The morning times., 1897-01-21
GAMBLERS TOOK A TRICK
John Clark 0utwitted Alexandria
COunty's Citizens League.
TRIED BY SQUIRE BIRCH
The Case Was TO Have Been Heard
by squire Supplee Today, But
the "Boys" Knew What They
Were About, for Clark Was
Promptly Declared Not Guilty.


attempt Yesterday taoutwit the members
of the Citizens League, who have, for some
time past, been endeayoring 10 secure the
conviction of the proprietors, and were
in a measure at least, successful. The
case OF John Clark, proprietor OF what is
known as the white House," charged
with permitting certain games OF chance
unon his PREMISES, WAS tried yesterday and
a verdict of acquittal rendered by Justices
Pelham and Birch, sitting at Arlington
Station.
Last Thursday was the first time that
any of the cases was brought Co trial since
the prosecution was begun by the league.
and Clark was then found mot guilty
of permitting upon his premises and being
IMPLICATED in the running OF faro bank
ON the night of December TO-, at which
time a raid was made by Sheriff Palmer
and several deputies upon the White
House" as told of in The Times. The
trial took place before Squire Lane, and
Immediately after the case was dismissed
Clark was rearrested by Constable TORY
son, upon warrants sworn out by Mr.. A.
s. Donphan, member OF the Citizens
League, charging him with permitting
upon his premises, and being the proprietor
of certain game called roulette. Clark
was arraigned before Justice Supplee, Who
was present. the constable refusing TO
bring the defendant again before Squire
Birch and bah was given in the sum or
1000 for his appearance before the
former magistrate tomorrow for trial.
No one at that time had any intimation
of what was in Attorney Brents mind
when he, as attorney for Clark, asked
for copy of the warrants. His reason
became apparent, however, last Tuesday
night, when the witnesses who had taken
part in Sheriff Palmer's raid We're sum-
moned to appear at the trial of John
Clark, at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning,
before Justice Pelham at Arlington Sta
ton, about nine miles from this city.
Development showed that series OF
warrants had that day been sworn out
before Justice Pelham by A. d. Holmes,
charging Clark with permitting upon ms
premises and being implicated in tile tun-
ming OF all the gambling games known TO
the profession. This was the clever Trick
which had been played upon the prose
cution, with the apparent object or Sc
curing an acquittal, so that the defendant
could not be tried upon the same charge
wien the case should be brought before
Justice OF the Peace Supplee.
When the case was called yesterday
morning IN the grocery store of Oscar Her
ing, at Arlington Station, cracker box
was transformed into bar Of justice, and
Squire Pelham asked Squire Birch TO sit
with him in the hearing OF the cases.
The defendant was represented by John
H Green OF Alexandria Mr. Johnson ap-
peared for the commonwealth, and Judge
Yarrow was present in behalf of the Cid-
zens' League. As the warrants in this in
stance had not been sworn out by any OF
the members of the league, Judge Yarrow
did not seek to appear in the case. He sim
ply stated that Justice of the Peace Sup
plee had already begun an investigation
OF the roulette warrant, and that he would
positively refuse to relinquish his juris-
diction in that case, and he protested
against the trial Of that charge by Justice
Pelham. This was overruled by the court
and the trial begun.
Commonwealth s Attorney Johnson stated
that he had had no consultation with
any of the witnesses regarding the cases,
and if the testimony was no more than
that adduced at the last trial he doubted
if conviction could be secured. He
for costs This was overruled also.
A. d. Holmes, who gave the information
in the warrants. toldin avery tame manner
the story of the raid and the capture of the
gambling paraphernalia, but he did not
know what gambling paraphernalia was.
He did not see Clark andd not know that
he was proprietor of the place
A. S. Doniphan detailed the circumstances
of the raid and explained what was found
upon the premises. He said it was adj
mitted that Clark was proprietor of the
place.
j. W. Yates gave similar testimony and
described the uses Of the various tables
of faro, crap, roulette, and hazard, which
were taken into the possession OF the
sheriff Nothing additional was OBJ
tanned from the statements of Mr. Supplee
or Sheriff Palmer.
No argument was made upon either side
and the defense submitted its case without
calling any witnesses. A decision was
Immediately rendered of mot guilty"