Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-05
ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
States Attorney Mackey
Makes a Serious Charge
BEFORE CIRCUIT JUDGE
STATES GAMBLING INTERESTS
TRIED TO STOP PROSECUTIONS.
Concealed Witness Overheard the Prop
osition-Particular Given Pub
hcity in Open Court.
BEFORE CIRCUIT JUDGE

During a hearing this morning be-
fore the circuit court of Alexandra
county, at Fort Myer Heights,
Prosecuting Attorney Mackey made
the startling statement that an at
tempt to bribe him had been made
by a representative of certain gam
bling interests; that he had by de-
sign secreted a friend of his in his
Washington office to hear the prop
osition i'll which the offer of bribe
was included, and that he would
take steps to have the offender
prosecuted under the laws of the
District of Columbia.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 5, 1905.
Commonwealth Attorney Mackey of Alex
andria county appeared before Judge
Charles E. Nicol of the circuit court for the
county this morning and delivered long
and scathing denunciation against a certain
business being conducted at ST. Asaph un-
der the alleged direction of the Old Domin-
ion Telegraph Company. He declared the
st Asaph resort to be the most notorious
in the entire country and disgrace to the
state of Virginia. The most baneful form
of gambling, he said, had been conducted
at the place for years. to the full knowledge
of the public The methods employed by
the company for the protection of it's busi-
ness came in for severe arraignment.
Mr.. Mackey made the open charge of at
tempted bribery on the part of persons
whom he described as being the ''emissaries
of ST. Asaph." He said he had been visited
al his office in Washington by parties who
offered him the most glittering inducements
in return for the proposed abandonment of
the legal movement against the pool room
promoters. Among the allurementS held
out, he said was handsome monetary
consideration, seat in the state legisla-
ture, the state senate or other political
honors.
Mr.. Mackey told of an interview at his
office with certain messenger who
brought bribery proposals. Being pre-
pared for the visit, the attorney had per-
suaded one of his friends-a prominent
resident of Westinghouse secrete him.
self in the room and overhear the propo-
sition. This being delivered, Mr.. Mackey
said, the emissary was suddenly con-
fronted by the person who had been in
hiding, and was ordered to get out OF
the room pain of being thrown out of
the window. The attorney stated that
since then he had taken steps to prose-
cute the man for bribery under the laws
of the District of Columbia.
Matter Under Consideration.
The matter came up this morning on in
dictments against John M. Hill, Charles
Burlingame and Louis Bargen, charged
with keeping and exhibiting a gaming
table. These accused appeared in court
today. an order for capias having been is
sued in each case by Judge Nicol Monday
last They were represented by Attorneys
Francis L. Smith, Edmund Burke and c. c.
Carlin. Upon the indictments being called
the counsel for the defense at once moved
for a postponemsnt on the ground that the
proceeding took them completely by sur
prise.
This motion was vigorously opposed by
the commonwealth's attorney whereupon
ensued sharp controversy between coun-
sci. Replying to the allegation that the at
torneys on the other side were unprepared.
Mr.. Mackey asserted that they were thor
oughly conversant with all legal literature
on the subject of race-track gambling. He
declared that no decision upon gambling
case in the entire country exists which they
could not recite by heart and set to music.
Mr.. Burke termed the proceedings an
anomaly at law, requiring time for prep
aration, for which he asked. He referred
to the continued efforts of Mr. Mackey
against the pool rooms at st. Asaph as per-
secution, asking why the states attorney
did not proceed against another notorious
resort in the county.
Judge Nicol at once interrupted: Il wish
you would say he stated, what notorious
place it is. 1 want to know something
about it,
Mr.. Burke said he referred to the So
called Virginia Telegraph Company, which
he understood to be operating pool room
at Jackson City such as is conducted at
st. Asaph. He wondered why the common
wealth's attorney with his intense zeal, his
bloodhound tenacity, had not prosecuted
the Jackson City enterprise.
Mr.. Mackey's Response.
This brought forth spirited reply from
Mr. Mackey, in which occurred his de-
nunciation of the st. Asaph pool room. He
was well aware, he said, of the nature of
the business being done at the new place
at jackson City. lie charged that gam
bling was conducted there and asserted that
the place was a counterpart of st. Asaph.
But, concluding, he announced his policy
to be to get rid Of the establishment at st.
Asaph and then to proceed against that at
Jackson City.
Counsel for the defense continued argu-
ments for a continuance, but Judge Nicol
positively required some pleading to be
made In the discussion Mr.. Burke de-
clared that if his side had to enter the
trial without further preparation, some rul-
ing might be made which would not stand
test at the Court of Appeals, but Judge
Nicol admonished the attorney not to worry
himself about the court in that respect.
Counsel for the defense were required to
present affidavit to support their petition
for continuance. The court set tomorrow
morning for the hearing of the demurrer to
the indictments which they entered.