The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-14
OENOUNCEs POKER
FROM THE BENCH
yUsTIeE CRUrcHFrELp DECLARES
THESE GAMING ROOMS WORSE
THAN FARO RANK.
FINES OFFENDER $500
PRESIDENT DONALD, OF MADISON
CLUB PLEADS GUILTY AND
THEN APrEALs WHEN PEN
Atty Is IMPOSED.

in the judicial opinion o. Justice
John ]. Crutchfeld a poker room
is worse than a faro bank
Justice Crutchfield made this state
ment from the bench. He did not
offer any authority In the matter, save
i.is own opinion, but when he hned
President Alexander Donald, OF the
Madison Club. $500 for conducting
poker room no doubt as TO the posi-
tiveness of his opinion was held.
John Cutchins who appeared for
the Madison Club, was satisfied that
the Judge meant what he said, even
il Mr. Cutchins was not content with
the verdict. Gilbert Pollock. who also
acted as counsel for the accused,
bowed his head in mute resignation
and then meekly appealed. He even
half apologized for appealing. saying
that he thought the fine excessive
under the circumstances.
The circumstances noted by Mr..
Pollock were the decision OF Presi-
dent Donald to plead guilty and thus
save the necessity OF hearing. his
expressed purpose Of never again
conducting a poker game and q plea
that he really did not know he had
been wrong in allowing a few little
innocent poker games to be played
on the premises Of the club.
Caste Enters Case.
Usually this state OF affairs would
not take long to settle but the court
and counsel got into an argument on
Mr.. Cutchins could not see any great
harm In a gentieman's game. The
court did not see where the question
of caste entered into the case.
Justice Crutchffeid made 1t evident
that he was one OF the plain people
who saw no difference between the
man who wore a linen collar and the
rough fellow in a sweater. The latter
might be a college football player
anyhow. he observed. 60 the oucs-
ton OF what is a. gentleman and what
settled. Poker, however, In not TO
be 80 construed. according TO the
statement made later by Justice
Crutchneld. A faro bank may be, but
poker never.
commonwealth's Attorney, Minitree
Foikes here came TO the rescue and
made the way clear for his honor TO
punish the accused III a manner that
would be warning TO others. as well
as TO President Donald. Of the Madison
Club He did not object to the court
considering the mitigating oircumstar-
ees offered by counsel for the defense
observed Mr.. Folks. but the public had
10 be protected.
Whereupon Justice Crutchfeid pro-
tected the public by imposing a fine
OF $500. an amount which seemed to
surprise the worthy counsel for the
defense.
Three are Arraiansd.
Three young men were arraigned
when the case was called: Alexander
Donald. c. J.. Brown and Il. L. Kidd,
all estimable young men. counsel point
ed out. They looked It. too. for they
were all spberly clad In good clothing
and subdued manner.
Policeman Gentry told how, in pur-
suance of order from the police board.
he had looked up the Madison Club
the three young men Feb. 4. He said
Gent TO convict in the cases OF Brown
and Kidd and they were ordered dis
charged.
Then came the arguments over
ps,nAlti. wfro had decided TO plead
guilty. 1t was all in regard TO the
degree of punishment he should re-
ceive His youth and innocence Of
want only doing wrong was made much
Of by the defense and when Mr..
Folks added few words that might
be construed as favoring the young
man. everybody looked for a light SEN
tence
i. X was then Jusfiee Crutchf1eld issued
his dictum about a poker room being
worse than n faro bank. ffe followed
this up with the $500 fine. Donald
appealed and c. Fl. Reed went his bond.