The Washington times., 1904-05-22
St. Asaph Poolroom at Present the Only
Survivor of the Notorious Places He
Has Vigorously Attacked.
Interesting Narrative of the Shrewd Moves
and Shrewd CountermoveS in the
Attempt to Close 1t.

4 now settled down go a trial OF
strength between Crandal Mackey, the
Commonwealth attorney, and the pro-
prietors OF the ST. Asaph poohoom,
which has been running for ten years
until last Wednesday. when the West
ern Union wires were cut on
Mr. Mackey has closed up the gamb-
ling houses at Jackson city and at
Rosslyn. All the policy writer's, the crap
shooters. the faro dealers. and the sweat
board proprietors of Jackson City have
suspended operations, as the result of
raids and arrests made by Mackey' .
men. The policy games at Rosslyn and
the famous Jack Heath's Place, op-
poeite Georgetown University, also are
closed. Last Sunday and the Sunday be-
fore. saloons which formerly ran wide
open on Sundays as well as week days.
were as quiet as graves. and nothing to
drink could be had from them.
Kept Right on Doing Business.
The st. Asaph poolroom, however,
continued in operation, Notwithstanding
the fact that warrants have been sworn
out for nearly twenty men alleged to
be connected with it's operation. Many
of these warrants were duly served,
summoning the men to appear before
Justice of the Peace Hagan at the Alex
andria county court house on Saturday,
May IA, to show cause why they should
rot be prosecuted for conducting n
gambling establishment in violation OF
the laws of Virginia.
Two days before the time set for their
appearance before the justice Of the
peace the defendants. through their at
torneys. filed a petition with Judge
Nfcol. Of the circuit court. They asked
for a writ Of prohibition against Justice
of the Peace Hagan on the ground he
had not qualified by taking the oath Of
Office and giving bond and on further
grounds Of alleged Irregularities in the
warrants and the alleged unconstitu-
tionallty OF the act. This petition Judge
NicoI granted On Saturday. May Il,
Mr.. Mackey appeared before Judge
Nicol in Alexandria and filed a demur-
rer. asking an immediate hearing.
Hearing on June E.
1t was impossible for Judge Nicol to
grant an immediate hearing. but he told
Mr.. Mackey and counsel for the St
Asaph proprietors that he would hear
the case at Manassas. Va, on June 4,
when he will be holding court there.
Mr. Mackey will appear for Justice
Hagan, and Charles Q. Carlin, Edmund
Burke, and Col. Francis Smith will APP
pear for the St Asaph people
Until that time nothing will be done,
as Mr. Mackey will wait 20 see whether
or not the cases are to be heard by the
Justice Of the peace. II Judge Nicol de-
cides Justice Hagan has the right TO
hear them. Mr.. Mackey's original plan
will be followed II he issues the writ
f,af- Il OF IA
will be taken by Mr.. Mackey.
The men against whom warrants
were issued and upon the majority OF
whom warrants have been served are
James NJ. Hill. Fora ~ Frank Hill.
Isaac Jones. Edward mes. r Vande-
erift. Louis Bargen. Peachy Early.
George Campbell, George Lescaliet
Wilbur Roberts. Burt Bentley, William
johnson. Frank Shocks. Edward Nc
Cauley. Joseph Lee. George Kraft.
Thurston Johnston. and j. l.. Phillips.
Few Warrants Not Served.
Warrants have been served on all
these except Isaac Jones, Edward
Jores. and Vandegrift, who are non
residents Of Alexandria county and
two or three others, who cannot d.
found
The Jones brothers and the Hill
brothers have been connected with pool
rooms at ST. Asaph and Alexander Isl
and for the past fifteen years. Al on;
time they ran rival establishments, one
at Alexander Island and one at II
Asaph After lighting each other VIZ
crousIy they made peace and joined
forces When those race tracks wee
o,,tiawed they ran foreign books at St
Asaph. and have continued 10 the pres
ent day. with great success
The other men who have been servcc
with warrants as being connected witt
The St Asaph poolroom are employed
most of them. in subordinate capacities
There are others. however, who do mo-
1--we In this section Of the country. ant
,,,bo have an interest I'm the establish
nent. In fact 81 is said the ramifca
lions OF the famous concern are FAR
reaching, and the profits divided anon,
many.
Want Cases in Higher Courts.
The aim OF the St Asaph proprieto1
G. 20 get their cases before the hfghe
courts. once this IS done they W.
Get IN reace for "A while. for they ma
tben go on without fear Of interruption
from Mr.. Mackey. They want long
drawn-out legal battle, in which ever
move and countermove possible may
made by their lawyers DeloiS 1liS No"'
comes 20 the point Of constituting IN
Virginia. anti-gambling statutes
To this end they have employee
shTewd and able lawyers. several .
whom have political influence enough t
make them formidable under certai
conditions. Persons in a position (
know whereof they speak say that IA
Jones-Efili crowd can control any pan
Of 5000. 900 II that amount is needed. {
win their fight against Mackey. Tha
they have spent money like water, an
will do so again. none VIII deny. T.
only trouble lies in the as yet undr
swered question. "WHl their money &
them any good in the present contest?
Can't Elk" Mackey.
crandai Mackey they know to be hoi
est. Efforts have been made. IL is sal
TO fix" Mackey through his friend
They have failed. Mackey's salary
Commonwealth attorney for Alexat
dria county is $500 a year with $40 f
each felony gambling or revenue cas-
and s. for each misdeameanor. Not
very lucrative post at best. is the OF
Gacs h 90