The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24
THEY SOLD POLICY TICKETS.
SOME INTERESTING TESTIMONY IN
THE CASE AGAINST CUNNEEN.

M N@As1A- aA1+AANNA NNNNAaAaNa
The Tickets Sellers Have Omces In
Different Parts Of the City and
Garry Funds 10 the Main ONCE
Twice n Day-They Were Working
for the "OnIy Genuine,@ and Dealt
Sometimes With Mr.. Odeu and
Sometimes with Mr.. Cunneen-Cun-
neen Found Guilty.
John J. Cunneen was found guilty in
the city court yesterday Of keeping a pol
icy lottery and sentenced TO pay a fine Of
500 and costs. the penalty fixed by law.
or spend six months in Jail. Mai. P. W.
Meldrim. representing him, gave notice
that a motion for new trial would be
made, and bond was given in the sum Of
$1,000
This case has been an interesting one
throughout The Indictment against Gun
neen was quashed twice on account of a
technical error, the first time his name
being spelled wrong. and the second time
it was found that Capt. John Riley. who
was on the grand jury that found the true
bill. was there by mistake and that he
was not legally a grand juror
When the case came up for trial yes
terday Capt. Riley was in the panel Of
jurors from which the jury for the trial
Of the case was drawn. Remembering
his former experience with the case, he
stated TO the solicitor general that he
had spoiled the case once by being on the
grand jury when his name was not on the
city court grand jury list, and he did not
want to interfere with 1t in any way a
second time. so he did not go on the
jury
After the Indictment against Cunneen
was quashed the second time he was in
dicted again and the case tried. He was
found guilty and sentenced to pay a
fine Of $500 or spend six months in Jail
The findings of the lower court were
appealed to the supreme court, and new
trial was granted on the ground that a
continuance had not been allowed in order
to have brought into court one of the
material witnesses for the defense. Then
the case was several times brought up
for trial and a continuance was allowed on
one ground and another. The case came
up finally for a trial yesterday and the
testimony was in some respects inter
esting. The state put on the stand seven
or eight negroes, who made a business
Of selling lottery tickets as was charged
for the lottery wheel operated by Cum
neen. They were all put through some
sort Of catechism like the following by
Solicitor General Fraser:
What is your name?"
Prank Porter, sir" Tor Dan Jones, or
whatever else it might happen to be-.
what business are you in?'
II sell policy, sah." or Il used to sell
policy tickets" as the case might be.
who for?"
THE only Genuine"
what is the only genuine?"
That's the name of the wheel, sah.'
Did you have an Officer"
Eyes, sab"
where was it?"
"It Was-er-
"Come, tell the jury where it was. Don't
keep us waiting"
ION Ann street, sab"
How many tickets did you sell. or
how much money did you take In a day?''
Five or six dollars"
what did you do with it?"
Carried it to the main office, sah.'
''How oftenP'
Twice a day."
Where was the main Officer"
I'm Congress street lane. between Bull
and Drayton."
who did you give the money tor
ITO Mr.. Odell, sah."
"Always?'
mo. sir When Mr.. oden wasn't there
give it to Mr.. Cunneen."
This man here?" pointing to the de.
fendanD.
Yes, sir"
What did they do then?"
Put It in the drawer"
well, what next?'
''They turned the Wheel
"Who turned it?"
Il don't know. sir. didn't see that"
Another witness said, sometimes Mr.
Odell turned it, and sonnet times Mr.. Cum
neen."
And what did they do auer they
turned the wheel?"
1--WE waited to see If any of our people
had any winning numbers, and If they
did we took the money to 'em."
Witness with YOU" said the solicitor
general.
Don't let me detain YOU" Mai. Meldrim
said politely as one dark skinned policy
dealer left the stand.
Such was the testimony throughout
Seven or eight negroes who said they had
Offices in different parts of the city and
sold tickets for this wheel were put
through the same questioning, and al
ways gave the same answers Maj Mel
drlm did not put up any witnesses for his
client, but made a strong argument, bas-
ing his defense on any flaws he might
find in the testimony given for the state.
The jury on the first ballot stood nine
TO three for conviction, and on the second
ballot the entire twelve went against the
defendant
When Judge MasDonell pronounced the
usual sentence of $500 or six months in
Jail for this offense Maj. Meldrm simply
rendered bond for his client and an
nounced that he would ask for new
trial.
AFTER WHAT THEY DIDN'T FIND.
Thieves 60 Through a Taylor Street
House.