Evening star., 1896-09-22
ONE MORE POSTPONEMENT
No Trial Today of the Alleged jackson City
Gamblers.
The Sheriff Had Not Been Able to
Serve Any of the War
rants.

The trial Of the alleged Jackson City
gamblers, which was to have been held
this morning, was postponed again. 1t
was to have been held last Tuesday, hut a
continuance was granted until today. This
time the postponement is rather indefinite
in point Of time. as the commemorative S
attorney suggested that 1t was hardly
worth while to go on with the case until
they had some one to try. He was Tn
able to say just when this might be, but
promised to give the attorneys on the other
side suitable notice when any arrests
might be made.
The scene of the fiasco was the little
one-story frame shanty near Arlington
junction where Justice Lane sometimes
holds court 1t is a two-room structure
and the court room ordinarily does service
as a barber shop and general meeting
place In the adjoining room two oolored
girls were leisurely clearing away the re-
mains of breakfast and giving an coca
sional dab at the stone china, which looked
as though it needed much more thof-
ough washing up than il is ever likely to
get. The floor may have seen Letter days,
and the lawyers and the half dozen others
who were present, possibly as witnesses,
but more likely through motives OF Gu
rosity, amused themselves by eApectorat-
ing through the knotholes and the cracks.
Smoking was not forbidden in this hail Of
justice and the rechercheness OF the pro-
ceedingS was increased II anything by the
presence of large dog Of the hound breed,
SO common around the erstwhile festive
burg. He lay stretched at length under
the three-legged table at which "hisonner
sat.
Justice Lane the colored man who doles
out law to those who are brought before
him. sent word this morning that he was
not feeling very well and would be unable
to preside. In his absence Associate JUS
tice Pelham Officiated.
There might have been some question
raised as to the regularity of this change
of judges had either side cared to raise 1t,
but both sides seemed to be satisfied that
whatever Judge Pelham would do would
be all right. The defendants were repre-
sented by Messrs. Mushback and Brent,
but those two legal gentlemen had little to
do, for the wishes of the commonwealth s
representative were right In line with their
own.
The citizens Of Alexandria county who
are trying to run the gambling element out
of the neighborhood and the Washington
hopeful that after the many postpone
ments which have been granted the case
might at last go On in earnest. In this
they were doomed to disappointment, how
ever.
The opening of court was of the most in
formal description. In fact, it is difficult
to say whether or not there was any open
ing. Then Mr.. Marbury started the ball.
Your honor" he said, without rising
from his seat removing the cigar from
his mouth, ''it is with genuine regret tha;
l am compelled to inform the court that
the sheriff of the county has been unable
to serve any of the warrants in these cases.
Under the circumstances, ] don't see that
there Is anything for us to do but to wait.
This does not mean that the prosecution OF
these cases is not to be pushed. On the
contrary, II is our expectation to force
them, if it should take until next Christ
mas. While we have been unable so far
to bring these cases to rial, the proseo u
tion sufficeS to keep the defendants out OF
the county, and that's a mighty good
thing
The lawyers for the defense offered no
objection to the postponement, and after
some discussion as to the questions OF
bonds in case any arrests should be made,
the crowd left the court house. That con-
stituted an adjournment of court.
Afterward John Nelson, the ex-sport OF
Jackson City, who swore out the original
warrants against a score or more of al
legged gamblers, taxed Sheriff Palmer with
his failure to serve the warrants.
why" said Nelson, there are half a
dozen of those men over here in Jackson
City every afternoon, and you could get
them easy enough if you wanted to-
The sheriff suggested that he might depu-
tiZe Nelson to make the arrests. Nelson
said he thought he could do it.
But what shall do" asked Nelson, 81.
| 1 am unable to bring them in alone?"
WELL on second thoughts" said the
sheriff, perhaps you had better not arres,
them. When you see any of them on this
| side Of the river just let me know"
The sheriff lives about six miles beyond
| Jackson City. The date for the next hear.
| ing Of the case is little uncertain.