Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-10
TRYING LAPSE OF MEMORY
State Thwarted by the Forgetfulness Of
Principal Witnesses.
CASE AGAINST GAMBLERS DISMISSED
Complaining Witness, to Avoid In
criminnting Himself, Forgets All
He Ever Knew, and the Cases
Had to lie Dropped.

The court scenes in May Irwin's "Courted
Into Court" and in "Pudd' 'nhead Wilson,
or in any other show that has ever been on
the road, never were in it with the farclcal
trial of the four men charged with running
, a policy shop, Thomas Dennison William
Nestlehouse, Frank Heacock and Joseph
Parks, in police court yesterday afternoon.
The four men were charged with keeping
gambling devices, upon the complaint OF
C. H. Hall, local colored attorney.
The arrests were made several days ago.
Hall mad run up against the policy game
and presented a ticket which represented
that he had won about S275. The mana
gers of the game refused to pay the ticket,
alleging that it was fraudulent, the numbers
never having been drawn. In revenge Hall
swore to a complaint against the men, in
which they were charged in four counts with
running a policy shop and selling tickets
The wheel was located in South Omaha, but
branch Office of the establishment was in
this city at Thirteenth and Douglas streets
Since the case began the places have been
closed up.
afternoon Two colored men, James Dlggs
and James Hardin, were called as witnesses
but developed a most dense ignorance OF all
matters connected with policy, with the
pOllCy SnOp IN question, or Win any people
connected with such an establishment Com
planning Witness Hall was called but he
failed to recpond A capias was issued for
his person, but he could not be located. The
case was continued until yesterday afternoon
in the hope that he might be brought to
light.
Hall showed up yesterday and explained
that he was across the river and did not get
back in time for the trial. During his alb
sence he also had developed a most dense
ipn anpn rHi inu fanIi Il
played 1t brilliantly on the stand. He did
not know whether the defendants ran
policy shop or sold policy tickets. He did
not know how policy was run, or whether
1t was game of chance. He knew every
thing from hearsay, but nothing from per-
sonal knowledge, despite the fact that he
had alleged all In the complaint.
People told me that they were running
policy game" he said
who were the people?" demanded Assist
ant County Attorney Jefferis.
II don't recall any particular party. There
were a number"
"Did you swear to the information simply
on the reports you heard?"
Hall admitted that ne was the owner OF
the policy ticket upon WHICH he claimed a
winning, and which was introduced In evil
dence. He said he did not get 1t from any
OF The defendants. When asked from whom
he got 1t or purchased 1t the defendants
attorney kindly interpossd an objection on
tho grounds that the witness might incrlm-
lnate himself. Hall admitted, also. that he
had presented the ticket for payment and
tnat he got no money on II.
Now, how much did this ticket cost you?"
asked the assistant county attorney finally.
- refuse to answer such questions" re-
sDonded Hall. There Is a charge In this
court against me. accusing me OF gambling,
and this court will protect me from incrIm-
mating myself"
There Is no use going further" said the
assistant county attorney to the court. 81
moyo 10 dismiss the case" and 1t was done.
The defendants had the deadwood on Hall
and his witnesses. AS soon as the arrest
was made they at once filed informationa