Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-11
The sd. Asaph Cases.

The st. ASaph Cases
There seems to have been sudden
slump in the excitement in the county
over the St. Asaph cases, which were
virtually dropped in the Circuit Court
for the county yesterday. The fine OF
S., 600 imposed on Lewis Murdock VINO
had been convicted of selling liquor to
Others than members of the Hlawatha
CLUB has been reduced TO $500 and the
Governor will be asked to remit the Jail
sentence. The pool room being closed,
no further prosecution Of the proprietors,
it is believed, will follow. The reason
given for such action, according to q
statement credited to Commonwealth 5
Attorney Msckey, is that tue action OF
Commonwealth Attorney Brent, OF this
city, on Monday, had rendered the mat
ter somewhat complicated. Mr.. Brent,
on the other hand, says that the st.
A saph poolroom was closed for the hrst
time in years and that it was through
the efforts of the authorities of this city,
it having been clearly demonstrated that
the county authorities we're unable to
accomplish this result.
As stated in the Gazette OF that date,
the demurrer to the indictments IN the
ST. Asaph pool room cases were to have
been argued before Judge NicOl in the
Circuit Court for the county yesterday
evening. The court was late in meeting
hut no arguments were made. Counsel
for the defendants stated that owing TO
constant harrassing and to the fact that
all the parties connected with the pool
rooms had been arrested by the Alexan-
dria city authorities, the place had been
closed. 1t was then agreed that all the
warrants then before court should be dis
missed at the next term OF the court
There is a curious feature in connec-
lion with the charges that have been
urged against the ST. AsaphpeOple. The
movement against the latter was started
a decade ago. At times it has grown
bitter, then lapsed and again broken out
afresh. 1t recently reached san acute
stage aud the proprietors of st. Asaph,
firing Of the incessant annoyances to
which they have been subjected, have
concluded to close the place. Mr.. ). NJ.
Hill has contended from the eglnnlng
that he was not violating any State law
in conducting the pool room, and has
often asserted that should the matter be
ruled upon by competent court and
the business conducted at ST. Asaph be
declared illegal, ne would close the
place Immediately; but having obtained
opinions from the abest lawyers in this
and other States and been assured that his
business did not conflict with existing
laws, he is 10th to having st. Asaph
closed by popular clamOr. The bitter
ness characteristic of the crusade upon
ST. Asaph has been marked, and the pre-
mature announcement of those represent
ing law and order that the people IN
charge of the pool room would be im-
prisoned or placed on chain gangs has had
the contrary efectoi that intended 4; as Is
the case generally when ipjudiclons
language is used.
The county authorities are credi ted
with asserting that the action OF the city
officers in making certain arrests last
Monday was fake. The fact that
Commonwealth Attorney Brent with
the Alexandria police accomplished
what the county authorities have been TOR
wears presumably attempting to do, is a
sufficient answer to that charge Be-
sides it has recently been alleged by GER
tain people in positions ofauthority in the
county that they ma le miscarriages in
their dealings with st. Asaph for the
reason that the city authorities failed to
aid them
The future Of St. Asaph is hard to
determine. The case against the pro-
prietors and employees will be examined
ir the Police Court Saturday. Oi
course no one can know what verdict
will be rendered until the case is properly
tried. In the event OF a conviction, an
appeal will probably be taken aud The
matter will come before the Court o
Appeals. Should that tribunal decide
that the business heretofore conducted
at St. Asaph is not in violation OF law
the place will probably be reoPened II
however, the court should rule other
wise, St. Asaph will become thing o
the past.