Evening star., 1907-08-02
CAUGHT IN THE NET
LARGE NUMBER OF POLICY Play
ERs ARRESTED TODAY.

A number of colored men and women,
who 1t is said, went from Washington to
Rosslyn to play policy this morning. were
arrested as vagrants as they entered a
policy shop. which, was hidden far up In the
brush on Little river. half a mile from the
Aqueduct bridge. The charge of vagrancy
is made because under the Virginia law,
possession OF a policy slip is not evidence of
gambling. -
States Attorney Crandol Mackey, Sheriff
William H. Palmer and Deputy Sheriff
Howard Fields trapped the offenders.
Shortly before 10 o'clock they visited the
policy shop and found nobody there but an
old colored woman. who was doing some
washing for the white men alleged to- have
been running the game, but who have dis
appeared.
No signs of the game were discovered
about the place. but there was plenty of
furniture to accommodate the patrons.
AT, about. 10 O'Clock the vanguard of the
alleged policy players procession hove in
sight. Laura Jenkins laundress 1910
10th street. was tire first person arrested.
After her came two more washerwomen.
Isabella Jones, who is said to be employed
ct an apartment house. and Eta Williams.
who lives at the corner OF Goth and L
streets Catherine Faucet. 9th street and
Poplar place. came next. and she was fol-
lowed by Annie Jones. cook. 1925 Penn
sylvania avenue. Her case. as presented
by herself. is particularly lamentable. She
has not played policy for two years. she
said. but last night she dreamed of a ROOM
ful Of white women. and this morning she
started off bright and early to play white
folks row" She thinks she must have
passed a cross-eyed person on the way for
she was brought up in the sherifr's row.
Others in the Procession
Maria Washington. who lives at 1246
81
lowed by Henry Davis. watchman. Davis
lives In Alexandria county. and was re-
leased because the vagrancy charge can
be made only against those who enter the
county from without for the purpose of play
ing policy.
James o. Ford a plumbers helper, 1929
Goth street, was the next one caught, and
Hughes court; William Malvin. barber, 46
Pierce street. Charles Price and George
Dyer. a fireman. who lives at 126 Pierce
street. Clifford c. Holmes. an aged negro.
was release because he lived in the county.
and said he had not come to play policy
anyway. He was once a slave of the
Cabell family. Among those arrested were
three ''decoys." one woman and two men.
who had been sent over by the Washington
detectives-Cox. Brown and Allen-to assist
the Virginia authorities
Most of those arrested were released on
collateral and this afternoon the sheriff Is
still at the poicy snop. waiting LOT more
victims and giving time for prisoners still
held to raise money required for deposit.
Just after the first lot OF prisoners was
taken the stream ceased flowing. and 1t
was found that lookout man had been
posted on the Aqueduct bridge. warning all
the colored folk that the authorities were
at the policy shop This man was compelled
to move on, and the victims resumed the
march dnto the trap. The roundup this
evening will number many more than have
been enumerated Mr.. Mackey. the states
attorney. says there will be no more policy
in Alexandria county.