Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-05-17
THE GETTYSBURG ASYLUM GAM
BLING SCHEME.

We some days ago received a prospectus
Of grand lottery scheme Tor the ostensibla
purpose Of obtaining funds for the erection
If an asylum Cor invalid soldiers at Gettys-
burg, Pa. 4 bill authorizing the establish
1neut Of al extensive iottery scheme, similar
jl, character to the Crosby Opera House lot
5cfy. seems to have been snuggled through
our last legislature, with the alleged design
IF raising funds for the above named pur-
rose, but in reality, as it seems, to enable a
set Of sharpers to sxindle the people Of the
country ont of their money for the benefit Of
private parties, by appealing to their pa;ri-
otisrn and sympathy for our MANNED veter-
aus. This was further cloaked under the
alleged favorable opinions and reeommenda-
tions Of such men as Governor Curtin. Gen
erals Meade, Siekles. PennypackeT, &c. The
l-iUtsDurg14 ttsrsrse, g-1 ss-e,, tha fslls,risa,
account Of the FIRST meeting of the eorpo-
rators:
An alleged meeting Of the eorporators was
held at General Collis's Office, at which but
two of the corporators were personally pres
eut-General Sickel and Mr.. Bergen. Be
sides these, however. General Coils was
present, claiming 70 represent General Pen
uypackeF. At this meeting the principal
business transacted was the election Of {. mum
Der Of the leading lottery men OF the country
as members Of the corporation, and the
Wholesale transfer of all the powers and au-
thorities supposed 10 haze been conferred
upon the corporation to a board of supervl-
sors, composed of these very lottery mana.
gers. The arrangement thus intended TO be
effected gave these lottery men the oPF0rtu-
nifty of collecting from the people the sum OF
twelve millions Of dollars, out of which about
three hundred thousand dollars were to be
doled oat TO the ostsnsible asylum fund. and
eleTeu million seven hundred thousand dol
lars were to pass into the hands of the lot
terry supervisors-a very nice thing for them,
as the public viii easily see.
The whole scheme Is evidently designed
te swindle the people, SO that We uu-
hesjtatingly advise our readers not 10 give
single penny to the enterprise. They who
wish to give of their means for the benefit
Of our gallant soldiers can find plenty Of
crippled soldiers or poor widows and orphans
ueveEy community to whom theireontribu-
tious can be given direct, without putting
them intoa gambling enterprise where nine
teuths Of their contributions viii go 70 en-
rich set of heartless scoundrels whose
chief object is to secure their own pecuniary
benefit by appealing to the public sympa
thy in behalf Of our brave defenders. The
whole scheme IS but little better than rob
berry, and deserves the unequiy0cal cohdem-
nation of all good citizens. Our State long
ago abolished lotteries as demoralizing and
preiudioiaI to the public welfare. In an un-
guarded moment, and under the influence of
an insiduous appeal in behalf Of our MANNED
and suffering soldiers, the legislature seems
to have passed and the GoTerner 10 have
aigH1tl tiIv biii. we 90 NOT Deneye JuaC OF
a more calm and careful examination into
the character Of the scheme, it would have
passed. We bid God speed to all enterpri-
ses for securing the comfort Of the gallant
men who have been manned for life while
defending the flag Of their country against
the assaults of traitors and rebels, but let it
be done IN such a manner as to secure the
appropriation Of the entire amount Of con
tributions to the purpose designed, and let
not the good cause be damaged by connect
ing it with any such disreputable gambling
enterprise as this. We have already too
much corruption and crime al over the
country public sentiment alone can check
the tide Of crime that is sweeping over the
land. There is no better time than DOW to
begin. Let the people not be Ficked into
the support or patronage of any lottery
scheme under whatever deceptive name it
may come, or however respectable the par
ties whose approval it processes to have
whether under the name of the Gettysburg
Asylum bible House, or any other
professedly charitable or religious appella
ton, rascality viii be found at the bottom of
It, and the best that can be said Of any Of
them is that they are an effort to make gam
bling respectable by cloaking it with some
outward appearance Of charity or bensvo-
lence.