Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-11-27
4 CARD FROM MIR SMITH

To the Editor ofu.s alexandria GQ=s.ts
Dear Sir There appeared az article IN
Washington Taper OF Novembe- % under II,
caption Alexandra jail Fence ior >toler
Goods and tina: the search warrants were
resisted by all officials
In reply 10 this article
wish 10 make the following statement FOL
the benefit OF the citizens OF Alexandria city
aud county When the sergeant 5 away from
the city take charge OF all business connect
ed with the courts and jail. On TUESDAY
Nov u, he left the city for + short time ana
while away | received message over the
telephone from Mr John McCuen, who was ON
duty at the Jail a one Of the guards telling
me that two officers, namely. William Web
ster and William Ferguson. were there with q
warrant for the arrest OF Harry Gambler and
Richard Burnett, and what must he DO. | told
him not to deliver any prisoners in the Il. 10
any one, as both men were under ntence Of
the court then asked him 70 tell Mr.. william
Webster TO take the phoae. l asked Mr..
Webster what he was after and he said that
he believed that some Of the stolen articles
from Frenchs bookstore were in Candler's
ana Bumctts room. then told him to give
Mr. McCuen the phone again | asked Mr..
McCuen if Sfr. Hayes. who IS the other guard.
would be back in few minutes told him
as soon as Mr.. Hayes returned TO take Mr.
Webster and give Gamblers room thorough
search and find anything he could. met
M Webster later in the evening at Judge
Norton office and asked him if he had
made the search and he answered he had, but
found nothing, whc!cupon | said to Judge
Norton if there is any stolen goods in Jail
will 20 al once aud find such articles. Mr..
Webster stated that he was delayed about five
minutes waiting for Mr. Hayes aud that IN
the meantime no one went in the jail or camc
out. On my way to the jail met the City
Sergeant, who had returned to the city
made known 70 him what was suspected to be
in Gamblers room. When we 4 rived at the
Jail Harry Gambler was sent for by the ser.
geant sud brought in his Office ! asked him
II he mad gold pen in his room. He said he
had one that WAS given to him by VIII Ar
rlngton few days ago. | then went to his
room and found the pen. When | returned
TO the office Gambler stated to Sergeant Smith
that Arlington had also given hlln package
to keep for him. and he had put the package
in his overcoat pocket, but if the sergeant
would 20 with MIN he would get the package
as he had carried it out home that same day,
for later III the day was the time in which
Sheriff Palmer came for him and carried him
out. Nov in reference to Sheriff Palmer, he
is the shorthand jailcr Of Alexandria county
Gambler being county prisoner. When the
sheriff came 10 the Jail and asked FOR Gambler
the guard at once turned over the prisoner to
the sheriff Gambler told the sergeant that
while in the county he went by to look after
his house, which he heard had been much
damaged, and while there he left this package
in one OF the rooms. Thursday morning |
went to the county court house and asked
Judge Chichester to give me an order allow
ing me to carry Gambler in the county to look |
after the stolen goods. He gave me the order.
City Sergeant Smith, Gambler and myself left |
here in closed carriage, went to this house. |
found the property and delivered it to James
F. Webster, Chief of Police. There was pos
lively no refusal on the part OF the sergeant OF
his deputies to allow the Jail to be searched |
As there was only one guard at the Jail, the |
officers with the search warrant were kel +,
waiting only about five minutes until the other
guard could get back from dinner. The oil
GERS were told as soon as the otter guard re-
turned they could make the search and in the |
no one was allowed in or out of In /
jail. This will be o)rroborated by both tie
guards in charge Of the Jail, and by Judge |
Norton, who heard the statement OF all of
them. Now you will pardon me for taking
up So much space in your valuable paper. but
rs so much in the past has been said of Affairs
the all. in which there was no
foundation, feel it my duty to make this
statement. Yours,
3. b. SMITH, Dep. Sergeant.