The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-08

The gambling cases are settled, and
the defendants in the cases named the
terms OF settlement. which was, TO pay
the costs. including the witnesses fees
and also to pay some outside expense,
such as the prosecutions attorneys fees
etc. The outside costs, such as attor-
neys fees etc. lave no real right to be
considered in the settlement. Only that
which is paid to the court for costs
and entered upon the records as such
has any right to be considered. The
total amount. including the costs in
the cases against all five men in the
various cases in which they were in
dicted. amounted to the insignificant
sum OF $780, 80. which divided between
the five means that each one will only
have to pay. if divided equally. s27.s6.
The amount OF costs. not including
witnesses fees which amounted to s27.90
was as follows against each of the de-
pendants 2. r. Cannedy, $3.50; Geo. II.
Brown. S31. So; Tom Mayer, 5000; B. Il.
Phelps. $1,000; Mayer and Sellers $3.50.
making a total OF $111.40. The defen-
dants each paid their proportionate
share OF the witness fees. and thus end
the cases against those charged with
conducting gambling rooms.
| On Monday night, March the 21st
four squads Of police raided four gam
bling rooms. The same night six men,
n OF whom has since left the city,
w. a. Bussey, were arrested upon the
charge of conducting the gambling
rooms. h men were released under
bond, the amounts ranging from 500 to
$3.50. The next day officers were put to
work summoning witnesses. and men
in all walks OF life were notified that
they would be wanted at the next term
Of superior court. On all sides could
be heard talk as to how the men would
be prosecuted and the fines
they would be compelled to pay. A
storm appeared to be brewing. the skies
became dark and threatening, and
those with a guilty conscience began to
look for a place OF safety. some fleeing
In terror, others hiding In garrets to
escape the cyclone which was descend
ing upon the city II which they sup
posed was going to free 1t from some
OF its vice. III terror they watched
the dark clouds as they drifted nearer
accompanied all the while by a terrific
blow. Suddenly the clouds became less
threatening, there was a lull in what a
few minutes before appeared to- be a
storm and instead of a downpour that
would have washed away some Of the
impurities and left the city purer and
better. a gentle April shower fell, just
enough to lay the dust for a few min
utes n then to be kicked up worse
than before. Some who had been pre-
dieting such an awful storm ~endeavor-
ed to make themselves believe that IL
really was a storm and that the April
shower did As much good as a down.
pour. Those who fled in such terror,
some even leaving the city, will now
return and think how foolish they were
to have been fooled into believing that
there really was going to be something
doing.
A conference was held on Monday
night at which were present all the
prosecuting attorneys. including So
licitor Duffy, Mr.. William ]. Bellamy,
city attorney, Judge E. K. Bryan and
Mr.. w. P. Gafford. Mayor William E
Springer was also present at the con-
ference. No terms were agreed upon
at the first conference, but the terms
were practically agreed upon at a con-
ference held Tuesday. The cases were
disposed of in open court yesterday.
The evidence against the men was
conclusive and there was no doubt in
the world about there not being suffi-
cient evidence to convict them. About
seventy five witnesses had been sum-
none and there were fully that many
more that could have been summoned
at any time. Among these witnesses
nCAG Gil 1A1SSCS vi IHEi. SOlllG prominent
and others in the humber walks OF life.
The reasons given for settling the cases
in the above tanner, was that IL
brought to trial so many men, some OF
them young men, others men of fami-
ly. would have to be brought into court.
When the cases were taken up for final
disposition yesterday afternoon, Mr..
William j. Bellamy, one Of the prose-
cutting attorneys stated that their sole
object in settling the cases in the man
ner they did was on account Of the wit
nesses and that he thought that the
desired result had been affected.
Judge z. K Bryan also made a short
talk in explanation OF the compromise
by the prosecution He said that
| among the witnesses m were
many young men. who IL they La to
| appear as witnesses in the gambling
cases would no doubt in many instances
! lose their positions and In the future
| when these same men made an attempt
| to secure a position the fact Of their
| once being witnesses in gambling cases
would often be sufficient to keep thsm
out OF employment Judge Bryan said
that there were few. II any, who would
entrusr their money in the hands Of
persons who frequented gambling
rooms He also spoke OF some wit
nesses being men Of FAMILY and the
degradation IL would bring on their
families. In view Of these facts he said
the prosecution agreed to the settle
ment.
The attorneys say that the defendants
will have several hundred dollars TO
pay outside OF the court costs II seems
that the law and order league were be-
hind the movement which suddenly