Evening star., 1900-10-06
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
MAYOR SIMPSONS VIEWS OF THE
BETTING at sT. AsAPH.
Declares 1t to BE a CROSS Violation Of
State La,sLGeheraI ana
Personnel.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 701 King street.
Bell Telephone No. 106.

ALEXANDRIA, October b, 19U.
Mayor Simpson was asked by reporter
for The Star this morriing If betting on
horseracing at st. Asaph was really vio-.
lation Of the state law, and was informed
that it was a most gross violation, and
one with penalty of $500 fine and ninety
days Imprisonment attached Continuing,
the mayor said:
DO you suppose II the law really allow
ed such thing that Richmond, Norfolk
and other places in which pool selling and
bookmaking are not practiced would long
remain without duplicates of ST. Asaph in
their midst?"
The question was then asked: How
about the case which the court of appeals
decided in favor of the race track several
years ago."
THAT decision." said the mayor. has
been generally misunderstood, except by
lawyers, and its miSinterpretatiOn has per-
petuated an abuse. The true history of the
case is this: Richard NJ. Lacy was arrest
ed for violating an act against pool selling
and the justice whose duty it was to try
the case instead of doing so committed the
accused for trial by the county court,
which a court of original jurisdiction as
to misdemeanors is without authority;
therefore the race track man was released
on writ of habeas corpus, not that ne was
innocent. but the process under which he
was held was faulty.
There were several points raised by the
prisoners counsel. The warrant issued
with doing any of the specific acts which
the statute made unlawful but simply
averred in general terms that he had been
guilty of all the acts prohibited.
Case In Point.
'It was claimed that sending money to
Wheeling, w. Va. to be bet on horse racing
at st. Louis, Mo-. was s.not unlawful. because
there was no law against it in West Vir-
ginia, but the court said: If West Vir-
ginia has not legislated against this form OF
gambling 1t is no concern of ours. Virginia
has a right to repress and punish that
which by the common consent of mankind
is a vice without regard to the laws of other
states. The root OF the evil is here, and
here it's baneful influence and example are
felt. The act takes place in Virginia, and
Virginia has complete jurisdiction
Another objection was that the warrant
was too vague. The court said that would
not be sufficient to quash a warrant but
that the act Of the Justice In failing to try
the case himself was fatal to the warrant.
and the prisoner would have to be released
from custody. There was another point
in which the court. agreed with the prisoner.
and that was on account of the insufficiency
Of the title Of the act set out in the war
rant.
Pool selling was the only form of bet
ting punishable. but tl,e court very en-
phatically added: ,:sBWethe act to prevent
gambling and selling ssr making books
pools or mutuals wfthmthe commonwealth
of Virginia is in All respects In fun force
and vigor. and that neither act is repug-
nant to the Constitution of the United
States"
Held Upsands Robbed.
A young man namsd William Eaylor
rushed into the market building about 30
o'clock this morning In terribly excited
state of mind. To Lieutenant Smith, whom
he met, Naylor relateda thrilling story OF
his having been held up. and robbed on the
corner Of Prince and Fairfax streets by an
unknown colored man. 4. The young man S
dence of having engaged in a struggle. He
stated that he was passing the drug store
of Warfield Hall about 80 O'clock when
man stepped up to him and struck him q
blow which feIled him to the pavement
He then demanded money, and Naylor
handed over some small change. The as
sailant took it and made off down Prince
street. and was seen to turn out Lee street
toward the Point. Naylor described the
robber being large and heavy set He
had a mustache and wore a firemans cap
The point where the holdup occurred has
been the scene of several midnight depreda-
tions of late. Warfield & Halls drug store
has been twice entered and robbed.
Funeral of John A. Morgan.
The funeral of the late John A Morgan
took place from his late home near Accotink
Fairfax county, this afternoon. Mr.. Nor
gan was accidentally shot and instantly
killed while cunning near his home yester-
day evening. The unfortunate man had
Just left his house, accompanied by his lit
tie niece. when in some manner the gun
was discharged the contents of the barrel
entering his head. He lived but short
time.
The deceased was twenty-eight years Of
age and unmarried. He was well known In
the county.
General Matters.
The regular monthly meeting of the Re-
lief Hook and Ladder Company was held
last night at the company's hall on Prince
street, Vice President j. H. Trimyer pre-
siding committee was named to present
| to the board of fire wardens request fol
rubber hats and gloves for the men.
Mr. Moncure d. Conway Of New York
yesterday visited his relative, Miss Mar
garet c. Conway at No. 12l South Henry
| street. Mr.. Conway has just returned from
| a sopourn Of two years in Europe.
Lieut.. Col 10 Lane Stern, assistant in
| spector general of the Virginia militia, Off
| cially inspected the Alexandria Light In.
| fantry at Armory Hall last evening. The
| company was found to be in excellent con.
| dition and was complimented by Colone
| Stern.
| Cards are out for the marriage of Miss
| Stella Kaufman, daughter of Mr.. JOSEPH
| Kaufmann, to Mr.. Aaron Katz. to take
| place at Odd Fellows Hall, on North Co
lumbus street, Wednesday evening, October
| a. at o'clock.