The Washington times., 1902-08-27

taine evidently in angry conversation
on the clubhouse steps on the night of
the fire. but could not distinguish what
was said He said that Nelson left and
went into the policy shop" the red
shanty of SandersOn e. Foster, from
which all the other buildings were ig
nited. and that few minutes after the
defendant emerged the flames broke out
With Clayton's testimony. which closed
about ! o'clock, the court took recess.
When it reconvened al p. m. Fontaine
took the stand. The witness said his
residence was 40 Maryland Avenue
northeast. The witness said that he was
going out of the clubhouse door about
1890 o'clock or the night of the fire to
come TO Washington. when he first saw
Nelson. Nelson. he testified. asked him
if he had told Messrs. Foster and Sander
son what he tNelson) had asked him to
tell them" Witness replied in the mega
tive and entered the club building. The
colored boy came in shortly afterward
and told the witness that Nelson had
gone into the policy shop" building He
said he went out of the side door and
saw a light in that building.
When Nelson came out of the build
ing" said the witness. ''he came over
to the side door of the clubhouse |
said:
John. what made you do that?'
Nelson said, You understand and /
then asked him:
- Did you get all the tools out?'
He replied that he got nothing out
told him that he had ruined me- He
said:
Well it is done now and it can't
be helped
In answer to question as to whether
he had had any previous conversation
respecting Sanderson and Foster, he
said that he had on the Saturday and
again on the Sunday preceding the fire.
On the latter occasion he had talked
about the house which was built by Mel
son at Rosslyn, and that he had told the
defendant that business could not be
opened at Rosslyn. The defendant
then remarked that he was tired of
being dictated to. The witness stated
Nelson told him, on the same day, that
Sanderson & Foster would not do any
business after Monday Nelson on this
occasion. he said. made the remark that
Virginia was not big enough to hold
Sanderson, Foster, Fontaine, and him
self.
Did you see Nelson after the fire?"
was asked.
Witness said that he saw Nelson af-
ter the fire, sitting near the place of
man named Mills.
Il said to him." said Fontaine John,
this is tough He said he did not think
So told him that If | had done this
10 him he would have wanted to kill
me. He told me that | could blow his
brains out if l wanted to. told him
that did not want to do that. He said
that | could swear against him. then. if
wanted to, and said that he was will
ing to take ten years for what he had
done"
The witness said that he had seer
Nelson the next morning at hotel in
the city.
Knew Where Nelson Stayed.
Upon cross-examination Fontaine said
that he knew where Nelson was in
Washington part of the time between
the fire and his arrest, but would not
admit that he could have laid hands on
him at any time prior TO his apprehen
sion. He said that he had suggested
to Nelson that it would be best TO
bridge the matter over but said that
he did not mean the payment of money
to Nelson's partners by that phrase
He denied that he had sent for Nelson
On lilt tHdi HdS tSltN, Dut
said that he was present when the
arrest took place.
He gave testimony regarding the
amount of earnings realized from the
gambling business conducted at Jackson
City. He said that when the bridging
over was talked OF It was suggested
that If the L.acrs were reopened Nelson
was not to take an active part in the
business for a number of months. He
said that the proposal to allow Nelson
to remain in the business came from
him
The next witness was Charles E. San
derson. He identified the lease for the
ground on which the policy shop" was
built. He said that the value OF the
house was about $500, and that 1t had
been erected from the earnings OF the
business. He said he had one-fourth
interest in the business. and the rest
was divided between Foster and Nelson.
He also gave testimony as to the week
" earnings.
Sheriff Palmer, of Alexandria county,
was then called. He gave testimony
relative to the arrest of the prisoner.
The prosecution then rested its case.
not calling a number of witnesses who
we're waiting. The court adjourned to-
meet again at O'Clock this morning.