The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-14
SHERIFF PALMER
SCORES MACKEY
Alexandria County Officer
Squares His Conduct.
ARRESTS MADE AT R0SSLIN
Shows That He Carried Out Orders and
Suggestions of the Common
wealth's Attorney.
ARRESTS MADE AT R0SSLYN

when seen by a reporter for The
Times this morning, Sheriff Palmer. OF
Alexandria county, Va, in response tc
: questions concerning his attitude toward
the gambling situation. made the fol.
lowing statements:
81 do not think 1t has been the inten-
ton or desire of the newspapers to pub
lish false statements, but the result OF
a number of statements has been most
injurious to me, and 1 am unwilling, not
only on my own account, but on account
OF my friends and the public at large
that such statements. so far as they at
feet me in the discharge of my official
duties as sheriff OF Alexandria county
shall go unchallenged.
- desire first TO refer TO the articles
published in some of the papers in ref
erence to the raid made on Sunday last
of the house recently conducted by Mr.
Heath.
False Impression Given.
in this article the Commonwealth
attorney of Alexandria county, Mr.
Mackey is quoted. in substance. as say.
ing that he did not think much. OF tbs
way in which this raid was conducted
that only two old tables were found
on" the fact that raid was TO b,
made; that most of the gambling para
phernalia had been removed to Washing
ton and secreted. and that no player.
had been arrested to be used as witness
es. intimating. as thought. that Their,
was little or no chance for a convic
ton.
The facts are as follows: This hous
q Sc located a. hort I'd
cence of the Commemorative attor
7ney; on Sunday evening last I. VIII
Deputies II. T. Palmer. H B. Fields
ano E. E. Veitch. went to the house
ana found a game of poker and Graz
. N progress, and arrested EdwarC
Heath. who was present and in charge
l also arrested a man named Sorrelli
anG one named Hoffman, who We,
playing, and had them held under bonS
a. Witnesses; l took possession of al
gambling paraphernalia found on TN
premises, which consisted Of two tables
a number of decks Of cards, lot o
chips and dice. Besides these facts, IN
deputies and 1 saw both of TIE game
. In progress
Was Not Tipped Off,"
81 he statement that Heath had bee
. tipped or by member Of my staff {
absolutely false, first, for the reason
shat no one, not even the deputies Il
question, knew Of the contemplate
raid, and second, this fact is shown b
the further fact that had II been know
that a raid was to be made the game
sroken OF would not have been y
progress
i am not advised whether an
gambling paraphernalia had been X
moved to Washington. This may Z
may not be true. I should think. how
ever, that it would have been adgisabi
&c do so, owing to the proximity or On
premises to the residence OF the Com
s IncnWealth's attorney.
I The evidence 1 had against Heath
my deputies and myself having See
the games in progress, the two play eI
referred to and the gambling paraphe
Heath, on the advice of his attorne,
entered a plea OF guilty at his trls
before Justice East.
Same at Jackson City.
THE same is true Of the raid g
jackson City of the house operated b
LaFontaine and Sanderson. This is.
my opinion, a full answer to the article
referred to on these points.
In regard to the service Of the wal
rants on the operators at the ST. Asap
track I can say that when these wal
rants were handed me by the Common
wealth's attorney. he instructed me IN
plicitly not 10 take the parties int
custody, but TO notify them TO appee
Z at the county court house on Saturda.
May IA, at o'clock for trial. His II
Instructions were carried out to the LEI
ter. Mr. Mackey is further quoted
the papers as saying, In substance. tina
should have arrested these parties an
brought them to Jail for the reason tina
they continued to operate; that we
= either grossly Ignorant OF my duty {
& that / did not want 10 perform II Nd
Mackey, at Alexandria court hous
subsequently, IN the presence Of a nun
Der of persons, denied having made n
above statement. However this may b
he had every reason 70 believe ths
: the operators at st. Asaph were goin
20 continue, unless and until they wei
2 tried and convicted. He should, there
fore, have notified me TO take thel
into custody. This he did not do.
is further true that these parties coul
any day prior to their trial. be arrest
ed and taken into custody on the wal
received no instructions from Nj
Mackey to that effect l am carrying OF
the original instructions given me-
Wishes to Perform Duty.
I'm conclusion desire to say that #
i always my pleasure 10 perform the ul
i ties Of my Office fully. faithfully an
{ conscientiously. and this is especial
true when believe, or even have res
son TO believe, that 1 am 10 have III
assistance and cooperation Of the Con
+ rnonwealth's attorney.
4 am at a loss - understand the m'
tive which prompted the Common
wealth's attorney In making the stat
ments attributed to him, II he did mai
them. unless II be for the purpose
impugning my honor and integrity wit
the judge OF the circuit court OF Il
county, my friends and the public Z
large. This I do not propose to alloy
mo one regrets more than 1 the stat
: of feeling which exists between the Con
monwealth's attorney and myself, du
] may say. TO 40 fault on my part. .
the contrary l have endeaVored as IA
as possible 10 bring about that feelin
which should exist between the Con
monwealth's attorney and myself K
the successful performance Of the duti'
OF our respective Offices"