Evening star., 1897-01-21
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Policy Cases and the Victory for Law and
Order.
The FiSht to he Continued to the
Bitter End-LOcal Notes Of
General Interest.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 121 North Washington ST.,

Evening Star Bureau,
No. 121 North Washington St.
Alexandria, Va, January q, 1897.
The policy business in Alexandria re-
ceived a serious setback last night, when
sixteen principals. writer's and runners
who were captured in sergt. Smiths raid
Of last week were marched to the city jail
Mayor Thompson.
Shortly before o'clock last night the
police court room was opened and in less
time than 1t takes to write 1t every inch
Of space was occupied; there was hardly
room left to bat an eyelid.
About $40 o'clock Mayor Thompson ar
rived. and he was followed in few min
utes by the prisoners, witnesses and at
torneys. 1t had been rumored throughout
the afternoon that there would be sur
prise, and long conference between Mayor
Thompson and all the attorneys in the
case just before they were called for trial
proved that the runner had a foundation.
The case of Frank McLaren was the first
called, and Mr.. J. G. Brent, his attorney,
plead guilty" to the charge Mayor
Thompson imposed a fine of $3.50 and sixty
days In Jail. The venerable chief Of police
VINO acts as secretary to the mayor, then
called the cases of James Banks. Edward
III,
Frank Chase, Edward Jamison, A. w. Ma
della. F. r. Ross, Rhody Wilson, Charles
Grady. Silas Madella and W. A. Henderson.
AS each name was called Mr.. Brent entered
a plea OF guilty. All of these men are COL
ored.
Mayor Thompson imposed fine of $50
ana thirty days in jail in each of these
cases. the accused being accessories. This
was a batch OF the runners and writer's
charles Parker was then called and plead
guiity. He was given the same sentence
800 hEc and thirty days in jail. There being
no evidence against James Lee he was dis
missed. At the conclusion of these cases
captain Mushbach, representing Edward
Shock, John Mills and Avery Henderson.
stepped forward and said he was ready to
try these cases. Shock plead guilty and
owing to the fact that he had been arrest
ed and fined $12 In the police court but a
1ew days ago, and had not conducted the
poilcy business since, and had only been
In the policy business altogether some eight
or ten days, the mayor determined to fine
him only $50 and thirty days in jail. Capt.
Mushbach thought this little heavy in
view Ct the circumstances: but the mayor
would not change his mind.
Avery Henderson plead mot guilty"
Sergeant Smith was the first witness He
stated that he knew nothing about Mr.
Henderson Of his own knowledge, but had
been informed about Henderson and had
MIN arrested. number of witnesses were
put on the stand. but none of them had
seen Henderson writing policy. 1t was the
same old story Of "Mr. Hare" and Mr..
Rabbit with the double trap door which
makes 1t impossible for the player 20 see
the writer. VIM. Payne, who was an en-
pioye of Shocks place, testified that he
had seen Henderson writing policy there.
Henderson went on the stand in his own
defense. He stated that he had been In
Shocks place. That Shock was a friend of
bis; that he had been seen writing by
was writing policy. Said he was only
scribblins on piece Of paper, perhaps
writing my name or scratching somebody
elses, as anybody would do"
Mayor Thompson decided that as 1t was
case of one mans word against another
he would dismiss Henderson.
John Mills was next called, and he con-
victed himself on his own testimony. The
same witnesses were called, but no tes-
timony of Importance was gotten except
from VIM. Payne. Payne stated that he
had returned policy slips and money to
Mills, and that Mills was there certainly
every every day for week That he had seen
Mills writing policy in Shocks place. He
was there last Wednesday. Il was a run
ner for Shocks place and I delivered my
book and money to Mills. Mr.. Henderson
was writing there, too.'
Mills took the stand in his own defense:
admitted having been in Shocks place and
receiving money and policy book or
slips" from Payne, but claimed that he
was there only as a friend of Shock, and
never received any compensation for serv-
ices. either salary or commission. MIR.
Shock is a friend of mine, and 1 was there
to help him out" At this juncture Com
monwealth Attorney Marbury arose and
said: Mr.. Mayor. this man has proven
himself guilty by his own statement, which
corroborates the testimony of Payne also.
A man. to commit misdemeanor, does not
have to be paid. He is as guilty as If he
had received salary. l ask, therefore, for
a judgment of guilty"
Capt. Mushbach said that Mills was only
unfortunate in being friend of Shocks.
md rloir on6 hot hic hot, thar fr;n
did not make him guilty. Capt. Mushbach
cited one or two Illustrations to prove his
point. Commonwealth's Attorney Marbury
asked Payne how often Mills had received
week." replied Payne. THE place was only
open eight or ten days, your honor. and
Mills played the friend for seven days."
said Mr.. Marbury to the mayor.
The mayor decided that Mills was guilty
and fined him $50 and thirty days in Jail.
Capt. Mushbach noted an appeal, and later
the mayor said he would suspend sentence
until this morning.
VIM. Payne was next called, and on his
own statement was fined $50 and thirty
days in Jail.
The Stephen Blue case was held over un-
til this morning, when his personal bonds
were taken to appear when wanted
Mayor Thompson acquitted Mills this
morning, much to the surprise of those
who heard the case last night. AS 1t ap-
peared last night, he was guilty from his
own statement.
This ends the first act in the big drama
of law and order against vice and i'm
morality, and the outcome gives general
satisfaction, besides rejecting much credit
upon Sergt Smith for the very effective
manner in which he planned and carried
out his raid Of last week. In every case
where house was raided by him and his
men there was a conviction. Sergt Smith
said to The Star reporter last night: This
Is but the beginning. 1 shall allow no more
policy playing in this city il I can pre-
vent it. The police have been instructed
to keep close watch on these places and
at the slightest sign a warrant will be is
sued and raid made"
During the trial a note was received by
Mayor Thompson, as follows: walter
Dcnnelly will go to Jail tonight" Donnelly.
by advice Of his counsel, decided to with
draw his appeal and serve out his sentence.
AS an Outcome of the recent policy raids
and the statement in one of the papers to
the effect that Sergeant Smith had ap-
piled some time ago to Chief Webster for a
warrant to raid an alleged gambling house
and had been refused, a called meeting of
the board of police commissioners will be
held tonight In the mayors Office upon the
request Of Chief Webster to thorouehIv
Investigate the aforementioned allegation.
Chief Webster stated to a Star reporter
that he desired q thorough fnvestipa ttor