Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-31
TACTICS
Virginia Gambling Case Witnesses
Arrested in Washington.
HRUMPED UP CHARGE OF PERJURY
Accused Gamblers Were Forced to
Give Bonds for Appearance.
AN EARNEST CAMPAIG

| A surprise vas sprung today upon those
| persons most Intimately connected with
he prosecution of the alleged violators Of
| the anti-gambl:ng and liquor laws relating
, to Jackson City. This was the day set for
, the trial of a number Of the men arrested
for alleged infraction Of the laws. The sur
| l.rise was the sudden appearance upon the
| scene of action of Messrs. Nelson and
| Whalen and Offutt, the complainant and
| witnesses in the cases, who We're supposed
| to be securely incarcerated in Washington
| and therefore unable to prosecute the
| cases.
| 1t will be remembered that John Nelson
| swore out the numerous warrants upon
| which these prosecutions are based, and
| named " ha,en and Offutt as his witnesses
| Last Saturday Eight Joe Thomas, one of
the men named in the warrants, came over
| to Washington, il is said, and made infor-
! nation against Nelson, charging him with
having perjured himself in a local court
| about six weeks or two months ago. Ser
! geant Moore Of the metropolitan police then
| took out warrant against Nelson and ar
| rested him, together with the other two
men.
| To Avoid Testifying.
| 1t is said that under the laws of Virginia,
If Nelson and his associates had been con-
| victed OF perjury. they would have been
| cebarred from ever testifying in a Vir-
| ginia court. Al any rate. the complainant
and his witnesses found themselves this
! morning in the hands of the police of
Washington, when the trials in which they
| were interested were set for 10 o'clock near
| Jackson City.
| AT this juncture there appeared upon the
| scene. Mr.. A. 5. Doniphan and Frank Ly
on, connected with the Peoples League of
| Alexandra county, an organization now
| beng established to break up iaw!essness
| ale ng the Virginia shore of the Potomac
| adjacent to Washington. These two men
| pre- sented themselves in Judge Mills court
| at o'clock this morning, when Nelson ani
| his companions were brought in. They ex-
| piained the situation 10 District Attorney
| Mullowny and Judge Mills, and asked for
| the temporary release of the men, claim
| ing it would serve the ends of justice.
| District Attorney Muliowny questioned
| harpiy the action of Sergeant Moore in
| arresting Nelson at this time. He said it
| was very strange that this man, whose al
| legged offense was committed some weeks
| ago. should have been arrested On the eve
OF the important events in Alexandra
| county ana said that there likelihood
| of the designs of justice being hampered
| thereby.
| Judge Mills remarked that the proceed
| ings' seemed somewhat unusual, and added
| that 1t was the desire of the authorities
On this side of the river to aid the Alex
| andrid county officials as much as possible
| In putting down vice the other side Of
! the Potomac.
Witnesses in Court.
| Upon the request of Mr.. Doniphan, Mel
| son. Ofutt and Whalen were released up
| on Mr.. Doniphan's personal recognizance
| until next Monday. The party then hurried
| to the train. and. much to the surprise of
| everybody, appeared in Squire Lanes court
| In time for the proceedings there.
| Squire Lane and Justice Pelham presided
over the court this morning. There were
| also present Commonwealth Attorney r.
| W. Johnson of Alexandria county and Mr.
| Leonard Marbury, who has been appoint ed
| to assist him. The defendants were rep
resented by counsel, prominent among the
| latter being Capt. Mushback of Alexandria
1t had been discovered that nearly ALL
| IL not ALL Of the warrants that had been
sworn out were defective in FORM and Mr.
Marbury made it his first duty to perfect
| tnese. He, therefore, asked the court to
continue the cases until the warrants could
| be made out IN proper form. SO as to avoid
all possibility of the defendants evadiny
trial upon technicality. The court as
sented to this, and Tuesday, September &
at 1O O'Clock, was fixed as the time this
helne satisfactory to all parties including
MI Nielsen. who expects TO make arrange
nieIls whlch VIII ena BILE him to be present.
Mr. Marhury then had the names of the
persons designated by the warrants called
Those who responded were Bejamin Carter
| William Marshall. Washington Triplett.
Robert Turner, Samuel jackson nan;a,
Wallace, Charles Sanders, Joseph Thomas
John W. Potter. Adolphus Woodward. las
II. Wells, Chas. Mudd and Arthur Brooks
Inc Following persons named in the war
rants, and who were under bonds to an
pear did not answer to their names: Co
lImbus Scott, John Greenwich. I,ouis
Prefer, Ned Conway, James Woody viii
| liam Mudd and James Pollard
Earnest Work.
Mr.. Marbury then went through the lists
of bondsmen and required every man
named In the warrants to furnish bonds
| In the sum Of 800 for each warrant. Some
of the men having more than one charge
| against them. In cases where it was found
| that personal property had been accepted
| as bond Mr.. Marbury required real estate
security. and the sheriff was given a list
Of those who did not qualify to the satis-
faction of Mr.. Marbury, and was instructed
to take the men into custody until they
| should furnish real estate bond Those in
Guided In this list We're BENJAMIN Carter,
Washington Triplett, Robert Turner, Sam,
Gel jackson, Daniel Wallace John w Pot
! ter, Adolphus Woodward, James II. Wells.
Arthur Brooks, Columbus Scott, John
Greenwel, Louis Pfeifer, Ned Conway and
James Woody.
Justice Pelham gave notice that all of
the men named in these warrants will be
| required to present themselves for trial
| Tuesday, September S, or proceedings to
forfeit their bonds will be in ORDER
In the meantime the Peoples League
of Alexandria county is going into the
fight in earnest. Over $50 property holders
have Joined it, and several meetings will
be held this week. A fund is being ac-
cumulated to be used to prosecute the al
legged law breakers. The governor of Vir-
ginia will be asked this week to apnoint
special attorney, at the expense Of the
league, to assist in the prosecution. Some
of the most prominent men of Alexandria
county are interested in the movement.
and money from citizens of Washington in
| terested in breaking up the gambling ON
the Virginia shore will swell the fund.-