Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-19

space in the Corporation Court room
was filled last night by the multitude
which had gathered to witness the tria
of the persons arrested last week or
the charge of conducting the policy
business in Alexandria. Several hun.
dred people were on the outside, IN.
able to gain entrance.
Shortly after seven o'clock Mayor
Thompson called the court to order
and stated to the assemblage that the
court room had been procured in order
to afford accommodation 10 all who de.
sired to attend, but he hoped it would
be remembered that it was no mass
meeting, and that all demonstrations
in the way OF applause, laughter, &C.,
would be suppressed.
Some time was consumed by the
counsel in the usual motions, observa.
tons, &c, before the court got fairly to
work, and when everything was in
readiness the case of Walter Donnelly
was called. He was represented by
Messrs. S. G.. Brent, j. NJ. Johnson aud
J. II. Greene:
Sergeant Smith took the stand, and
in reply to questions propounded by
Mr.. Leonard Marbury, Common
wealth'5 Attorney. gave an account of
the raid made upon the house alleged to
have been conducted by Mr.. Donnelly.
He recognized: the paraphernalia ex-
hibited as having been found by him in
the house, and said when he reached
the house Mr.. Donnely was seen by
him on the premises attempting to es-
cape. He was arrested and brought to
the station house. The sergeant was
then subjected' to the usual battery OF
cross questioning from the counsel
for the defence.
Edward Williams was the next wit
ness. He testified to playing policy in
the house, but did not know who con-
Quoted the business with him, as he
saw nothing but hand.
Officer Ferguson followed. His tes.
timony was in substance as that given
by Sergeant Smith except that he
stated that Mr.. Donnelly virtually ac-
knowledged his guilt when placed un.
der arrest by saying Had you arrived
five minutes later you would not have
caught me"
Robert RobeyS was put on the stand
and testified to playing policy in what
is supposed 10 be Mr.. Donnelly's
house, although he could not say posi-
lively he was the proprietor. He never
saw Mr.. Donnelly on the premises.
He described the moduS Operaadi-the
sliding windows, the hand of the opera
tor, etc.
officer Watson, of the Washington
police force, was called to the stand by
Mr.. Marbury. He was shown the para
phernalia and was of the opinion that
it was used in the policy business. He
had been engaged in raids on such
places in Washington and similar pa
pers had been captured.
Arthur Gray was put on the stand.
but his testimony proved nothing deh-
nitely for the prosecution.
The testimony of Charles Adam was
that he played policy, but could not
say with whom. He never saw MIR.
Dom ELY in the house or on the prem
Uses.
Chss. Rowland, George Dawson, Will
liam Hayden and Arthur Davis were
called to the stand, but they were ruled
out, as they could testify to nothing
material.
Isaac Hackley colored, said on the
evening of the raid his exchequer was
reduced to single nickel and he went
10 the place said to be conducted by
Mr.. Donnelly for the purpose OF stak.
ing it on some numbers. He told ali
he witnessed of the raid. In answer to
ipterrogations he said the people who
conducted the game we're known as
M. Hare and Mr.. Rabbit" When q
customer came in he asked for one or
the other OF these personages and hui.
man hand took the money and passed
the slips. Hackley also described the
double sliding windows and the rat
hole apertures.
VIM. Payne, colored, told Of playing
policy at Donnelly's He had also
been q writer for Edw'd Shock in the
new shop recently established in the
Third ward.
The evidence of Sylvester Dean. Ern-
est Davis, William Leatherland, Frank
Harris, James Cliff and John Phillips
showed but little variation from that OF
the preceding witnesses. They had
all PLAYED but could not say with whom.
They all, however, acknowledged wht n
.cross-auestioned that they had every
reason to believe they were in MIR. Don
nelly's bouse-in fact it was called his
place of business. They could not sly
thew had ever seen him in the place.
All the testimony being in argumeni
began, Mr.. Marbury opening for the
prosecution. He maintained that the
charge urged by the Commonwealth
had been amply proven. Mr.. Donnelly's
residence was on Lee street, yet he had
been caught On the premises endeavor'
inc to escape from the officers OF the
law. He gave succinct history OF the
policy cases which in the past had been
brought before the Corporation Court
alluded to the fact that he as Common
wealth's Attorney had been introduced
to Messrs. ''Hare and Rabbit" He be
lieyed the authorities had one OF thsn
this time-at any rate, one had beer
caught on the premises who had vir
tually plead guilty TO the charge by re
marking that had the officers been hive
minutes later the game would have
been gone.
Mr.. Brent followed for the defense
He urged that the charge set forth il
the warrant had not been proven; ther
had been no evidence adduced to SHOW
that drawing had taken place IN TIT
house alleged to be conducted by nj