings
resulted in the acquittal Of the thre men.
the arrest of witness. Robinson Holmes
for perjury. and some serious charges
against Justice Mcleod King Of the Sew
enth district.
Quarterman and Hicks wer first placed
on trial before Judge MacDonell on ac-
cusatlons. They were two Of eight negroes
for whom a warrant was sworn out on the
same charge by Robinson Holmes. at the
office of Justice King. This warrant and
that against Mordecai were signed by
Holmes. When put on the stand, however.
Holmes stated he knew nothing about the
charges against the defendants, although
he had sworn to the warrant. When
asked why he swore to such charges he
stated he did 50 by request of Reuben
Morris, constable at Mcleod Kings
office Judge MacDonell at once had him
arrested on a chage of perjury. An ac-
cusation on that charge was drawn and he
was sent to Jail.
Reuben Morris, the constable, was the
next witness called. He was brought ny
from the Jail where he is now held for trial
In the city court on the charge Of assault
and battery. Morris swore positively
that he was in Mordecats place on the
night Of Jan. p and that the defendants
were In there gambling.
Several other witnesses contradicted
Morris statements and finally Mordecai
himself was placed on the stand. he
testified that there was no gambling In
his place on Jan IS that there had been
none there since his first trial and further.
that the two defendants were not in his
place at the time, as both were employed
iA inc MARKET anu IL DelnB SATURDAY
night, they were, so far as he knew and
as had been stated by other witnesses, on
duty at the time.
The most sensational part of the case
was Mordecafs statement with reference
to Justice King When the warrants We're
issued, he said, King sent for him and
told him that he would settle the case
against him and the men arrested in his
place for $50, and If the money was paid
no more would be heard of the matter. Hc
says he refused to pay the amount. and
the justice finally agreed to let the matter
drop If SIS was paid. He said he reminded
the justice that he had settled Ed Law
sons case for $40, and he didn't see any
reason why he should pay $l5 The jus
tice, he said stated he had settled Law
sons case for SO. but there We're not
as many men arrested under that war
rant. Mordecai said under advice of
friends, he decided to let the case go inJo
the court.
James Dorsey, the colorcd undertaken,
said he was a witness to the CONVEX
sation between Mordecai and the justice.
and he remembered distinctly that King
had finally agreed to settle the case for
SO, but he advised Mordecai he said. to let
the case go into court. II said he was in
Mordecais place at Burroughs and Wald-
burg streets on the night in question, and
the two defendants We're not there, ana
he did not see any gambling.
Judg MacDonell then dismissed the de-
PENDANTS, and the testimony in the case
against Nd lecai, being the same he also
was discharged. It remains to be seen
what the charges made on the witness
stand viii lead to-