Evening star., 1896-03-24
FOR RUNNING POLICY
Conviction Of q Tool in tho Police
Court
The Principals, However, Are Stfl
Free to Continue Their Opera.
tiOns-The Case Today.

A number Of violators of the policy law
have been arrested during the past month,
and several cells in the District jail are
now filed with colored men who made an
enort to earn q few dollars at this gam
bling game. Most of them were tired by
Judge Miller; some plead guilty, while two
demanded jury trials. The last person ar
rested for an alleged violation of the pol
Icy law was a colored man named Peter
Spriggs. Maj. Moore was instrumental in
causing his arrest, which was made by
Policemen Belts and Buckley. This case
came up in Judge Miller's court this after
noon. q jury trial having been demanded.
and Lawyer johnson, for the defendant,
made a contest Of every point involved.
Seated in the room were q number of
coiored men who are known to be inter-
ested in the policy business and they
seemed as much Interested In the outcome
Of the case as was the defendant
Wien the jury was sworn, Prosecuting
Attorney Mullowny asked whether or not
any Of the jurors were acquainted with the
defendant or knew Of any reason why they
should not serve.
AS there were no re ;pors ses, the jury was
accepted and the witnesses were sworn.
Policeman Buckley testified that he ar
rested the defendant near the corner of 18th
and G streets several days ago. and in conn
pany with Officer Belts he took him to the
station.
And what did you find on him?" asked
counsel
"rhese papers," responded witness pro-
ducing a small bundle Of papers), ''and
$51. .13 in money"
Witness explained the nature Of the pa
pers. and read from one OF the papers:
please send me book and blank paper.
I am out"
This not, was signed mo. O." and was in
an envelope addressed to John Kelly, Ar
lington stables"
When he arrested the defendant the latter
said: you've got me good this time. What
are you going to do with me-"
Witness told him be was going to lock
him up.
On cross-exemination witness said he had
very little knowledge of the policy busi-
ress, never having played 1t.
Policeman Belts had played policy, and
he appeared on the stand as an expert in
addition to telling Of the arrest and Of the
finding OF the money and papers on him.
The papers taken from him, said witness.
are policy plays. Witness explained what
Is meant by a row, sheet and book. and
told of the marks morning" and 'even-
ing" which mean the morning and evening
drawings.
This closed the proof, and The jury re-
turned a verdict of guilty.
Judge Miller, in imposing sentence, told
the prisoner that 1t had been a long time
since there had been an old-fashioned pol
Icy book in court, but this is one of them.
Sprfggs said that a man named James
Rodgers had employed him to carry pack
ages TO the man Kelly at the Arlington
stables. He usually met Rodgers at Penn
sylva1ia avenue and 9th or 9TH street. He
always met Kelly at the. door Of the
stables.
That's Clark's stable between 18th and
18th streets OH c. the officer said.
Same old place. remarked the court.
The police said that they had made no
effort to find the man Kelly because they
thought it was not necessary.
Judge Miller wanted to know why some
effort had not been made to apprehend
Rodgers and Kelly, and Mr.. Mullowny
said he thought the detectives had male
an effort to find them well as the back
ers of the game. A sentence of ninety
days in jail was imposed, and the court
directed that the papers in the case he
held for use in event of the apprehension
Of the others.