The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-26
Porter at the Jackson City
Club SAYS There Was
a Quarrel.
mr.. LA F0NTAlNES WORDS
Witnesses who Have Been Visiting
Gambling Resort Across River for
Many Years, But Do Not Know the
Character of the Place.

The prosecution IN the case agaiHs.
John Nelson. the alleged gambler.
charged with having started the hre
which wiped OFT the gambling resort
known as jackson City. at the Virginia
end Of Lcrg Bridge. presented its side
in the Alexandria county court today
Testimony believed TO be severely dam
aging to Nelson was given by number
OF witnesses. although neither Nelson
nor his defending attorneys betrayed the
slightest signs OF nervousness or worTy
TIE most important testimony during
the morning session vas given 5y Jo-
seph Ffundiey. OF SOS f Street sCuS,sast.
this city. an engineer employed BY the
Pennsylvania Railroad He said he went
70 Jackson City on the aight OF the fire
N search of friend He saw a blaze
IL the building, which was burned first.
ard thought gasoiene ztove had caught
fire
Saw Nelson Inside Building.
He said he saw nan srabbing the
floor and counters inside the building
The nan wss lame. He also saw Nal-
son inside the building. lie vent in.
asked for his friend. but Nelson said.
Get outside.' Hund1ey got From
Jackson City auRdley said he went back
TO town.
Another witness was Martha Luclett,
coloTed. q resident o. jackson City. She
swoTe that she ssw Nelson get into
sarriase a jackson City on the Hsghs
OF the Ere.
Waiter Loveiess. q 1923 street
northwest. the director. CT physical cal-
ture. testified that he vent over the
river about 5 o'cIoek on the night OF the
fire. He said that he saw James La
Fontaine and Nelson come out of the
building that was sfJeTward burned,
about-tne time the fire was discovered.
Loveless said that he heard La Fontaine
say to Neisc-
What are you doing there. Nelson2''
Nelson he overheard to reply
You see. don't youg'i
La Fcntaine replied.
why didn't you tell me. so could
get my things out Of there?
Saw Quarrel
stonewan Jackson Mann. OF 253 K
Street southeast, who tended bar at the
clubhouse on the night OF The FIRE. said
that he saw Nelson and La FontaIne IN
angry conversation
Henry Clayton. q coIored porter Of the
club at Jackson City. swoTe that he saw
Nelson and La FOntaiRe on the steps
Of the club on the same night. and both
appeared angry He did not hear what
was said.
ssko- 4+,a -,crr, -rerazs ro-,,z 7 =. -
taine was called to che stand and was
Itestifying when The Times report closed.
Wife Sat Beside Him
The prisoner was brought into the
court room about 30 O'Clock this morn
ing and took his seat near the counsel
for the defense. His wife arrived about
a half hour later and remained near
him as she did yesterday
The first witness called by the
prosecution was William B. Tippett, 4
cab driver. who lives in Washington
He testified that ne carried passenger
{ 20 Jackson City on the night OF July Il.
Do you remember of seeing the bug
which made regular trips shortly be-
lore the are?~ asked Attorney Burke
I did not see II. but I heard II, he
said.
TIE witness testified that he sat on
the steps OF the clubhouse shortly be-
fore the fire broke out He said il was
about 1928 p. n then.
Which direction was the first houss
which burned from the clubhouse where
you were sitting?" asked Mr.. Burke.
Southeast, said the witness; and
the wind was from the southeast"
The witness said he first saw Nelson
that night coming up the sidewalk to
CONTINUED on Second Psge.)