Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-09
GOES TO HIGHER COURT
JONES SAYS HE IS NOT A
VAGRANT.
Sentenced to Be Bonded or to Go to
Workhouse-Notes an
Appeal.

John Jones, colored, of New York city
was presented in the Police Court Tues
day before Judge Scott upon the charge of
being a vagrant, and after the evidence
had been heard he was placed under $500
bend with the alternative of six months in
the workhouse. Through his attorney, AL
bert Sillers, he excepted to the rulings of
the court and announced that the case
would be taken to the Court of Appeals.
Attorney Sillers will probably apply to the
Court of Appeals within the next few days
for writ of error.
Jones was arrested several days ago by
Detective Baur, who had been ordered by
Capt. Boardman to take the man in Gus
tody, as the chief of detectives did not con-
slider Jones should be at liberty upon the
streets of the city mingling with the great
crowds, for he was believed by the police
to be one of the most expert pickpockets
in the country. Detective -Baur found
Jones on Pennsylvania avenue near 4le
street northwest and took him to head
quarters, where he was taken before Capt.
Boardman and later placed in the station
house under the vagrancy law, which
Major Sylvester had ordered to be enforced
throughout the city during the Inaugural
ton. The detectives, after the inaugural
ceremonies had been concluded, intimated
to his attorney that Jones would be allowed
to leave town after his personal bonds had
Deen taken. Dut ne refused 10 go,
to stand trial and prove that the police de-
partment was wrong in arresting him as
vagrant.
Detective Baur told the court that he
had been ordered by his chief to arrest
Jones, as he was known to the police to
be a dangerous character upon the streets
of the city at the time when they were
thronged with people from all parts of the
country.
Detective Hartigan said he knew Jones to
no m and
that he was the keeper of fence, where
stolen goods from another city are re-
ceived and disposed of. The detective re-
lated a visit that he made to New York
city where he had Jones under surveillance
for some time in connection with large
diamond robbery which occurred in this
city, and that when the prisoner was con-
fronted by. the detective, he procured the
diamonds which had been stolen.
Detective Horne said he had arrested
Jones several times and had taken him to
Baltimore once, where he stood trial for
being a pckpocket and served five years
in the pehitentiary. He concluded with
the statement Il have never seen this man
with an honest man since l have known
him." Detective Horne tafterward stated
that he had known Jones for the last fif
teen years. H&
Carson on His Bond.
Perry Carson believed that Jones was
trying to lead a better life than he had
in the past, and for that reason had gone
upon his bond
Jones took the stand in his own behalf.
He is a tall brown man, about six feet in
height, and giant in physique, weighing
about 210 pounds. He stated that he came
to this city from New York TO join MS
mother. who had written that she would
meet him in this city, coming here from
her homie in West Virginia for the inau-
gural ceremonies, He sa Id that he had ac-
cumulated about $4,000 since lie he'd left
the prison doors. and that he was the
owner of "a pool room and two barber
shops in New York city.
Judge Scott said that a pool room was
not the place for man to be who was try
ing to reform, and stated that the law con-
sidered person of evil life and fame, as
charged in the information filed against him,
if he associated with persons OF evil life, as
the detectives had sworn he did. He then
placed the amount of the bond as stated,
and Perry Carson was allowed to continue
as the bondsman, after Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Pugh had agreed. Attorney
SilIers then stated to the court that the
case would be carried to a higher court,
after entering an exception to the decision
of the court.
The case caused considerable interest 10
be manifested, large crowd being pres
ent in the court room, as it was the nrSt
in years where an alleged vagrant mad
made such a determined fight to have MS
wanna cleared of the charge.