Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-14
GAM BLIN g CASES
All the Alexandria County Charges
Dismissed by Justice Lane.
THE WITNESSES KNEW NOTHING
Never Heard of Drinking or Policy
at Jackson City.
THE QUEER SITUATION

Justice Lane held court in the Alexandria
county court house at Alexandria this
morning for the purpose of disposins of
the large number of cases of alleged gam
bling and policy on the warrants sworn out
by John Nelson.
Promptly at 10 o'clock Justice Lane con-
vened his court with all the dignity of
judge of the Supreme Court. There were
not more than a dJsel pers ms present in the
court room. Sheriff Palmer proceeded to
the front of the court house, and in stem
torian tones called out the names of the
witnesses who had been summoned or VINO
were supposed to have been summoned. a
colored named John James and
white man named Lee Gambler were the
only witnesses present
Tine first case called was that of the COM
wealth agt John Thomas, charged with
selling liquor on Sunday. Mr.. Dick john
son. commemorative attorney, asked the
court that the cases be continued Owing
TO the fact that the most important wit
nesses were not present and could not be
found, and he did not know where they
were, or when they ever could be found.
Mr. Brent, for the defense, stated to the
court that these reasons, according to
the statute, were not sufficient ground for
continuing the case. In rendering his de-
cision as to the motion for a continuance
Justice Lane said: II has loosed considerbel
time altogether in desc cases. No one pays
HE, and all is going out and none coming
in TO me- and | is tired running about try
ing desc here. The commonwealth attor-
ney is always after postponin' and post
ponin' desc cases, and / must say 1 can't
subs tantuate de commonwealth 5 attor-
ney. 1t would take a Philadelphia lawyer
to keep tract o. dem. l therefore dismiss
every case and overrule de motion. But,
said Mr.. Brent, one of the attorneys, I'VE
don't want 10 dismiss the cases. what We
want is for you TO enter judgment of not
guilty in each of the cases.
At this point Commonwealth Attorney
Johnson said that the cases had better
come to trial at once rather than judgment
being entered without some attempt being
mace TO prove the guilt of the parties un-
der charge.
John James, witness for the prosecution,
was put on the stand
What do you know about Joseph Thomas
keeping his saloon open and selling liquor
on Sunday" asked Mr.. Johnson.
Deed boss don't knew muffin about it.
/ amt never seen Mr.. Thomas sell no liquor
On Sunday.
Why were you summoned here as a wit
ness in this case? What are you doing here,
anyhow, if you don't know anything?
Il 'ceived one of them warrants what toI
me to be here. 1 don't know no other rea-
son."
This was all that the commonwealth
turned over to the attorneys for the de-
fense Messrs. Brent and Mushbach. who
however, did not desire to ask him any
questions
Lee Gambler was next sworn and put on
the stand.
Tell me all you know in regard to John
Thomas selling liquor on Sunday"
Il don't know anything about it.
Did you ever buy any liquor from
Thomas on SundayT
NO; never did"
Well, what do you know
Nothing.
Who summoned you here. and why were
you summoned?
Il don't know anything about it,"
You can have the witness, Mr.. Brent,
said Mr. Johnson, but Mr.. Brent had NJ
questions to ask
The defense asked for a Judgment of &C
quittal
Justice Lane ordered the judgment of no
guilty to be entered
Gambling Case.
The next case called was that of the com
monwealth vs.. James H. Wells, charged
with running a gambling table in Alexan
dria county. The two witnesses for thu
commonwealth James and Gambler, wer,
put on the stand in this case (without hav
ing been sworn, however,, and James wa
called.
What do you know about Mr. Wells
keeping gambling house?' asked Mr.
Johnson.
Il don't know muffin. 1 don't know Mr.
Wells very well. nohow-"
Why were you summoned here If yol
know nothing?'
Deed sir. / don't know 1 stays hom
most ob de time. 'cept when 1 wuks In d
brick yard"
The witness was told to stand aside tn
defense not caring to ask any ques tions
Lee Gambler was then called.
What do you know about Joseph Thoma
keeping gambling house at Jackson City
in Alexandria county, and running gamn
tables of any kind?"
Il know nothing about it. / never sa,
any gambling in Joe's place
Why were you summoned here?'
Il don't know anything about it,
This witness was turned over to the de
fense. and they not desiring TO ask an
questions, told him to stand aside.
All Not Guilty.
At this time Mr.. Mushbach asked tn
court If 1t his intention to try tn
twenty-five or thirty cases of a simila
character, going through the same pre-
ceed:ngs in each as had been gone throug
in the cases of Thomas and Wells, sayin
at the same time. II can see no necessit
for 1t. as the main witnesses are not her,
and these two witnesses, James and Car
dier, evidently know nothing about tn
charges MIR. Johnson could see nothin
TO be gained. by going through with tn
long list of cases, and a continuanC
could not be secured. did nothing towar
trying the rest of the cases. At the sugge
ton of Messrs. Mushbach and Brent repr,
sent1ng all of the defendants, Justice Lar
directed that Judgment of not guilty |
entered in the following cases:
Commonwealth agt. j. w. Potter; charge
with selling liquor on Sunday.
Comm onwealtl agt- Lewis Pfeife1
charged with gambling.
Commonwealth egt Daniel Wallac,
charged with running a policy game.
Commonwealth agt. ID. Woodward; chars
ed with running policy game.
commonwealth agt John Porter; charge
with running policy game.
Commonwealth agt- Ben. Caster; charge
with running policy game.
commonwealth agt John Potter; charge
with running general gambling establish
ment-
Commonwealth agt. Columbus Scot
charged with rur ming policy game.
Commonwealth agt Jas. Pollard; chars
ed with running policy game.
Commonwealth agt. Ned Connell chars
ed with running policy game.
Commonw eAlth agt. William Mud