The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-25
About Expresses the Condition Of Affairs
Among the Policy Shops Men.
THE CHARGES MADE BY ROBERT TAYLOR
In the Case of Detective Snowden.-
The Omcer's Statement - Taylor
Mayo Will Take No Action Until
He Has Been Officially Notified.


unusual vigilance in the suppression of
policy shops ard gambling dens s begin
ming to have very material effect re-
suit equivalen: in It's action to She up
heaval of q V. ry live and energetic vol
cano In the m.ds; OF the knights of the
Green Table.
The story Of the arrest and nning OF
Moses Joanson and IioheIi Taylor has
been told and is public 1roneTty.
The form + IS colorel man and was
pulled" upon the complaint OF Taylor,
who charged him with being In the poll
cy shop business. Johnson retalia ted by
having Taylor arrested upon the same
charge. Both men Were fined Sl00 and
appealed the case. In giving his evidence
In the Police Court, Taylor declared that
Detective Snowdon had approached him
before Tie was placed under arrest and
Offered to withdraw the warrant he held
for him If he CTaylor) would agree not
10 proceed against Johnson, but would
compromise the matter with his John
sons employer.
Officer Snowden, npon being called
upon to explain. denied this statement in
toto as absolutely false, and so the mat
ter stands.
II was thought, iaowever. that it would
not be allowed Ia d!op here and If there
were any truth in 1t Officer Snowden
would have to face the muSc-!f not he
would v!ndcate himself.
With view 10 discovering the exact
status of the affair and TO learn If any
future action has been thought of a Vir-
gin!an man called on Mayor Mayo at
his residence last night and asked IT he
proposed to take any action relative to
Taylor's charge against Snowden. His
Honor said:
NO official report of the matter has
reached men. and until 1t do;s l shall ceI
ta!nly take no action"
.t,-a C,nnt dan, .N,AYN I'D
emnhaticaly denied the assertions OF
Taylor to the effect that he had offered
TO quash proceedings against him Cray-
lori if he would compromise the mat
ter with Johnson or Johnson's hackers.
What are you going to do about it.
Mr.. Snowden?" was asked.
Nothing" was the reply, treat :he
matter with silent contempt. Surely
my record and good name is sufficient
to stand against the wild statements
of n man like Taylor. Leaving out the
moral aspect of the matter don't YOU
suppose that my experience as an officer
and common sense would preven: me
from doing anything so foolish? Tay-
lor was mad because of the hole he
had gotten himself into and was in a
way responsible for II. You see. he
wanted me To arrest johnson without q
warrant and | refused, so did Ser
geant Dalton and Detective Prince Of
iicer Robert Ruddick made dhe arrest,
bui did 1t on warrant to which Tay-
lor's name was signed. He didn't want
10 sign his name. That was what was
the matter with him"
Robert Taaylor was also seen and re-
iterated everything he had said under
oath in court. "Snowden came to me-"
said he, and said, why don't you com
promise this case. | have 4, warrant
sworn out by Moses johnson for you?'
| said. 'se:ve it then and he replied.
NO, | won; do tina. now. / will wait
till Johnson comes The latter came
after while and Snowden came to me
in court and told me if would compro-
mise the matter he wouldn't serve the
warrant. That is all l know about 1t.
l refused and he executed the warrant
Il haven't anything against the off,
Ger. l am sorry now l said anything.
but every one was against me and l had
TO do something. Those witnesses didn't
swear the truth. ! was not guilty. But
that is over with now. for the present
at least. | had intended going before
the Police Board with charges against
Snowden. but | have reconsidered the
matter and will not do it,"
Continuing. Taylor declared that there
were no less than eight separate policy
shops in full blast within thirty Yards of
me city line, and lying. all OF them. on
the other side oa Princess Anne avenue
four OF these. h said. were back of Mer-
r:ils place and the other fou. back OF
10 Taylor. has a colored man in attend
SI'e' and each set OF four joints has a
Whte manager. The entire eight are
owned and operated by three wel-known
sPoNing men, one of whom. Taylor as
se;iod offered him s25 in spot cash If he
WGdld withdraw the charge against
Johnson.
"a wheel is going. In every place"
SAID Taylor land they all seem to be
oren with no pretense of secrecy. At
fae drawings there are not less than
hfy colored men present in any one of
en- often more. sometimes a hundred.
!; you want any more informstio send
for me" and after furnishing the report
er with an alleged list of the names of
everybody connected with the various
establishments referred to by him. from
the proprietors down to the eight colored
men. Taylor took his departure.
Thus 1t would seem that If Taylor,s
statement is correct the policy men are
evidently afraid OF the bity authorities
to such an extent that they haveremoved
i'i:ir joints to quieter pastures. Ger
tain It Is that re any rcmain within the
Jurisdiction of the Norfolk police depart
ment they will be ferreted out and exter-
minated, In the meantime 1t may be
concluded that lMnleSS natpctiya cr-,,,