Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-10
FATE OF POOL ROOM
Cases Against st. Asaph Now
in Two Courts.
RAIDED BY POLICEMEN
ALEXANDRIA OFFICERS MAKE
NUMBER OF ARRESTS.
Mayor of City Not Previously Informed
Of Contemplation is Indignant
The County Trial.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

ing tables, are charged with gambling in
warrants drawn in Alexandria city. The
courts of two distinct jurisdictions claim
accountability of the accused, who have
given bond in both in lieu of the custody
OF their person. In both they are charged
with offenses entailing, If proved, heavy
penalties. The fate Of the st. Asaph pool
rooms is in the balance.
Important legal questions are said to be
involved. Have the two courts concurrent
jurisdiction, or has one exclusive authority
iE the premises? How these interests are
reconcilable, or to what extent they clash
remains problematical awaiting some au.
thentic judicial utterance.
Before Judge Nicol in the county court,
this afternoon, counsel are engaged in con-
testing the points of law arising from the
demurrers to indictments in the three
cases. In Alexandria city Hill, Gargen.
Burlingame and several others gave bond
yesterday afternoon at o'clock, before
Police Justice Cation, for their appearance
Saturday for trial.
The complicated situation was brought
about yesterday afternoon by sudden
raid on the st. Asaph pool rooms by d
squad of policemen from this city. Chier
Webster and four officers went to the
rooms, stopped the plays and placed the al
legged proprietors and employees under ar
rest. The warrants he presented were
sworn out on his own complaint, and were
drawn by Commonwealth Attorney Samuel
G. Brent Of this city Such profound
recy clothed the operations that not even
Mayor Paff was informed of the coup until
1t had been executed.
Very Much Surprised.
His surprise at the announcement par
took Of indignation.
II consider today's affair extraordinary
and shall insist upon being consulted in the
future" declared the mayor. II don't know
who ordered the raid on St. Asaph. he
went on to say, but l maintain that no
one had the right to order it except myself,
and have no evidence that the alleged pool
room at st. Asaph is within the police jur-
isdiction of Alexandria,
Mayor Paff said the st. Asaph matter was
being handled by the county authorities to
their satisfaction, he supposed, and to the
satisfaction of other residents of the coun-
ty. "At least" continued Mayor Paff,
Alexandria has not been appealed to for
assistance SO far as / know, and 1 have
not considered interference in county affairs
advisable, as We have plenty to look after
in our own bailiwick."
In reference to the raid Commonwealth
Attorney Brent stated this morning that
1t was made upon abundant authority I'M
urements clearly showed that the ST Asaph
pool rooms are well within the mile limits
of this city. In his opinion the law not
only gives the police magistrate concurrent
d,
jurisdiction. After complaint had been
made. he said, it was the duty Of the police
officers to place the alleged promoters of
the enterprise under arrest and to close the
place. This having been done. he said the
rooms would not be opened again unless the
defendants are successful in the litigation
Mr.. Brent declared that he will close the
pool rooms effectually If there is sufficient
law on the Virginia state books to &C
complish it, He said that the issuance of
the warrants had raised no conflict of juris-
diction between the police court of this city
and the circuit court for Alexandria as
the charge pending in the two courts are
made under different statues The war
rants sworn out by Justice Cation were
drawn by Mr. Brent under an act of the
assembly of 1896, entitled ITO prevent
gambling and selling or making books.
pools or mutuals within the commonwealth
of Virginia.
Mr.. Brent said there was no intention on
the part of the city officials to interfere
with the proceedings of Commonwealth At
torney Mackey against ST. Asaph. He
reiterated the opinion that no question of
conflicting jurisdiction would arise.
Brought to Alexandria.
Chief Webster and his squad of officers
in charge of the prisoners reached the sta
ton house about o'clock. They had had
difficulty in making the trip, which was
first essayed over the electric line, but an
accident occurred on the road which de-
layed the trains and this route was aban-
doned. They finally secured vehicles, into
which the crowd was loaded. When the
procession drew up at police headquarters
a curious throng clustered about the en-
trance. The return of the raiders had been
expected much sooner by the few who were
informed of the movement on foot Police
Justice Harry B. Cation, in expectation of
the chief and his prisoners, had repaired
to the station house some time before. The
arrests were made about 2:30. and accord
ing to calculation the party should have
reached this city at least within an hour
later. feeling Of slight apprehension be-
gan to develop among those acquain, ed
with the move when past o'clock the
officers had not returned and no word had
been received from them 1t looked like a
miscarriage of plans had occurred, but
soon a message came heralding the ap-
proach of policemen and prisoners. Justice
Cation at once took his seat in the court
room and the prisoners were brought in
Technically, they were divided into two
parties-residents Of the state and nom
residents-the division being about equal
To the first party belonged the following:
John M. Hill, the alleged proprietor of the
st. Asaph pool rooms, well-known resi-
dent of this city, and a member of the
board of aldermen; Fora HILL his brother.
also well-known resident of Alexandria,
and member of the board of police COM
missioners: ]. L. Phillips, George Bradley,
p. H. Early, George w. Lee, William Dun
can, I. B. Johnston. Charles Hall, w. c.
Johnston, Ed. Julius, George Hamilton and
George Kraft.
The Non Resident Party.
The nonresident party consisted of the
following: Louis Bargen, Frank Shocks
George Campbell. Joseph Lee. P. T. Pun
phrey B. d. Bentley, H. L. Busey, B.
Fauth, A. Kohlhousen, J. Sturgis. Louis J.
Sherman and Charles Burlingame. All of
these waived an examination, and their
cases were set for hearing Saturday.
Justice Cation accepted bond in the sum of
500 for each of the accused who is a resi-
dent of Virginia and bond in the sum of
$500 for each who is nonresident. Surety
was furnished in each case by 7. Ballenger
Question Of Jurisdiction.
The recent decision Of the Virginia court
of appeals bearing on the question of the
police jurisdiction within the mile limit of
corporations was rendered in Richmond De-
cember 8 last in the case of Hill against
Haney from Alexandria county, which was
an application for writ of prohibition.
In refusing to grant the writ prayed the
court held. 1t Is stated, that county off,
GERS, such as justices of the peace, have
Jurisdiction within the territory indicated.
This decision was considered q victory for
Mr.. Mackey, who was thereby free to pro-