Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-17

Everything is off in the gambling line
In Richmond for a, long time-that is pro-
fessional gambling-fer Justice Crutch-
| field yesterday afternoon sentenced seven
men charged with permitting gambling
| on premises occupied by them to pay
| fine OF 500 each, sumer one days i'm
| prisonment in the city Jail, and in addi-
ton put them under bond of $500 each for
| their good behavior for the next twelve
| months.
And that disposed of the gambling
cases that have been before the public
for the past month, and it ends the fight
{ that Officer Wyatt has made to estab-
| ilsh the fact that there has been gam
bling in this city beyond the possibility
Of doubt And the decision of Justice
Crutchfield brought happiness to the
hearts of nearly one hundred witnesses
who had been summoned TO appear
| against the gamblers, but who, by the
| action yesterday, will be absolved from
the necessity of coming before the gaze
of their fellow-citizens and swearing tina,
they have San1bled in public gambling
| house
The men who were convicted upon their
plea OF guilty We're Walter Cartwright,
| Coles Jordan, William Phelps, J. NJ
| Pelligrini, Samuel Miller, Tom Lyons,
and Heck Puryear. They were all in
court yesterday when the case was called
and they took their punishment without
| a quiver.
| Power of Sentiment.
In the grim room in the basement of
| the City Hall there was something more
| than stern law enforced yesterday after
| noon. There was impressed upon the
| large crowd gathered there the power
| Of sentiment, and it was displayed in
| way that touched every man in the sound
of Commonwealth's-Atto Richard
! sons voice. While upholding the cause
of the Commonwealth of Virginia against
violators Of her sacred laws. Mr. Rich
ardson recommended to the court to ac-
cept the plea that was offered by the
accused. and asked Justice Crutchf1eld to
n1ete out the law as leniently as he could
to the men who might henceforth seek
other vocations in life to earn their live
lihood.
There is man among the accused.
said Mr.. Richardson, who fought for
his State and his peoples homes during
the trying days from 1S61-1s65, and feel
1nonwealth to inflict vindictive punish
| ment. l ask the consideration Of this
court in behalf of the man who wore the
gray in those days in behalf Of his native
State Mr.. Richardson's reference to
one of the accused was filled with feel
ing, and its object broke down during
the magnanimous address of the Com
monweaith's Attorney
There was not the big crowd in attend
| {t,-t I-a1
the first trial, for the understanding that
the accused were going to plead guilty
took away much of the spice that the
spectators looked forward to in case the
witnesses were called to the stand. Still,
the room was well taxed to accommodate
those present, and the rather long wait
for the appearance Of one OF the prison
ers after the case had been called threw
pail Of suspense over the entire gath
ering and in the silence that ensued
there was evidence of nervousness on the
part of the accused at the prospect that
their plea of guilty would not receive
the degree of leniency from the court
that they anticipated.
Justices Humor.
During the wait for Mr.. Puryear, who
was delayed by his work at the ship
yards, where he has been engaged In
loose the shafts of his ridicule and satire
in directions that seemed most vulnerable
to him. Most of the flying darts hit the
reporters, whom he 1ikened unto smart
Alecks' and kindred bagatelles, while a
few wandering darts hit Mr.. H. NJ.
Smith, Jr, one of the counsel for the
accused.
You are always late. Mr.. Smith, You
are like the cows taiI-always behind.
e%S1ly
OF the courtroom was. broken. And just
before 4:s0, when Justice Crutchfield had
grown tired for Mr.. Puryear to appear.
he said: "I'll forfeit his bond and make
ono of you fellows pay it" referring to
counsel for the accused. The wanted
man came in just then, and 1t enabled
the arbiter legum to intimate that it
was his suggestion that made him hurry
up.
Justice Crutchfield called upon Officer
Wyatt to go through the formality OF
serving the new warrants upon the men
before the bar of justice, and it was done
in about the same manner that contr-
button box is passed around in a parsimo-
NOUS congregation.
The Plea of Guilty.
Mr. Harry Glenn arose when the case
actually got down to a working basis.
and said that he wished to enter a plea
of guilty in behalf of his clients to the
charge brought against them in the war
rants that had just been served upon
them. He asked the court, in considera-
ton of the plea, and the fact that the
men threw themselves upon the mercy Of
the court, to fix the punishment at one
days imprisonment and a fine of slOo
each.
Mr. Smith followed in behalf OF the ac-
cused. He said some rather direct things
about how well known it was that gam
bling was going on in Richmond. Cam
bling has been going on in Richmond for
twenty-five years. It is useless to pre-
tend that it was not known to everybody.
/ do not think the police ever actually
saw the gambling in operation. but that
they did know the men who followed the