Evening journal., 1897-09-09
RUINED BY CRIME.
Virginia Settlement That Went
to the Bad.
'verrun by Race Track Disreputa.
bles 1t Is Raided by Officers OF
the Law-Nov DESERT
ed Ruin.


Suggestive of nothing so much as the
uin and decay of some old-fashioned
ouse given up by tradition to ghosts
nd the sparrows that build nests in its
aves and twitter about its shattered
windows, or the desolate quiet that how
RS over some small settlement aban-
oned by its people because of famine
nd disease, is the little group of tum-
ple-down houses at the southern end
the Long Bridge, which masquerades
inder the name of Jackson City. For
early half century the name has
peen there. During that period an ever
hangingpopulation, mostly of a vicious
ort, has nodded the reputation and
arying fortunes Of the place, but
within the past year it has been ever on
he downward course until now it is a
1assing shadow, soon, perhaps, to be
pnly a memory.
It is about GO years since Andrew
jackson, the rugged president of the
United States accepted the invitation
Df some Virginians who had great
chemes in their heads for the develop
nent of the property at the practical
bead of navigation of the Potomac
liver. He went across to the Virginia
5ide, accompanied by all the military
display then available, and, amid ora
Rory and music of brass bands, the
.name was given. To commemorate the
event a corner stone was laid some
|rsl.. o.. 4l..
shifting sands of the river shore soon
bid the mark from view. But the city
was named. and when the president
'came back to his white house the Vir-
ginians were satisfied.
For long time the corner stone was
the only thing to tell that the spot was
a city in embryo. Its first impetus
speedily familiarized it with the mien
of the monster vice. for it came in the
shape of a race track. Jockeys of a
disreputable sort, touts, even worse,
lnd professional crooks, followed the
track, and after one or two murders the
track was a thing of memory. Then
the city languished and was forgotten.
Zen years ago, however. a spasm of
virtue struck the police department of
Washington, and the poolrooms, which
were then doing business openly in the
capital city, were driven out. First
they located on Seventh street, just
above the boundary, but legislation was
extended so as to cover the district and
they were again compelled to move.
What place so convenient as Jackson
City? Across the Long Bridge they
marched and soon the city was a city
of poolrooms, barring several saloons
which had started up.
From then on its run of prosperity
was unbroken. The poolrooms did q
fourishing business. The policy shops
established headquarters there, and
people who could not find money to buy
food for wives and children found the
wherewithal to buy policy slips and
pool tickets. Saloons multiplied,
brawls were at daily occurrence, and
fatalities were frequent. A station was
established there, and the railroad
trains, which had formerly rushed
through the place. built platform, es-
tablished switches and sidings, and
eVOpPSu " bdhS oh diud ASl OA pdsSCh-
gers.
Then came the outlaw tracks, which
gave the place more notoriety than ever
Finally the district police had TO take
matters in their own hands. From
their first decisive step dates the pass
ing of Jackson City.
The blowing open of safe belong
ing to the Washington Ferry company
and the stealing of several thousand
dollars furnished the occasion. The
booty was taken to jackson City to be
distributed. Desmond. Dempsey ant
others who had assisted the notoriou,
Billy Williams in the robbery were lsar
bored there. Williams himself made
the place his headquarters, and failing
Z to secure the cooperation of the Nir
ginia authorities, the local detective bu
reau undertook bold step. A patro
wagon, full of detectives, all heavil!
armed, left police headquarters in thi
city shortly after midnight, while th'
discussion of the safe robbery was a
its height. At this end of the bridge tn
wagon stopped, and the officers got on
and walked across. The notoriou
Candler's place was surrounded. Des
mond was arrested, but Dempsey es
capped. Satchels, with evidences Of tn
guilt of the people arrested, were foun'
in the place, and later, after William
had been arrested, he made a full con
fession. duplicating the rest.
Following that came a raid by Vii
ginia deputy sheriffs on the saloon KEEP
by Nelson and Foster. both noted gam
blers, during which one of the deputie
was shot and killed. Other raids wer
made. Gambler was arrested and con
fined in Jail on several charges, only re
Gently securing his release. His plac
was broken up and closed. Nelson wa
driven out. Foster followed.
Gambler has been released from jai
in Alexandria, and inhabits the uppe
part of his place. The lights no longe
burn in the bar and gambllng-room
downstairs. and the sounds of revelr
which once came from within ar
hushed. The platform erected by tn
railroad is not used. even the Stoves
.-of,e ,roinor fhroueb without sfonnin,