Evening star., 1902-08-26
ON TRIAL FOR ARSON
inquiry Regarding the Fire
at Jackson City.
EVIDENCE ADDUCED
WITNESSES TELL OF ACTIONS
OF JOHN NELSON.
The Man Accused of Starting the
Blaze in Gambling Houses
July ID.
EVIDENCE ADDUCE

Details of lhe burning of several gam
bling houses in Jackson City the night of
July II. for which John Nelson stands in
1icted were heard today in the Alexandria
county court, on Fort Myer Heights Judge
James NJ, Love presiding. The morning
and afternoon sessions of the court were
taken up with the examination of witnesses
brought forward by counsel for the COM
rnonwealth. Most of the evidence was of
positive character, and many of the state
meuts made were of a startling nature.
All of the important witnesses were sub
jected to rigid cross-examinatiOn by Nell
sons counsel.
In the main. however, the principal state
ments We're adhered to. The presence of a
large crowd in the court room manifested
the continued interest In the trial. Nelson
sat with his attorneys, with whom he fire.
queutiy consulted. Next to him, just out
side of the bar, was Mrs. Nelson, who has
a,-euded her husband since his arraignmen mt
and who has shown deep concern in the
proceedings.
The testimony of James La Fontaine
whose name has figured largely in the case.
was commenced this afternoon after recess.
He was in Jackson City the night of the
fire and had seen Nelson near the building
where the blaze originated. At a late hour
this afternoon he being subjected to d
severe cross-examination.
La Fontaine told of a conversation be-
tween himself and Nelson the night of the
fire. Nelson declared that the business
would have to be closed down, saying he
vas tired of being dictated To. La Fon-
taine demonstrated, protesting that his bus-
ness would be injured. He said he told
Nelson he had never done him any wrong
but the latter, he said. was firm in his pur-
pose.
He said. according to the witness. that
Virginia was not large enough for himself
associates fey M tas
later. witness stated, the building COM
menced 10 burn After the fire meeting
occurred between the witness and the de-
fendant. in which, witness stated Nelson
said.
Il am willing to take ten years for what
/ have done
La Fontaine was on the stand undergo
Ing CrOSS-examination at ? o'clock.
Witnessed the Conf1agration.
William B. Tippett. who conducts pub
lie vehicle business in Washington. was
placed on the stand soon after Judge Love
took his seat on the bench this morning
H. was in Jackson City the night of the
fire and witnessed the confagration. The
wind. he noticed. was blowing toward the
other houses from the one first ablaze. He
saw Nelson just before the fire in company
with Mr.. La FOntaine. They were in con-
Eersation and witness said he heard Mel
son say: From now on and his COM
paEiOn replied Yes, from now on" Wit
hess said he saw Nelson enter the house
of Foster and Sanderson, from which he
emerged few minutes later. Witness also
saw man named Jack D.ggs come out of
the house II a few minutes the fire start
ed. Nelson warned witness not TO go into
the building.
Three times. witness said. Nelson told
Tippett not 10 enter the house. The latter
however, had his team near the burning
house toward which he went to convey his
property away from the point of danger
Witness " NeTS hpr
Coming toward the vehicle of witness Nell
son leaned on the wheel, remarking, Tip
petit stated:
Well see what Jew Qualified with an
oath, wears diamonds now"
AT l2:3o, witness stated. he saw Nelson.
who was then thought to be going iowa rd
his home. Tippett saw John Tighe and a
cDlOred man named Williams at the scene of
the fire. The latter was carrying sundry
articles out Of a building belonging to
Meyers.
Under cross-examination conducted by
MI Moore, Tippett stated that prior to July
II he was accustomed to take his vehicle
TO jackson City almost every night. The
team was usually stopped five or ten feet
from one of the alleged gambling buildings.
He persisted in his statement that he knew
nothing of the business which was conduct
ed IN the houses In question. He had been
visiting jackson City in his business in
terests for twelve years.
Witness admitted that all Nelson had said
in his hearing the night of the fire was said
without any attempt at concealment. Tip
petit had never been in the employ of any
0i the jackson City people except in the
way of hiring his team. Since the fire he
had been employed by La Fontaine San
derson and Foster to drive them about
Washington. Tippett stated that last Satur-
day night he was engaged to drive the trio
u Nades' Hotel
Under Mr.. MOore's questioning witness
admitted that 1t was hour ard half
before Nelson left Jackson City after the
ire He had not talked much about the af-
ta!r he said. since its occurrence He did
n2t say anything in regard to it to Mr.. La
Vntdlne the day following neither did he
Know what building, If any, La Fontaine
had an interest in.
Colored Woman Testifes.
Martha Luckett. a colored woman rcsid-
Ing in jackson City. witnessed the burning
of the houses. She saw Nelson at the pIa ca
oi man named Wells in the village late
III the night He was unaccompanied ex-
Cept by the driver of a vehicle with whom
he left going toward his home in the
county The driver was unknown to her
JOS -ph Hun!ey, residing at J0s f street
southeast. Washington. and following the
vocation OF an engineer. was next placed
on the stand. The night of the fire I'm oues-
ton he went to Jackson City. Reaching
there shortly past 10 O'Clock he started 10
enter the house OF Foster and SandersOn
seeing a blaze he made attempt to OK
tirSuiSh it. When he entered he said a
man OFuereo MIN out. he also saw a man
using swab on the floor. When asked
who the man was who had ordered him out
Hunley pointed to Nelson
II was that gentleman there" he said
quite positively.
Witness first noticed the blaze when he
started TO enter the building When or.
dered out he saw the keeper of the bar
but said nothing to him about discovering
the blaze At that time the fire engines
had not arrived. After that witness stated
he first mentioned the matter TO his wife
He did not discuss IL with Foster. Sander.
son or Meyers.
Overheard Word of Caution.
Walter H. Lovelace. residing at 124 9tf
street northwest, Washington, was in tn,
club house twenty minutes before the fire
The building was twenty yards from tbs
house first fired. He saw several hackmsr
and others. including the defendant, neal
the premises First saw latter coming ou