The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-10-25
SaIeIn'S Chief
Bound to Court
As Result Of Squire Riley's Inves-
tigation Of the Kester-Laboro-
deire mIx-up at Salem.

At o'clock last Saturday morning
Chief Of Police Peter F. Randolph,
Policeman John Pitts, James Lahore
deire and John w. Carpenter, all OF
Salem, we're arraIgned in Squire N. S.
Riley's court upon joint warrant
charging them with obstructing Jason
NJ. Kester, special constable, in the
discharge Of his official duties in raid
ing Salem gambling house October
IA. Prosecuting Attorney J. =. Law
represented the State and M. g.
Sperryand John w. Davis were coun-
sci for the defendants. Mr.. Law elect
ed to try them separately and the case
against Chief Randolph was taken up
first and disposed Of. Jason Kester
was the only witness for the State and
Chief Randolph the only one for the
defense.
Kester testified that he entered the
Stander place with James Laborodelre
about O'Clock that evening armed
with warrant commanding him to
seize the gaming tables and devices
found therein. He told Laborodetre
ne had the warrant but the latter
told him he need not read it as he
knew virtually what was init. After
ward VIII Kelch, an old offender, who
was wanted by the officers Of the
law, came In and Jasoa Kes-
ter arrested him, placing hand
cuffs upon him, which he took of
later, Kelch promising to be good,
Laborodeire became noisy and was
elected by Kester. He returned after
a whiieand tried to break in the place
which Kestcr had locked-up, with
himself, his prisoner and the goods he
seized on the inside. Kester drew his
gun and told him to leave. Shortly
afterward he admitted John w. Car
pentcr to the room, and, while they
were talking, Chief Randolph and
Pitts entered the place witha warrant
sworn out by Laborodeire for Kester's
arrest on account Of the latter's hav-
ing pulled the gun on him. Kester
told Randolph he was there in the
discharge of official duty but did not
show him the warrant he had because
they hustled him Off to tire mayors
office before he had time to show il.
But he showed the warrant at the
mayors office to the Salem officers.
Kester stated that Randolph agreed
tostand good for the goods and KeSter's
prisoner, Kelch, and that Carpenter
said he would take care of the prisoner.
Upon bis release from the prison next
morning he could not find Kelch, the
gambling devices or the steel knuckles
he had taken from the place.
On DISCRIMINATION Kester said
he just took possession of the place;
that Randolph read the warrant to
him; that they had put him in the
lookup; and that he had ten or twelve
other warrants in his pockets, which
Randolph took away from him in the
lookup aud gave to Carpenter, he be-
lieved. He admitted that they we're
all returned TO him after his trial next
morning.
Chief Randolph identified the war
rant upon which he arrested Kester.
He said Kestcr did not show him his
papers OF authority, but threw paper
down in the mayors office. He did
not believe he read it.
On cross.exlmination Randolph said
he did not know KeSter was an officer;
that he took papers of him in the
lookup but did not read them: that
John Carpenter never saw the papers;
rat he locked them up in his desk;
that several parties came to him and
said Kester was down town drunk and
shooting; that Kester did not act like
he was sober; and that he fell asleep
within five minutes after being put in
the lookup.
The magistrate held Randolph in a
bond of 5000 for the grand jury, ruling
that Randolph should have exercised
common sense before arresting anoth.
er utliceraud that he had no right 70