Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-01
THE BLIND QUESTION SETTLED.
Mr. Cassell Sent On to Court-The
Other Three Fined and Sent
to Jail


The case OF Fred Miller, Walter Ellis
and George knight. charged with steal
Ing twelve pair of blinds from off q
house on Edwards street and selling
them for fifty cents and drink of
whiskey, came up before Justice Peed
yesterday for examination. The blinds
were found in the rear of Mr.. Edward
Cassellis bar, on the corner of Sixth
and AIuscovite streets.
The first witness introduced was Mr..
e. S. Anderton. who has charge of the
property. who testified to the loss OF
the blinds and to finding them at Mr..
Cassells bar while with an officer
The next witness was Gcor,,e Knight,
one OF the parties implicated, who tes-
titled that OH Thursday ! asst he i'm
company with Fred Miller and Walter
Ellis. went to n barroom in South
Portsmouth kept by n Hebrew and re-
manned there until they spent all the
money they had, and then went to Cas-
sells bar and asked for n drink: asked
II they had any money and they re-
piled no.
But Cassell said if you so over there
(pointing 10 a house across the street,
and bring me some blinds from off 1t
apiece. They all then went off to-
gether. Ellis was so drunk that he
could not do anything, but he and Mil
Ter brought five pair, carried them to
the bar and received the promised re-
ward.
Ellis and Miller corroborated what
had been said. and further said that
they knew that the blinds were not
theirs, and that they did not belong to
Cassel but that they were stealing
them at Casselrs suggestion, but that
they We're just drunk enough to do
anything they We're told to do.
Mrs. Miller testified that her son told
her what he had done. She in com
pany with another lady. who also tes-
tilted. said that she went 10 Mr.. Cas-
sell on Friday and told him what her
son had said and that she offered to
pay back the fifty cents and the money
for drinks If he would allow her son to
replace the blinds. This he refused. be-
cause he said some one would see them
and think that they were stealing.
Sunday she heard a warrant was out
for her son. She went Monday to Mr..
Cassell and again made the offer. Mr..
Cassell still said no. but the best thing
to do would be to burn the blinds up.
That would destroy the evidence
against the boys.
This was corroborated by the other
lady witness.
Mr.. Cassell was then put on the
stand. He admitted telling the boys to
go bring him some blinds (pointing to
a house,, and he would pay 10 cents
Il pair for them and give them n drink,
which he did. He further said that he
did not usually pay but five cents. but
afterwards said that he never bought
any before. He did not believe that
the boys took the blinds with the in
tontion OF stealing them. He knew he
did wrong in suggesting the matter to
them and buying them, knowing them
10 be stolen. He thought that the
whole thing came about from two much
whskey.
Justice Peed then made out war
rant against Mr. Cassell. charging him
with aiding and abctting the three
young men in stealing and buying
goods known to be stolen. After read
ing the warrant to Mr.. Cassell. ne adj
mitted that it was correct, whereupon
Justice Peed sent him on to the Coun-
~ Court and bailed him in the sum Of
$50 for his appearance when wanted.
The other three men. he said, in con
sideration of their being drunk. he
would fine 81 each. and sent them
to jail for thirty days.