Evening star., 1895-10-28
Serious Charge in a Criminal Case
Today. ..
MR.. BIRNEY'S LIVELY SENSATION
Trying James Ray for Receiving
Stolen Property.
WHO ARE WITH E S S E S

Since Friday last James Ray, a saloon
keeper in the Division, has been on trial in
Criminal Court No. on an Indictment
charging him with receiving stolen prop
erty. When the trial was resumed this
morning the district attorney announced to
Judge Cox that he had received informa-
tion, since the trial was adjourned Friday
afternoon last. which led him to believe
that an attempt had been made to corrupt
ly influence one or more of the jurors sit
ting in the case. He therefore moved that
the court institute an investigation, that
the guilty party or parties might be pun
ished. provided the information he had re-
ceived proved to be correct.
Punishment Promised.
Mr. Thos c. Taylor, counsel for Ray, OBJ
jected to any immediate investigation, on
the ground that it would rot be right or
proper to SO interrupt the trial. Judge Cox
agreed with Mr.. Taylor that the matter
should be postponed until after the trial,
but assured the district attorney that he
would cause most searching and thor
ough Investigation to be made, and also
assured Mr.. Birney that If the charge
should prove to be true, the guilty person
or persons would be severely punished.
The trial then proceeded. but the startling
announcement of the district attorney
caused an unusual amount of excitement,
20 comment, especially among the court Of
ficials The trial will probably be conclud-
cd today, and. whether the defendant is
convicted or acquitted an investigation of
Mr. Birney's charges will follow.
Plead Guilty.
On the l1th of last July William, alias
"Blood" Jones. a notorious local colored
thief. robbed the jewe,ry store of Dominick
r ckenbacher, street between 18th and
18th, of a tray containing nineteen gold
watches. According to the testimony OF
Jones, he having some time ago pleaded
guilty to the charge, the robbery was COM
mitted about noon. From the store. he
said. he went at once to Rays saloon. d
street between 18th and 1872, and sold two
of the watches to Ray for s.. With tho
money he went over to Baltimore where
he met one Poindexter. colored. From. Bal
tim re they expressed the remaining watches
to New York, where Po.ndexter was ar
rested when he called for them. Subse-
quently he was turned over to the Balti-
more authorities, who sent him TO the peni-
tentiary for three years for 1isposinS of
stolen property. Later Jones returned to
Washington, surrendered himself, anu Las
been in Jail ever since.
In support of Jones testimony evidence
was introduced tending to show that Ray
rad sent colored man to see Jones In Jail
for the purpose of securing his signature
to q letter generating Ray. Policemen
testified. too, that Ray at first denied nav
ing the watches, but subsequently surren-
Jones the money or them not knowing that
Jones was a notorious thief. Jones, how
ever testified that Ray was well aware OF
his reputation, and also testified that he
stolen property to Ray, explaining to Ray
every time that they were stolen goods
Rays Side.
On behalf of Ray, Attorney Taylor called
to the witness stand Messrs. James L. Nor
ris Henry E. Davis, John G. Slater, J.
Fred. Kelley. VIM. II. Manogue and other
citizens, who stated that they had never
heard Rays reputation questioned. Several
policemen of the first precinct gave similar
testimony, to the evident surprise of the
district attorney and this morning Ray de-
MED knowing that Jones was a thief or that
he knew the watches had been stolen. He
also denied sending a man to see him in
jail for the purpose of getting the letter of
exoneration. He admitted denying at first
that he had the watches, explaining that he
did SO because he was afraid he would lose
his license.
In Rcbuttal.
In rebuttal Mr.. Rirney called Detectives
Lacey and Helan to the stand. and they
testified that Rays reputation was not
good, Lacey stating that he knew it to be
that of a fence" Mr. Birney also called
to the stand a colored hackman, who swore
that Ray paid him S2.25 for taking the col
ored man to Jail to see Jones. That closed
the testimony in the case snd counsel pro-
ceeded to address the jury.
Found Guilty.
The jury retired at 2:O5. and at 2:23 they
returned a verdict OF guilty as indicted.
Rays counsel moved that the defendant
be admitted to bail, and at the suggestion
of District Attorney Birney Judge Cox
granted the motion, fixing the amount Of
the bond at $1,000 That amount was given,
and Ray was released to await sentence.
The peEalty provided for the CffenSe is i'm