The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-20

every one carried away chip. But with
all Of this, not over hundred were TAX
en-, leaving still on hand a seemingly
undinlinished number.
While most of the chips were Of the
ordinary composition, hundreds were
made of ivory and cost no less than
seventy-five cents apiece. These caught
the eye Of the public, and In one or two
instances people were heard to say that
they would give a. hundred or more dollars
for the entire outlay. But under the law
it was impossible for them to be sold;
they would have to be destroyed along
with the other stuff.
Several theories as to the disappear
ance have been advanced, but none OF
them explain how it came about. Some
think the chips were taken by an I'M
known person who was overly anxious
for their possession and carried from
the hall in lot, but this idea is laughed
at by others, who say that it would have
been impossible to do this without being
detected.
Those who scorn the first theory are
OF the opinion that the guilty party or
parties paid several visits to the base
ment, carrying away pockets full of the
little markers upon each visit While
this might have been possible, it does
OF the number in the box would have
attracted the attention of the authori-
ties and resulted in the box being
watched and the culprit caught.
Regardless of the theories and coun-
ter theories, Sergeant Thomas. in whose
charge the paraphernalia is until after
it has been destroyed by fire, is of the
opinion that the ivory chips were stolen
before they were stored in the Office
or II hat 10 eff
it was reported to him that some OF the
chips We're missing, and he ordered them
placed under lock and key, hoping to Sc
cure them in this way.
when the paraphernalia was first
brought to the City Hail." said Sergeant
Thomas, land placed under my care, 1
left it to Officer Wyatt as to where he
would leave it, and he arranged in the
basement corridor. There was one
collection of willie chips in a white bag,
another wrapped in an old piece of
sheeting, and still more in a croker
sack, while numbers of others were In
cigar boxes.
After they had been there for a week
or more, it was reported to me that
many Of the chips were missing. and 1.
therefore, ordered them placed in the
coroner's Office. Day before yesterday
aftrnoon T went into this office. finding
- ANNN~~N'
I inquired his business, and he said one
Of the Janitors had let him in. told
him he had better skip, and he did. I
have no idea who this man was"
Tie Waterman says that on the day
Of the trial of the gaming cases the
room was open, numbers of people being
permitted to view the different devices.
When he came on at o'clock in the
afternoon he found the door of the room
closed but it was not locked. and there
fore it would seem that some one
sneaked them out while the cases were
occupying the attention of the public
and other officials about the court room.
BLAZE NEXT WEEK.
Regardless of the disappearance of the
chips, however, the grand conflagra ton
will come off one day next week. The
exact date is not yet known, Justice
John, who has charge of the arrange
ments. having gone to New York for a
stay of a week or more Until he returns
no date will be announced. but it may
be safely stated that the fire will not
take place until after next Wednesday,
as the Police Court Judge iss not ex-
pected to return before that date.
Ordinarily the tables and other de-
vices would be touched Of on Broad
Street, or some othf place near City