Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-27

gambling outfit
Armed with raidng warrants, three Off
GERS of Alexandria county, Va, Howard
Fields, a deputy sheriff Joseph Evans, a
constable, and Henry Collins. the county
jailer. accompanied by Commonwealth At
torney Crandall Mackey of the county,
made a swift descent upon Jackson City
yesterday afternoon. where they surprised
a crowd of 200 men in house surrounded
by high board fence, captured twelve of
the inmates and burned a large quantity of
stuff. which was seized as gambling para
phernalia.
The raid caught the crowd in the settle
ment off guard and the o1l-cers had almost
reached the principal building before the
warning was sounded. But with the signal
once given the inmates of the place made
up in speed and agility what they had
lacked in precaution. With cry of Here
come the constablesr white men and col
ored men commenced to hurdle benches and
chairs, leap out of windows and dash
through the doors.
of the officers when they entered the door
way. Most of the big crowd had succeeded
in escaping at the first alarm, but con-
siderable number renamed in the room,
struggling vigorously for the exits. Rush
ing in, the officers attempted to corrall the
stampeding bunch. In this, owing to their
small number, they were only partially sue
cessful, capturing about twenty-five men,
and meanwhile the former companions or
the prisoners were scurrying away from
the building in every direction.
Result of Inspection.
When the field of action had cleared suf-
ficienty the officers made an inspection Of
the contents of the room and gave their pris-
oners an examination. More than half the
number gave reasonable excuses for their
presence and were released, but eleven COL
ored men and one white man were held.
Another improvised .speakeasy," a tent
near the shore, where a crowd of men and
women were drinking and carousing was
searched. Here, too. the proprietor had re-
ceived the timely tip and he had effected
his escape. Plenty of cheap liquor was
found about the place. Attorney Mackey
drew warrants for the arrest of the alleged
proprietor, George Washington, colored,
as we'll as for the apprehension of McGee
A survey of the room revealed half
dozen painted tables with peculiar appur-
tenances which, the officers decided, were
designed for gambling purposes. THESE
were stacked in the yard and set afire
The raiding party then journeyed to a
small frame shack near by on the river
shore, where convincing evidences of gam
bling were found. The owner of this place
was ascertained to be negro named Henry
MCGEE, a fisherman, who had promptly va
Gated the premises on the approach of the
officers.
The twelve men gathered in at the jack
son City place gave their names respec-
lively as Joseph Savick, white; Frank Dor
sey, Jesse Williams, Thomas Newman, John
Barnes, William Morgan, Richard Williams,
Owen Washington. Edward Williams, John
Robinson, Alexander Robinson and William
Parker.
They were escorted to the county jail, on
Fort Myer Heights, where they were locked
up and a charge of vagrancy was lodged
against their names.
A considerable quantity and variety of
liquors of an inferior quality was taken to
the court house by the officers.
Arrangement This Morning.
The prisoners were arraigned this morn
ing before Justice j. F. Thompson at the
ker and Alexander Robinson. was assessed
$3.50 and costs.
In discussing the raid this afternoon with
a reporter for The Star, Mr.. Mackey said
he had directed IL after receiving informa-
ton that certain buildings IN Jackson City
were being used every Sunday particularly
and in the week days for the assembling
of crowds of gamblers from Washington
Mr. Mackey placed the warrants in the
hands of the officers and accompanied
them at their solicitation. He regretted
that the move had not furnished him with
evidence concerning the parties responsible
for operating the houses raided in the
Jackson City Enclosure.
Each of the prisoners examined diSclaim-
ed all information or this point. AS the
officers alighted from the electric car they
observed a well-known sporting man stand
ing near the gate of the inclosure, but
they failed to get any positive proof OF his
connection with the place.