The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

The wet-gOods emporium called
Merry BilIs Exchange" at 212
Townsend street. is much frequented
by certain colored gentlemen employed
in the dining and sleeping car service
of the Southern Pacific Company while
they are off duty. They favor the
place with their presence because its
proprietor is an Afro-American of ex-
cellent business and social standing
and because he personally sees to it
that their visits are made as pleasant
as possible. For their entertainment
nc maintains piano with that peculiar
tinpanny tone which gives such charm
10 the playing of ragtime, and he has
card tables with all the appurtenances
thereto essential to freeze-out or crib
bage- Craps he frowns upon and
strictly prohibits because it is an un-
lawful game, yet il was on a charge
of shooting craps that he and three
of his customers were arraigned before
Police Judge Cabaniss yesterday on
complaint of Patrolmen Porter and
Nyhan.
The officers told of how they had re-
ceived a tip that the seductive come
seven was a favorite pastime of
Nervy Bill's" patrons, and of how they
scted in accordance with that inforna-
garments they sauntered into. the
saloon with the air of men upon whose
hands time was hanging very heavily.
and one of them yawningly proposed
20 the other that they indulge in a
game Of freeze-out for drinks. Never
suspecting the identity of his visitors
''Nervy BIZ gave them a pack of cards
and a bOxful of celluloid disks and
with customary politeness escorted
them to a baize-covered table. There
they sat, seemingly oblivious Of their
environment, but really with ears and
eyes alive to everything that was done
or said around them
At the Dianoforte presided a gentle
man named George Num-. and out of
the instrument he thumped a series of
sounds which mind attuned to music
might possibly interpret as "Bedelia'
in quickstep time and with weird varia-
tions. From rear apartment were oc-
casionally waited such exclamations
ae Come, elebeni" LII joel" oxford
ties fo' my baby" Gross de ribber fo'
mo- money!" and other phrases per-
taining TO the technique of craps, in
terspersed with sharp detonations
created by pressing thumb against mid
die finger and then suddenly releasing
the pressure with sliding motion. 1t
needed only optical confederation TO
warrant the disguised sleuths to act.
and that they obtained by suddenly
dashing into the back room. There
they saw James Green and Edward
Mouton 'chucking the bones" Arrest
Of Green, Edward, Merry Bilr' and
Nirtuoso Num-.
After hearing the policemen's testi-
mony and patiently listening to a most
abored defense in behalf of each in
dividual defendant Judge Cabaniss
fined Green and Edward S. apiece and
dismissed 'Nervy Bill' and Pianist
Num-. Then to the latter person he
said:
THE officers have not convinced me
that you were guilty Of playing craps.
but from what they have said about
your performance on the piano think
they would have been justified in ar
resting you for disturbing the peace"
William Petit, a dapper little man.
with gray hair and mustache. declared
in presence of Judge Mogan that his
arrest at Market and Second streets
was an outrage because he was neither
hawking without license nor OBJ
structing the thoroughfare.
THE policeman says you were selling
some kind of a scissors sharpening de-
vice" remarked the Judge.
"Ah. that's where the officer was
mistaken. ] don't sell the sharpener.
but simply demonstrate its use with a
view to advertising it. It's most re-
markable invention. You see, it
Never mind about that" was the
judicial interruption. ''The officer
says you offered to sell and did sell the
for Is cents apiece. Is that
true?''
well, after demonstrating the value
Of the article the clamor for it became |
so strong that
You QueIled the clamor by taking
all the money you could get, eh?"
Mr.. Petit reluctantly admitted that |
such had been his practice. Then he |
was remanded for further investiga-
ion.
In a racial war at Fourth and Kear-
~ streets last Wednesday evening the
italian adults hurled empty bottles at /
heir youthful American opponents.