Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-10


WEATHER PRoBABILITIEs.-For this
ssction generally fair; preceded by cloudy
and threatening weather; light southeT'y
winds no change in temperature
The COURT HOUSE RoBBERY.-The
casa of John Nelson, charged with
stealing the gambling apparatus from
tbe old court house about two weeks
400. was called in the Police Court this
morning. Justice Beach, before. whom
the investigation is to take place, was
nresent, as was also Mr.. Leonard Mar
hurry. Commonwealth attorney, and
MFR. John ii. Greene, counsel for the
nrisoner. Nelson came in shortly af-
tar nine o'clock, the hour set for the
hearing, but Sheriff Palmer, of the
comfy. and other material witnesses
being absent, it was decided to post.
none the case until IL o'clock.
All the parties in the case were on
hand at noon. MIR. Greene desired to
exclude the witnesses from the room,
in order that those who should testify
would be ignorant of the dispositions
Of the Others. Mr.. Marbury objected
10 this, but finally withdrew his oppo-
Etion, and it was SO ordered.
Sheriff Palmer was called first. He
dsseribed the raid made on Nelson &
Foster's house in the county last July,
the capture of the paraphernalia, the
storing of it in the old court house and
the subsequent discovery that it had
beep stolen. He also told of the re-
cent search of Nelson & Fosters prem
ises and the finding of certain OF the
stolen articles. He identified parts Of
the keno outfit by marks he had called
called attention to at the time of the
first capture.
Edward Deuterman, one of the shers
IFS posse, was called, but he only
knew the articles captured were used
FOR gambling purposes, but could not
swear positively to the Identification
Of those exhibited to him.
Jacob Birch, who was also with the
sheriff, recognized part of the psrapher-
MALTA showed him.
Ernest Travers testified to hiring q
wagon to Nelson's brother Tor the pur-
pose CT removing certain ARTICLES al
legged to be in the Ell Dorado House,
This was on the night of the robbery.
When asked why he didn't go along
and drive the wagon, hs replied that
Nelson didn't want him to 60.
Joseph Williams followed, but his
evidence was immaterial.
Policeman Howson was put on the
stand. He and Officer Atkinson had
become aware of the fact thata wagon
had been moving down Princess street
and had gone in quest oft; had met
Trayers near the wharves; the latter
said VIM. Pruitt was moving across the
river: witness had met the prisoner and
had been told by him he was moving
things from the Ell Dorado House.
Nelson wanted witness to drink with
him. Mr.. Howson then said he report
ed to Captain Webster, who sent him
to the court house to see if the para
phernslis was safe. BE awoke Frank
Lovejoy, who sleeps in the building.
The latter said everything was safe.
Witness said light was burning in
Lovejoy's room at the time and that the
front gate was open.
Policeman Deane had met Officers
Eowson and Atkinson and had gone TO
Reeds wharf afterwards; saw the yacht
Cecille with gambling tables, &C.,
aboard. Nelson was there, and he said
he We about to take the things to
Colonial Beach, and was waiting for
Frank Cook, who was to accompany
him.
Policeman Wilkinson's testimony was
to the same effect.
Policeman Ferguson, Dan Henry and
Stephen Macaulay followed, but their
testimony established no new fact.
Frank Cook was then called. He
positively denied having any engage
ment with Nelson on the night in
question.
John Mills and Mort. Williams were
put on the stand, though their evidence
was not material.
Frank Lovejoy remembered seeing
Nelson's brother in Henry's saloon in
the early part of the night of the rob-
berry. When awakened by Mr.. How
son witness made no examination of
the room where the paraphernalia he'd
been kept. Witness had had key to
the room; knew of no other. The
room was locked next morning, though
the keeper was loose, the back door
vas padlocked when he got up next
morning and the front door was locked.
Peyton Bartlett, the janitor of the
court house, testified that he knew of
no padlocks on the building.
The evidence being all in, Mr.. Greene
moved that Nelson be discharged,
arguing that no evidence had been adj
duced to show the guilt of his client.
Mr.. Marbury then addressed the
court. He urged that the prisoner be
sent on to the grand jury, taking the
ground that the evidence showed con-
clusively that Nelson was guilty Of the
charge laid to him. II he had had any
goods to go to Colonial Beach there was
no good resson to surreptitiously move
them at midnight when they could have
been put on q steamer in broad day.
light. Besides the stolen goods had
been found in his possession, and it was
Incumbent upon him to explain how he
obtained them.
Justice Beach decided to send Nelson
on to court.
THE RAcEs.-Following are the On.
tries at st. Asaph for to morrow's races
First race, 5 furlongs-Electro 116
Gold Ely lib, Coal Nine liz, Jilson 106