The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11
ARE WORSE THAN
TEN FARO BANKS
Justice crutchfisld Denounces the
Fake Clubs i'll scvercst
Language.
WOULD OF BELIEVE RECORDS
Knew 1t Was Fake Said He.
Davis Fined and Given
Jail Sentence.
OF BELIEVE RECORDS.

At 9 o'clock yesterday afternoon, af-
ter hearing that had lasted for about
three hours, Justice Crutchfeld in Po-
lice Court found Augustus Davis, bar
tender at the Manhattan Club. guilty
of selling intoxicating liquors on Sun
cay. the 25th of. February, to man not
a member, and fixed his punishment at
imprisonment in the city Jail for two
months and a. fine of 5000.
Mr.. d. C.. Richardson. counsel for tho
prisoner. noted an appeal and Mr.
Davis gave bail for his appearance In
the HLstirgs Court, where the case will
be fought to the end.
The Geferse put no Witnesses on the
stand and the Commonwealth offered
only two witnesses, one of whom, by
the way, was n very poor one. to sub
stantiate the charge The books of tho
club were sent for, and 1t was found
that there were T07 members on the roll.
each of whom was credited with having
paid an Initiation fee of $40 and monthly
dues of 81 each. In the month of Feb
ruary Justice Crutchfeld, examining the
book, found that 62i members were cred
tied with having paid 81 each.
There was never a club between
Heaven and Hades that had menu
bers to pay UP SO regularly and
promptly" said Justice Crutchfeld.
am not going to countenance
these fake clubs. They are hell
holes, and say SO without fear of
contradiction. would rather have
ten faro banks running in full blast
on Broad Street than to have one OF
these fake clubs in the city. One
such place Is worse, in my. Judgment.
than ten faro banks. for 1t would do
more injury to the young men of
Richmond. I am going to break them
up If L can
Didn't Believe Books.
The courts denuncation of the alleged
fake clubs was bitter, and he did not
mince words at all in speaking of Them
At one time the court threatened to
summon every man whose name was on
the club books as a member, and have
each and everyone come and testify as
to whether or not they had ever paid
any dues or initiation fees.
why, this would be the richest club
In the country II the records here are
true. There would be something more
than $500 paid In In Initiation fees alone
IL the books are correct. And then hera
is over 5000 coming in every month.
Don't l know that this is a fake? I
say SO. and am going to keep on saying
So" shot out Justice Crutchfied, talk
ing straight from the shoulder.
j. A. Fitzgerald. of the Baldwin De-
tective Agency from Roanoke. was the
main witness for the prosecution He
testified that on Sunday, the 18th OF
February. he. in company with a young
man named Griffin Arthur, of Richmond.
visited the Manhattan Club, and that
he bought and paid for two rounds OF
drinks. The first time he entered the
cub was in the afternoon. he said. and
that he bought beer and paid Mr. Davis
for the drink. He entered again after
dark of the same day and purchased u
drink from another bartender named
Johnson. who was behind the counter
with Mr.. Davis.
Justice Crutchfeld Immediately had a
warrant issued for the arrest of john
son, and he will be charged alike with
Mr.. Davis
Cross-examined by Mr.. Richardson. Fitz-
gerald said that his home was in Roam
oke, and that he was sent here from his
headquarters In answer to summons
from the chief of police of Richmond.
He denied that he had oIrered Arthur any
inducement for him to testify against the
clubs and said that he had threatened
to strike Arthur when the latter started
to accuse him of doing dirty" did
offer to secure him pass to get him
away until the case came to trial." said
the witness. "a
Mcnamara Poor Witness.
q T. s. Mcnamara was the second witness
for the Commonwealth, and he did not
do the case any material good but
neither did he damage it much. He re-
peated each question asked him and np-
peared to be dazed all the time he was
on the stand 1t required a good deal OF
prompting to make him answer intelli-
gently the questions propounded to him.
He contradtcted himself when he said
that he was not In Richmond at the
time the case was called before and III
the next breath said that he left here
on the evening of the 18th. The case was
called in Police Court on the morning
OF the 9th. Witness had worked at a
lunch counter in Homer Cool'i cafe for
three weeks and for time slept with
friend named Wilson. on Reservoir
Street.
He didn't remember the number of the
house, but 1t was ZIG or GOO. or. something
like that
He was pressed to answer If it wasn't
true that he left the city because lie. was
afraid OF arrest for beating a woman, but
the court held that he did not have
to answer this question.
The defense did not offer any evidence.
Justice Crutchteld gave his decision i'm.
mediately after Mr.. Richardson HAD hin.
ished an argument on the law regarding
the clubs.
commemorative Attorney Alinitres
Folkes made It a point that the charter
of the Manhattan Club expressly prohib. 4
tied the sale of liquor on Sunday to any
member, He declared that this had never
been repealed. II was known that there
We're two Manhattan clubs and that the \
one on seventh Street could operate under
either charter.
This will be a legal point to he fought
out when the case comes before the Hus,-s
ings Court. WI
Mr.. James r.. Mum, secretary and I'll
treasurer OF the Manhattan Club, became
security for the appearance in court OF 4
Mr.. Davis at the proper time.
The cases against the other clubs were
all continued until March nth.