Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-24
AL EXANDRlA AFFAIRS
Mystery Surrounding the Case of Ex-Police-
man Ponder.
The Charge to He Pushed by the Au-
thOrities-Other Local Notes
in Brief.

The six hundred and ninety dollars of
which Joh:: Ponder, said to be
Washington police officer, claimed to have
been robbed in house of ill-repute, was
found secreted in lot of cartridges in the
house of Harry Simpson, who, 1t was al
legged, took them from the person of Ponder
and who was held for the grand jury by
Mayor Thompson in the police court.
But little credence was given 70 the state
ment that so large sum of money had
been stolen but VIXEN Simpson house was
searched six one hundred dollar bills and
the balance in other denominations was
found stated, in unloaded shells for
Dreech-loadipg gun-a hundred dollar bill
in each she'll
The matter came up for trial in the po-
lice court last night. In the course of the
trial Ponder stated that Simpson had ask
ed him to give him (Simpson) the money
for safe keeping. bat hey ond this he could
say nothing, as he evidently still
drunk.
Messrs. E. B. Taylor and John Green
represented Simpson. and Ewald and Com
| monwealth's Attorney Marbury prosecuted
the case.
Nest of the Information in regard to the
matter was gotten from JOS Ewald. who
turned states evidence. He stated that he
and Simpson were with Ponder when
Simpson suggested that they lay for him
and do him, out this plan was abandon
! ed and they carried Ponder to Colross, on
the outskirts of the city, where they re
lieved him of his money. Several witnesses
| corroborated the fact that Simpson and
| Ewald We're together at the time.
All the evidence being heard Mayor
Thompson decided to hold Simpson for the
| grand jury, and Ewald witness, the
latter being placed under $500 bonds 10
appear before the grand jury. Simpson
made no statement. Later Simpson was
released on $1,000 bond for his appearance
his uncle. Mr.. F. Simpson, being his surety
The woman o. an Lille North, who kept the
| Ponder, was fined $50 for keeping house
| Of i'll fame, and the inmates sent to the
workhouse for ninety days each
The case has caused a great deal Of talk
In police court circles as Ponder has acted
very curiously in the matter. Captain
Webster stated to The Star reporter that
| Ponder had stated to the police when he
| applied for the warrant that he had been
robbed of the money. and abused the police
| rorndly. When the matter came UP for
| trial Ponder stated that he gave the money
| to Simpson for safe keeping, and to all
| further questions he was as dumb as an
! oyster. His behavior is considered as
peculiar. to say the least. Ponder is lock-
ed Up at the station house until he can sive
| as a witness before the grand jury, he
being a nonresident. He has employ ed
| Mr.. Charles BeEdheim to help him out
| The $500 found by the police will be held
| some unknown reason, does not seem dis
posed to prosecute the case further, though
the authorities will do 50.
In the Police Court.
| The docket before Mayor Thompson in
the police court this morning was a light
one. The cases tried were follows:
John Rogers, charged with indecent con-
| duct, fined IS or twenty days on the chain
gang.
Emma Redman. charged with lunacy, was
committed for examination frankie Fol-
| som, for keeping house of ill-fame, fined
$50. BERTHE Stokes, vagrancy, house of ILL
| fame inmate, ninety days in work house.
| Ernest Travers, charged with stealing a
gold watch, case continued until tonight.
The police last night pulled" the house
| of il-fame kept by frankie Folsom, in the
White Chapel district. AS stated above,
the proprietress was fined $50. and the in
mates sent to the work house.
Rack Track Gambling.
1t seems evident that Gov O'Ferrall and
his corps of officers, both state and county.
are unable TO cope with the gambling mat
| tiers in Alexandra county, and the running
Of book at the race track. When The
2 o'clock electric train from Washington
| yesterday stopped at the Driving Park
old. of all sorts. kinds and descriptions, got
| off and made their way across the lawn to
| the pool room.
Theological Seminary Opens.
The Virginia Theological Seminary which
| is located on the hills just west of the city
opened another session yesterday, with
| larger number of students enrolled
than for years past. There will be twelve
students in the senior class. thirteen in the
middle class, and between eighteen and
twenty in the Junior. All the members OF
the faculty have returned, and lectures will
| be begun on Monday.
The grounds and buildings have been pu!
in excellent order by Mr.. JOS. Wilmer. the
new proctor, and everything is in nice
running order. This will probably be the
most prosperous year in the life of the
seminary 50 far.
Held u Conference.
Mr.. Joseph E. Willard of Fairfax Court