Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
Richmond Detectives Claim
"Seer" Was a ''FenCe" :
for Thieves.
DEMOCRATS IN THE AIR
OVER FEDERAL PLACES
Gov. Mann Is Determined to Stop
Gambling at the Jamestown
Race Track.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
RICHMOND. Va. March %, 1913
Prof. w. r. Lonzo. wiuo.,has been here
for some time, coming from somewhe#S
in the United States. is in trouble. He
is also in jail. The professors. Is a palm
ist, a reader, a seer. He had Offices
I'm a room in East Marshall street. He
did some business along his professed
line. and is said to have gathered in con-
siderable cash. The detectives charge
that he is really nothing more than a
fence
Several weeks have witnessed the re-
ports of numerous robberies in daylight
and at night The detectives tried to
get a lead on the operators. Finally they
managed to land a quartet of boys and
they proceeded to spill in the parlance
of the crooks-told all they knew. They
said they had been stealing for several
months and that they had been selling
the stuff to the professor. One of the ar
ticles sold was a gold watch valued at
$3.50. One OF the boys stole that and the
professor generously gave them $3.50 for
it. he claims. The detectives found this
in the man rooms. They also found
about $1,000 worth Of other stun. which
is being identified from day to day by the
owners. The professor is being held for
the'grand jury.
Much Up in the Air.
Officeseekers and politicians and states
men are much up in the air at this time.
The anti-machine men are guessing as
to what will happen next and they are
being charged with approval of the ap-
pointment of John Shelton Williams as
assistant secretary of the treasury,
though Mr. Williams has been an anti
Bryan democrat for some several years.
The machine followers are not worry
ing 10 any great extent for they have
been expecting to get the ear Of Col
Bryan at the proper time, and Richard
+. Byrd is still affiliated with that branch
OF the party. The anti-machine men are
more elated than they have been for some
time, or they were till their choice for
United States circuit judge. c. V. Mere
dith of Richmond. was declared to be
over the age limit. They had not con-
sldered that. AS the matter stands there
are none who are any too pleased at the
prospect of getting the places for which
they have waited and worked for SO
many years. When news of an appoint
ment of any but a straight democrat is
announced here the republican office
holders smile and say nothing.
Outlook Is Gloomy.
Reports from Lynchburg are to the eff
feet that the outlook for the proposed
ball club there, to be part of the United
States League, is not bright. In fact it
Is anything but bright. Overtures are
Deing made to several of the players of
the Virginia League to enter the ranks
of the outlaws, but SO far they have not
been attended with any desertions,
though the increase in salaries is con-
siderable as compared with the steady
ed
league.
The experience of some of the players
In the United States League last year IS
still recalled hereabouts. and the fate of
the stockholders must have become
known in the Hill city, for the sale of 125
season tickets for the purpose of getting
the nucleus for an organization is meet
ing with much lack of appreciation on
the part of the fans and the managers
are declaring they want to be shown a
reasonable interest.
Million-Dollar Skyscraper.
Richmond is to have a million-dollar
skyscraper Office building in the near flu
ture. The building will be on the site
just east of the local post office, which
was lately enlarged and much improved.
The lot has been purchased by III. L. De-
noon and plans are to be prepared right
away for the structure. The price paid
Tor the lot was 5000 front foot, with
depth of eighty feet.
The new building is to be modern af-
fair In every way-steel, stone, concrete
and brick-and will be three stories high
er than any building in the city at this
time. The building will be most con-
venient 10 the federal courts, the SUI
preme court of appeals and to the city
nall. in the heart of the financial dis
trlct, has light on three sides, four car
lines passing in front and less than half
a DsOck
mond money will finance the building.
and the occupants of the present building
are said TO be willing to surrender their
leases to nave the Improvement made.
Will Try to Stop Betting.
once again will Gov. Mann undertake to
stop betting on races at the spring meet
ing OF the jamestown Jockey Club, which
begins early In the coming month for
season OF three weeks or more. Gov.
Mann has before tried to do this very
th.ng. 50 has the attorney general, and
they have met with the poorest sort of
success. The ''bookies'' are there on the
1oD. and there Is money bet right and
left On the events. Arrests have been
made. Special detectives have been placed
on the spot, and IL has been established
that betting was done, the one thing that
was against the law, but the fact that
the betting was bookmaking was never
established TO the satisfaction Of the
courts.
This time. however, the governor is I'M
Gerstood 10 be trying 10 get at the evil
by some process which he declines to
make public. and to this end he has called
the attorney general to his confidence, and
they have gone over the matter The
chances are that the efforts will fail
opinions OF lawyers who have investigat-
ed the cases being that the law is de-
fective. and that the men who drew it
hs4f h.at- yns. 1<Ft
hole which will enable the sports to
evade punishment and at the same time
indulge in their favorite amusement.
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