The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-19


Misunderstanding, - Gambting,--
S.c Tins far this has been an eventful
week for the orderly city of Burlington.
On Monday four young men were brought
up before the Bench Of Justices on the
charge of Robbery. 1t appeared in evl-
dence that the young man (Cleek) upon
whom the robbery was said to have been
committed, came from the north for the
purpose of entering land. He put up at a
house in the lower part of town that has
become somewhat noted of late, where
he became acquainted with several OF the
rowdy order. On Saturday last ne was
led away to another notorious place.
known as the Exchange, where he be-
came intoxicated. After gambling away
some of his money, it was proposed by
some of the gang to go up to the Toniine,
where they told him, he could find a bill
lard table and ten pin alley. By taking
rs I =
hold Of his arms, they led him along, pas
sing by the Tontine, until they arrived at
a place beyond any habitation in town.
Here they charged lin with having sto-
len ten dollars from his Landlady, aud
said that he must not only give up the
money but confess the crime They then
stripped off his frock coat and used threat
ening language;--while they were doing
this, he offered them ten dollars, but re-
fused to acknowledge having stolen it.
One of TIL a by the name of .Aadrcas
jackson and who protested to be his part
ner in gambling, took his coat down TO a
stump. In the meantime the other three
prisoners together with another of the
gang who had made his escape, forced
Cleek up to a tree, around which they
tied his arms. They then commenced
beating him in most shameful manner I;
after breaking one stick over his back,
they again insisted upon his making a
confession; still refusing they continued
to beat him, until at last they seemed sat
isfed, took from him the ten dollars, I'M
tied his hands and let him 60. 1t ap-
peared that his pocket book, containing
200 dollars in Missouri money, was in
the breast pocket of his coat when it was
stripped off, and that when he was sufli-
GENTLY recovered and got to light, the
pocket book was missing. 1t is suppos-
ed that when the coat was taken down to
the stump by Jackson, the pocket book
was distracted, and that there was an un-
derstanding among the whole gang con-
corning the management Of this ncfarious
business. At any rate the presiding JUS
tees, Hendershott, Bennett and Griffey,
thought there was sufficient evidence 10
compel them to recognize in the sum Of
500 dollars each to appear at the next dis
trict Court. We understand one of the
persons has been bailed; the other three
were committed.
During the examination Of the above case
some facts were elected that should put
those of our citizens on the alert who take
any interest in the character Of the place.
There are those among US who are not
only disposed to take the law into their
own hands bat there are places where
youth are enticed and led on to initiate
those who have long been in the business
Of drinking and gambling; thus destroy
ing their characters and preparing them
selves to be worse than useless in society.
We are glad to learn that the present
board of Aldermen in conjunction with
the Mayor are determined 10 put the law
in force, against all who violate it in this
matter. This brings us to the doings of
Tuesday, in which this determination was
fully carried out by the presiding Justi-
ces.
Among those brought up on Tuesday
was the presiding genius of the Exchange.
He was charged with keeping gambling
house. fined to the extent of the law and
his license taken from him. He was next
indicted for keeping disorderly house.
There were several witnesses eyamin-
ed who all testified to there having been
dancing. hallooing, and other boisterous de-
ings in his house on Saturday night; but the
witness who gave the most zest 10 the af.
fair was a live Yankee. He said he was
in the Exchange on Saturday evening.
That there was dancing and considerable
cutting up in all sorts of ways, even to
fellows jacket off his back. Those pre-
sent seemed determined to have spree.
lie said they undertook to have an Indian
dance, and the way they did thump and
pow WOW and caper put him in mind of
the screamers he had read of--that the
keeper OF the Excbange endeayored ~