The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-31
Mini negroes I: G
FINED S. EACH [
Arrests and Trials Threaten
to Break Up Colony in
Railroad Yards.

The arrest of nine colored men
Tuesday night on charges OF
shooting craps Threatened to
break up the colony of non-union
employees now working in the local
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad yards,
it was learned today when the
men were giveE a hearing before
. acting Mayor W. p. Arnett and
fined SIS each. AS a result Of the
arrests some Of the colored en-
ployes have quit work and left the
city and others have expressed
their intentions of leaving.
baltimore & Ohio Railroad Off
GERS appeared IN police court this
morning with counsel in behalf of
the colored men. Judge J. p.
Kirby represented the defendants.
while Attorney Albert J. Kern was
the counsel for the prosecution.
Aim ost three hours were taken
up in examining witnesses. and
much conflicting evidence was re-
ceiyed as to whether or not the
men were seated in a circle around
blanket as stated by one OF the
OFFICERS, and as TO whether there
was any money seen when the
officers made their raid.
Assistant Chief of Police Shroy-
er was the first witness to testify,
and he stated that he made the
raid after number of complaints
had been made He said that
there were several other officers
with him, one Of whom was Jack
Roberts. The counsel for the de-
tense brought out that Roberts
was a machinist by trade and was
formerly employed by the Balt1-
more & Ohio Railroad. but had
not worked since the strike.
Shroyer also stated that Roberts
machine was used to haul the pr1-
soners from the place they were
arreste to the city jail. Ofhcer
Shroyer said he saw some dice
butadid not see any money. When
the m en- were searched at ponce
headquarters, one of them had a
$50 bill and another had fortJ
pennies tied up in small bag.
but none Of the other men had any
money at all.
Harry Downey, who stated that
he was also a special officer for
the city and that he had been act
ing in this capacity off and on
since the first of last January, was
the uetx person to testify. He said
he was certain that he saw about
So in money on the blanket and he
saw some dice leave one Of the ne
groes' hands He stated that he,
too. had been en- ployed by the rail
road company about two OF three
years ago. VS.
The next officer to go on the wit
ness stand was Jack Roberts. He
denied any charge of telling the
men after they had been arrested
that they would have to leave the
city at once. He stated that he was
employed as a special officer, dis
played his police badge and stated
that he was under bond Of $500,
the same as any of the other Off
GERS. He saw an amount Of M oney
estimated at about So when he en-
tered the railroad camp, he said
and also saw the dice. He and
.Downey were the first officers to
enter the building
other officers were examined,
but none of them saw any m oney
nor witnessed any gambling, ac-
cording to their own testimony
All of the prisoners were sworn ,s1,
and testified that they were not
shooting craps, but said that5a man MAJ,
whom the officers did not arrest
threw the dice on a blanket, on
which one Of the men was sleeping,
and tried to start a game
II They said they did not accept his
offer to gamble because they had
no m oney
In addressing the court, City At
torney3 Albert ]. Kern did>not make:
any recommendations but frankly.
stated that in his opinion the cir
Gums tances were extremely trivial.
Judge J.@P. Kirby made a plea for
the, dismissal Of the defendants and
reviewed the contradictory ev1d-
ence and circumstantial evidence
In the case After hearing the ev1-
dence and argum ent of the attor-
neys, acting Mayor Arnett imposed
fine Of SIS on each Of the defen =
dants 53s
II