Evening star., 1896-10-09
SOME FRESH EXCUSES
Further Pospo9smsnt of Jaclsoa City Gam
11'baing osses
An Attorney Had an Arrangement
with HI. r1.,e,an-se~ Develop
ments In the Cases.

NShed custom, ,the trial OF the alleged jack
son City gamblers. whose cases were set
for hearing at>lQ O'Clock this morning be-
fore Squire Lane at his court. located In
the barber shop. at Mudd's Corner, was
postponed to a time that Is very much in
the dark.
Joseph Thomas and James Wells are the
men who were to have been tried this
morning. Their cases were set for last
Friday. but at that time the attorneys ex-
planned that they were engaged before the
county court of Alexandria, and it was
agreed that the trial should be postponed
until this morning at 10 o'clock. The gen.
eral understanding was that the cases
would then be disposed of without further
delay.
faithful few made their way to Mudd's
Corner at the scheduled hour this morning,
and found the so-called court room barred
and bolted. After wait of a few minutes
Judge Pelham, the associate of Squire
Lane, put in an appearance, and remarked:
Trial Is postponed, gentlemen"
what Is the excuse this tfme?" he was
asked.
Judge Pelham explained that the COM
monwealth attorney, Mr. Richard Johnston
had requested that the hearing be set for
later In the day. as he was undergoing
medical treatment, and had an engagement
with his physician at IL o'clock this morn
Ing This afternoon was suggested, so a
bystander stated, as a proper time to pro-
ceed, but that did not receive considera-
ton. for 1t was stated that the common
wealth attorney had standing engage
ment at St. Asaph every afternoon. 1t was
then urged that the trial take place at
O'Clock this afternoon, but Judge Pelham
declared that he would relinquish his COM
m ssion before he would hold court at that
hour. 1t Is thought that his stand on that
point was due to- a suspicion that great
risk would be involved in conducting John
Nelson. the prosecuting witness in the
gambling cases, who is confined in the
Alexandria jail under Indictment for mur-
der. to and fro between Alexandria and
Mudd's Corner after nightfall. Under cover
OF darkness. so 1t was stated, Nelson would
have an excellent opportunity to attempt a
break for liberty, and Judge Pelham did
not care to be connected In any way with
any such proceedings. He suggested. how
ever. that the trials be held either at the
Jail or at the court house in Alexandria at
5 o'clock this afternoon.
1t was reported that this plan met with
the appreciation of Squire Lane, Sheriff
Palmer and the other parties directly in
terested. With the understanding that
court would be held at Alexandra at =
o'clock this afternoon, the gathering then
dispersed. That postponement this morn
ing was anticipated was attested by the
fact that all the attorneys, with the ex-
ception of Johnston, were absent
While Star reporter and several others
were conversing with Judge Pelham on
the roadway near the barber shop-court
seen at once that he was in a decidedly un-
communicative mood, and the statements
he made differed diametrically from those
of his associate. Judge Pelham.
Squire Lanes Statements.
when will the. trial take placer" asked
the reporter.
THE parties were to have been here at
10 O'clock" replied the justice. II don't
see anything of them yet"
Has the hearing been postponed?"
Il guess 1t has
Until when?"
"Indefinitely."
Are you going to call the cases today?''
IF the parties put in appearance. !
will be here all day, waiting for them"
Alexandria,
Here, of course
How about that?' asked the reporter
| turning to Judge Pelham, Il thought YOU
said the hearing would take place at Alex
andria. ,-.,r,
That was the understanding. thought -
| said Judge Pelham. We agreed awhile
| ago to hold court at o'clock this after.
| ncon at Alexandria,
! Il didn't know that" mumbled SQUIRE
Lane; fastening away. "Tn go and look
| for Sheriff Palmer
| New Situation.
The prosecution of the alleged Jackson
| City gamblers has taken an Interesting
| turn 1t was the understanding yesterday
that when the cases of Thomas and Wells
were called today at Squire Lanes court
the warrants would be quashed, the men
| arrested on new warrants, and then be
| taken before Magistrate Supplee, recently
| appointed by Judge Chichester, for trial
| But the plan was not carried out. John
! Nelson. the prosecuting witness, was seen
| In jail at Alexandria yesterday morning by
| several members of the Citizens League
| and he agreed to sign the new informations
that evening if the trial Of the perjury
charge standing against him in this city
| was postponed. When the members of the
| league returned to the Jail last evening
with the warrants they were informed by
the jailor that Nelson did not care to see
them. and the committee was unable. ever
| after exertfng pressure to see the man
They waited, however, until the jailor was
| relieved by his assistant and the latter per.
mitted them to enter the structure and pro
ceed to Nelson's cell. The latter refused
to give any sign of life while the visitor.
stood at the cell door. A fellow prisoner
informed them that Nelson's sick, and h,
don't want to see you"
1t Is the belief that Nelson, thinking tha
the prosecution against him here for per
jury had been stopped, and possessing as
surances that the charges against him IL
Alexandria county would not be pushed
decided to desert the Citizens League ant
join the camp of the gamblers. 1t wal
openly stated today that the charge o
murder against Nelson would not b.
pressed and that he will be at liberty in
short time.
The Citizens League, however, Is no
discouraged, and in spite of the unexpecte,
turn in the case, means to push the prose
cution with renewed vigor.
Young WOmen's Home.
The annual report of the Young Women
. Christian Home has been handed to tn
superintendent Of charities. 1t shows dur
l
ings provided and 6,446 lodgings fror
which fees were received. The number O
persons cared for was $40, and Of thi
l. number the institution received employ
ment for SO.
An Injunction Granted.
, Judge Cox today granted an injunctio
: against Heilbrun & Co on complaint of tt