Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
HEARING ON MURRER
CHARGES AGAINST VIRGINIA
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
Indictments Returned by Grand Jury
in Alexandria County-Other
Cases to Be Heard.

Arguments on demurrer to indictments
against Justice of the Peace A. B. East of
Arlington district, Alexandra county.
charging him In one case with the imposi-
ton OF an unlawful sentence upon de-
PENDANT and in the other with assistance
In the release of a priSoneT from jail. will
be heard before Judge Charles K. Nicol.
sitting In the circuit court for Alexandra
county Saturday. Commonwealth's Attor-
ney Crandall Mackey VIII appear for the
prosecution. and Justice East will be rep
resented by Attorneys Edmund Burke and
C. C. Carlin.
The two indictments were returned by the
grand jury In the circuit court for Alex
andra county yesterday afternoon. lndict-
ments were also returned by the grand jury
against J. NJ Hill, charged with conducting
a pool room at St Asaph, and against
others alleged to be connected with the en-
terprise.
The indictments against Justice East, 1t
is stated grew out of the arrest ana con-
yiction of a respectable German farmer
named George Perich on the charge or i'm
personatng a deputy sheriff. 1t was ailes-
ed that Perich had stopped the driver OF d
mule team and had Threatened him WIN
arrest for driving an animal wi h. sore
shoulder. The threat, it is said led the
driver to unhitch the mule and return 10
the barn. The arrest of Perich was supse-
team. He was convicted and sentenced TO
pay fine of $40 and to serve ninety days
Magistrate Reduces Fine.
1t is alleged that after sixtytwo days OF
this sentence had been served Justice
Fast reduced the fine to $3.50. with a cost
of 1886, which sum was paid by friend OF
the accused Justice East, it is alleged
then directed the jailer to release Perich
from confinement The ground for the in
dctment on this charge Is that after a per-
son is incarcerated upon conviction. whether
Justly or not, he cannot be lawfully re-
leased except upon pardon by the governor
before the sentence is executed.
The ground for the other indictment Is
that 1T is offense under the state or COM
mon law for a man to impersonate an OFF,
Ger, and that the sending of a man to jail
on such charge constitutes felony.
Mr.. Mackey asked the court to issue
rule against Justice East to. show cause
why he should not be removed from the
office, but Judge Nicol said he would with
hold the possible granting of the rule until
after the hearing on the demurrer Satur-
day.
Demurrers to Other Indictments
Demurrers to the indictments against
John NJ. Hill and others. charged with
gambling at st. Asaph, will also be ar
gued Saturday by the same attorneys in
terested in the other cases. Hill Is charged
with making books and gambling on horse
races The same charge is made In the in
dictments returned against Charles Bur
lingame. a telegraph operator, and Lewis
Bargen. who is alleged to be the manager
of the place at st. Asaph.
The report of the grand jury to Judge
Nicol yesterday afternoon embodied an ex-
preston of, thanks to Commonwealth At
torney Mackey for the energy and zeal dis
played in the collection of evidence for the
prosecution of the cases which had come
before the court.