The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-12
MANY WHEELS KEPT GOING.
JACK SIMPSON FOUND GUILTY OF
RUNNING A POLICY LOTTERY.

Judge Exercise Clemency-The
verdict Doubtless Modified by the
Fact That simpson Was Not
Principal and Merely Represented
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Statement
DiscIoses the Fact That There Are
over a Hundred Places in SaVan-
nah where Policy Tickets Are
soId-The Game Openly Run.
For the first time in several years in
this county a defendant charged with an
infraction of the gaming laws of the state
has proved hardy enough to plead not
guilty and to submit his case to a jury
In the Superior Court yesterday, Jack
Simpson was tried for such an offense and
was found guilty. with a recommendation
to the extreme mercy OF the court.
Simpson was indicted with six other
gamblers last week, three of whom have
already pleaded guilty and have been fin
ed $1,000 each. He was represented by
Messrs. w c. Hartridge and W. F. S.a-
ter. The case was called at 4 o clock and
but little time was consumed in the
lection Of a jury, the following being
chosen after a few minutes effort and
Michael Egan. l. w. Walker, Alex Doyle,
John H. Conner, c. r. Schouse, Henry
Middleton. Frank ]. Murray Joseph S.
Walker. Osgood n. Berry, John H. Lori
mer, Henry Precht and Thomas W. White.
The first witness for the state was Viii
liam Wellborn. a negro employe of the
policy shop which 1t was claimed Simp-
son conducted. The witness testified that
he was employed in the policy lottery con-
Quoted at No. q Congress lane and that
he received his wages from the defendant.
He had been working for the place for
some two years and had been originally
hired by Ernest Massart who. he said,
was the owner. He said that the draw
ings of the lottery took place twice each
day.
In answer to the questions Of Solicitor
General Barrow the witness described the
method of conducting the lottery. Those
who wished TO play purchased tickets
bearing various numbers, arranged in va
ricus sequences, and that tickets bearing
all of the numbers were placed in a large
wheel. From this wheel twelve numbers
were drawn, seventy-eight having been
deposited there IN the first instance, and
that those of the purchasers of tickets
who guessed correctly a given number or
set of numbers won large prizes. For
guessing correctly three numbers out of
twelve that were drawn the lucky one
received a prize of 1925 as a return upon
an investment of cents.
The witness testified that he was paid
! his wages by the defendant, and that the
defendant was present when the drawings
were made and supervised them, receiving
the money that had been brought in by
the writers from all over the city and
gave the money to the writer's for pay
ment to the winners.
On being cross questioned by Mr. Hart
ridge, Wellborn said that there were two
other policy shops run next to that of
| Massart, by whom the one for which he
was employed was owned Massart's was
known as the Original Genuine, the one
next TO that as the Chatham and the third
as the Kentucky. He stated that there
were several others in the city, with main
offices where the drawings took place
and branch offices, where the tickets were
sold He named the Georgia. Florida
Only Genuine Charleston and some 9TH
ers now running and doing business, and
created some laughter by the statement
that a new enterprise Of this character
to be known as the Atlanta, was expected
by the craft to engage in business next
week
There were a number Of other witnesses,
! like Weliborn, employees of the policy shop
who were put upon the stand by the state
| mess or his connect therewith The
| first proposition It was not possible to
! establish, as the witnesses swore that
| they had been employed and worked for
! Massart. and that rhe business was and
vas notoriously known 30 be- his They
! dld succeed in proving that Simpson mad
| been acting for Massa~t in The lattor's
| absence. Their testimony otherwise WIS
no. important.
The sensation of the day was produced
| by the statement of the defendant who
explained fully and at length the methods
pursued in filming the gamblers and charged
! that there was a conspiracy on the part
of some of the "largec fish" to run Mas
e2rt ont Of The business.
| "Gent,emen of the jury" said the de-
PENDANT, II would like to state my CON
nection with this business from start to
finish. When l came back from the army
| last september, Mr.. Massart took me over
to his house and allowed me 10 room there.
| L came back without money or means, and
he took me in and cared Vor my immedl-
ate wants. | roomed in his house and ate
at his table"
"Soon afterwards he was taken sick and
! asked me 20 go over and look after the
policy game and | agreed 20 do So l
went over on several occasions. During
! the Mardi Gras at New Orleans. which
Massart attended, he requested me to look
after his business in his absence and this
! 50 / aSreeu to do and dld. He was gone
this time about three weeks and l worked
for him without salary or remuneration.
Sometimes. if he fe,t good. he would give
me s., but l received no stated salary and
got simply my board and lodging"
In the latter part of June he went to
| New York for his health and I have been
running the game for him in his absence.
He agreed to pay me a salary of $l5 a
week, but this is a temporary arrange
/ ment and il was not concentrated that
it would continue after his return"
"When he eft Massart told me that
there would be no trouble about indict-
mcnts, that as heretofore. he would paw
his fine In December, that having been the
customary arrangement. He said that
sometimes ne would he indicted in ,he
summer time, in July or August but that
by method which l don't understand.
I think by giving bond and then escheat-
| ing it, payment of the fine would be put
off until December. This is the way it
was last year, when he paid the sum Of