San Andreas independent., 1857-02-28
CHINESE GAMBLERs.-The District Attorney,

Mr. W. jeff. Gatewood, on Monday last insti-
tuted proceedings against all the Chinese gam
piers residing on China street, San Andreas,
in accordance with his duty. Some twenty
were arrested and brought before Justice Ste
vens when they asked for trial by Jury which
was granted to them. The Jury succeeded In
convicting thirteen of the accused parties, all
of whom, Except one who escaped were sent
to Mokelumne Hill in default of paying their
fine with costs The Judge sentenced the gam
blers to pay fine of $500 90 on each convIc-
ton, or to serve in the chain-gang nifty days,
for each $500 fine. The convictions, hnes and
costs sum up about as follows;
All Wah. indictments, 81 1900; costs, S26;
Ah Kun, 2 indictments, $1,000; costs, 1885,
All Koon. indictments, 81 500; costs, $26;
Ah Wang l indictment, $500; costs, S22 so ;
Ah Keung, 3 indictments, 1900; costs, S26;
Lo Chew, Indictment, $780, costs, $22 so;
Ah Ii, Indictment, $500; costs S25M3O;
All Kuhn, Indictment $500 costs, $25@)30 !;
All Wing 2 indictments, s. 900; costs S27 so;
All Ickh, Indictment, $500; costs, $25@3O !;
All Pan, Indictment, $500; costs, S25M30;
All Chew, indictment, $500 costs, S25(d)30.
Some feeling was manifested by property
holders in reference to this matter, as the par
ties convicted were paying heavy rents for the
use of the buildings, and were, as they thought,
complying with law and usage-having been
imposed upon by some scamps fraudulently
selling them licenses to gamble. Many seem
to think the fines too heavy, and that the pro-
ceedings, generally, partook more of the nature
Of 8 ebo 4I,o
do away with the evil Complained Of against
good society and correct morality The object
of all legal punishments is to prevent, by their
severity and example, the violation of our laws
The crime of gambling, in these cases, we think
might have been prevented or would have ceas-
ed had the guilty parties been warned of the
offence. aud forbid its practice, by the proper
officers stating the law and the punishment that
would result in case of noncompliance. We
know it is and expense to keep these men in
Jail such length of time light fine would
have been paid; the parties are ignorant of
our language and laws, had practced what they
paid license to- do, and they saw American
gamblers doing the same thing, even betting on
the Chinese odd-and-ecen game, without even a
blush of shame word ofwarning- we know
such to be the case. According to the letter of
the law, it is no doubt all right, and we believe
the Judge, Jury and Prosecuting Attorney, but
complied with their oaths and the requirements
of the law in all the proceedings, yet the cases
seem to be of a nature demanding sympathy
Had the parties been American gamblers, who
are well-informed of the workings of the law
and the nature of the vice, we should not be
their apologist. The American sport reads
the papers,-he sees that the crime of gambling
is being punished all over the State where the
vice exists from Siskiyou to San Diego since
the recent decision of the Supreme Court. The
Courts are full of gambling cases, and in every
instance the Court fines the criminal on first
conviction, Sl00; if the offence is repeated,
the fine is raised to S400; if the gambler still
persists i'll his unholy calling, and is again tried
and found guilty, the Court fines the full ex-
tent of the law, $500 and costs for each offence
or to serve fifty days in Jail for each $500.