The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-01-27
Lottery Gambling.


gambling. But, within short time, Lotteries,
under new name, being known low as Gtft
Concerts" are springing up sbundsntly, and bid
fair, unless resisted, TO oversprssd the whole
country, and bring upon the present generation
those evils which our predecessors fels In their
time. and which they deemed to be serious
enough to require the Introduction Of a cOnstitu-
tionsl provision.
Il is claimed however, by some, that . "Glff
Concert is not = Lottery on two accounts LIS,
no numbers are used in drawing; and I'd, there
are no blanks. but each ticket holder draws .
prize or gift Of some kind.
As to the first objection, does ii make any
difference, where the distribution is made By the
The drawing of . small boy blindfolded,
whether tina. soy draws out in bis hand, ihs
name Of John Doe, or ticket No. Is, Walsh en-
titles John Doe to piano' Does net the piano
come to him, in either case, By 8 dressing 6y
chance! aud does il make the slightest dlfsr-
ence to John Doe whether he be drawn BY
name or by number, so long as she dr0a''"9
brings him the prize! IL not the result exactly
the same: If the drawing we're done by num-
bers, and it would therefore be gambling, Is is
any less gambling because the property Is trans
ferred by tho use Of naness The objection 10
so shallow that it needs no argument
The second objection is equally groundless.
The director will admit that scheme In which
$500 are to be drawn in one prize, and 100 tick
cts are sod and 80 Of these are blanks, is los-
terry. But, according to his definition, II this
scheme be 30 altered that one ticke: shsll draw
S4g9 Oh and the other % teks.s shall
draw one cent each, is is no longer . Lottery.
because every man draws prize! Who does
not see that the amount Of property drden 10
precisely the same in one case a. in the other ,
The whole amount, in both cases, 10 drawn BY
chance; and the only difference 10 In the amount
apportioned to different persons.
Webster defines Lottery 10 be "a scheme
for the distribution Of prizes by chance, or, the
distribution itself" This definition Is adopted,
word for word, in the Law Dictionary. Whether
we look at the subject from legal or moral
point Of view, Il" Gift Concert" must be re-
regarded, in all respects, as Lottery. Bat ii 10
no improvement on the old fashioned mode OF
gambling, but, in our opinion, is far short oft.
In the DAYS Of our fathers, Lotteries we're
authorized by acts of the Legislature. Thsy
we're usually for some public benefit as the
building of road, or bridge, or a college
They were managed by men we'll known, and
appointed by law, who were responsible to the
public for the correctness of the proceedings,
and for the delivery OF the property. The eI-
every one and the prizes were all paid in
money.
How does this mode of doing business CORES.
pond with the recent Grand Concert in De-
.rot: There, the drawing was done IN = man
ner violating both State and National laws The
object was not any public benefit, but the prs.
rate gain of somebody. The total value OF the
property invested was unknown to the ticket.
holder; nobody gave bonds for the safe keeping
straction theft; ana no ono is legally RESPONSE
bic for the number Of tickets sold, the correct
ness Of Ihe drawing, or the delivery of the gifts.
If we must have Lottery gambling, We much
prefer the old fashioned, legaIzed, manly way OF
doing The business in cash, under the control OF
respectable men, whose reputation sbsl;be 81.
curity against fraud and corruption.
We observe that Mr.. J. B. Bloss has given
notice in the Advsrtiser that he shall prosecute
the parties concerned in the late Gift Concert
He should be sustained by every good citisen.
As not one perIon in hundred knows what
: toe law Of Michigan upon this subject We vii.
extract the whole statute, 90 that no one NAV
ignoranty lay himself liable TO the penalties nn-
posed. 1t will be found in the Compiled Laws
page 154s-9:
(5s9D SEC. l. Every person who shall set I'd
or promote within this State, any lottery for
money, or shall dispose Of any property real or
personal, or valuable thing, by way of lottery.
Iug or wrTIUg, or snaH IN any way be concerned
in the setting up, managing or drawing of any
such lottery, or Who shall, in any house, shop or
building, owned or occupied by him, or under his
control, knowingly permit the setting up, man
aging or drawing OF any such lottery. or the sale
of any lottery ticket or share of ticket, or any
other writing, certificate, bill, token or other
device, purporting or intended TO sntitle the
holder, bearer or other person TO any prize, or
to any share Of, or interest in, any prise TO be
drawn in any such lottery, or who shall know
ngy suffer money or other property TO be ransd
tor in such house, shop or binding, or to be
there won by throwing or using dice, or by any
other game OF chance, shall, for every such off
fence. be punished by fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars.
(5s92) SIC. 2. Every person Who shall sell
either for himself or for any other person, or
shall offer for sale, or shall have in bis possession
With intent 10 sell or offer for sale, or TO s1.
change or negotiate, or shall in any wise aid or
assist 10 the selling, negotiating or disposing Of
ticket in any such lottery, or share OF . ticket,
or anY such writing, certificate, bill, token or
other device, as is mentioned in the preceding
section, shall be punished for every such ofsnse,
bv fine not exceeding two thousand dollars.
(5s9S) sKc. 5. If any person shall, after be-
ing convicted OF any offence mentioned in either
Of the two preceding sections, somnit the like
offence, or any Of the offences therein men
toned, he shall, in addition 10 the fne provided
therefor, be further punished by Imprisonment
in the cosnty jail not mere than one year.
(5s94) SIC. 4. Every person who shall ad-
vertise any lottery ticket, or any share In any
such ticket, for sale, either by himself or by any
other person, or who shall set up or exhibit, or
shall devise and make for the purpose Of being
set up and exhibited, any sign, symbol or any
embaI etc or other representation of lottery,
or of the drawing thereof, in any way indicating
where lot.sryiucket or q share thereof, or any
such writing, certificate, bill. token or other de-
vice before mentioned, may be purchased or OBJ
tanned, or shall in any way invite or sntice, or
attempt TO entce any other person TO purchase
or receive the same he shall be punished for sv-