The morning times., 1896-07-22


with promoting policy in the District, an
bounced thgt they we've hope lessly divided
! and there was no possible chance of thei
agreeing.
1t was O'Clock and as Judge Mile
lad been there since s u. m, he was to-
| tired to give the jury another chance I,
agree, so discharged them, and Nelson
| released on bail, has another chance TO
| his ultimate liberty.
Nelson, who is under Indictment for The
killing OF colored Deputy Hines during q
| fight I'D his saloon last February, and alst
breaking in the Alexandria court house, was
| arrested on the 10th Of July at the corne
i OF Ninth and the Avenue by Serge a mt Moore
and Policeman Kiimartin. Tie officers sus
pected him of running policy game here
although no papers were found on him al
| the time.
THE PRINCIPAL WITNESSES.
Soon after this the police located Charles
| StraDgand George jackson ,tw ocolored men,
who claimed to have worked for Nelson
| in the policy business, and they were the
principal witnesses against him yes ,erday.
The issue or the tnal swung OH their te sti-
moDy, and whether they were acting as
Nelson's agents in writing policy here, with
headqua rterssacross the river, or acting on
their own hook.
number Of witnesses swore the latter
condition was the true one, and Mr.. G.
Ma URGE Smith, counsel for the defendant,
argued strongly against the jury accepting
the uncorroborated testimony OF alleged
acconpliccs. During the trial, which
strung Out through four hot, dreary hours,
there were several tilts between counsel
and Mr.. Jeffords, the prosecuting attorney.
Once when Mr.. Smith asked a question,
tn. NNIan rh 10 1T
necessary, Mr.. Smith, in bis suave way.
retorted, Il am responsible for great
many things in this world, brother, but
not your stupidity Again, when Mr..
Smith, in addressing the jury, asked them
to put themselves in Nelson's place, JEFF
fords, quick TO seize the point, in his
closing, pathetically implured the twelve
tired, perspiring men TO do nothing OF the
kind, telling them IL they did so their life
would be one long road Of regret.
Witnesses for Nelson, among them Buck"
Offurt, who was tried and acquitted OF
safe blowing some time ago. all admitted
that policy had been written in the back
rooin OF the defendant salono.
JACKSON CITY CUSTOM.
1t seems TO be IL custom among the
saloon keepers III The squalid Monte Carlo
across the Potomac to allow the runners
bar trade. 1t was also developed that
three COMPANIES are responsible for the
large deals i'll gigs and rows On the Viz
ginia soil. the ID. and E, or Dismal Swamp,
the Old Dominion Extra, and Frankfort,
Ky, Company.
The books are carried to Alexandria by
mysterious individual named Woody,
where the drawings are issued and the
winnings paid.
Just where these headquarters are To-
Gated, Judge Miller, with all his persist
ent questioning, could not worm out of the
witnesses. They all professed ignorance
OF its whereabouts.
Charles Strang was the first witness for
the government. He said Nelson employed
him in jackson City to write policy, pay
ing him 8 cents ON the dollar and promis-
ing 10 increase 1T to twenty when business
warranted. The witness said there was
no specification made whether he should
take plays in the District or Virginia. He
carried the plays to Nelson, who, when a
winning was made, gave him the money
to carry back to the winners.
straDg said all his business was done in
Washington, although Nelson had given
him no orders to that effect.
SOME REGULAR CUSTOMERS.
The biggest hit made was SIT. 90. He
named Annie Miller as one of those whose
plays he took regularly, twice a day. He
said he was summoned to court by Sergt.
Moore, and the police had made no effoit
to coerce him into statement. On cross
examination he testified that the first
piece of policy he wrote in Washington was
for Annie Miller, and explained that it
was his custom to turn his writings over
to Nelson who made a book from them.
Strange said all the drawings bore the
name of Dickinson and Company, as they
did all over the United States.
George jackson, Ilsnmonger, also co..
ored, said lie worked ten days last June
for Nelson writing policy on bo,h sides OF
the river on a commission of l per cent.
Nelson gave him a book, and furnished him
with drawings to give his patrons.
He said on one occasion Nelson suggested
more business could be done down town,
meaning Washington.
Jackson said he was testifying of his own
free will, and had not been promised i'm
munity by the police.
Nelson took the stand and denied their
story. He said he allowed the men the
use OF room adjoining the bar, but
was in no way connected with the policy
writing carried on by them. Nelson, who
is a tall, loose jointed young man. testified
that during the period he was charged in
the information with promoting policy
he was away the best part of the time
from Jackson City.
Pat Raedy, his bartender. Edward Whalen
and Andrew Mum substantiated his state
ment.
Detectives Weldon and Horne said they
had seen Nelson in the city on numerous
occasions prior to his arrest, as did Officer
Clint Lamb.
Mr.. Smith asked the court at this point
to take an adjournment because of the
intense heat.
Judge Miller seemed to take satisfaction
in saying it couldn't get any hotter. and
ordered the trial to proceed, action he
regretted later.
PLENTY OF REBUTTAL.
The government introduced considerable
evidence in rebuttal, until, as one of the
jurymen remarked after the trial, every
body seemed to succeed in making every
body else liar.
The judge made an exhaustive sum-
ming up of all the questions involved in
his charge, Mr.. Smith pleaded eloquently,
Mr.. Jeffords closed and a GoZen gentle
men retreated to the sweatbox OF a jury
room, TO emerge later minus conclusions,
at least as a unit, and the judge then said
he was sorry he refused Mr.. Smiths
request.
Excursion of Gondoliers.