Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-25

From the police records which have
been furnished US by the chief Of the po-
lice force, we find that from time to time
the keepers Of these saloons have been
arrested at night while engaged in
gaming, and have been compelled to de-
post with the police, magistrate,or officer
making the arrest, sum Of money,
usually one hundred dollars, to insure
their appearance before him for trial the
next morning These amounts Of money
have usually been forfeited, and no other
punishment inflicted for that otfense.
Officers and members OF the police
force have testified that il was common
for them to go to these saloons at night
in search of men guilty or convicted Of
other crimes, but with few exceptions has
any one testified that he has seen game
of any kind completely played. The ar.
rests by the police officers seem to have
been made upon the general knowledge
that they were gambling saloons.
We find that the boys and men who
visit these saloons usually do so for the
purpose of playing for either pleasure or
profit, and all witnesses seem to be sim
gularly forgetful or ignorant Of the names
of those whom they met there, WHOM they
saw playing or gaming, how many games
were played, and how much, if any, mo-
ney was lost or won.
1t is the opinion Of men who testify
that they visit these saloons that from
800 to 1900 boys and men are to be found
playing the game of keno in the different
saloons of this city nightly, and of all
ranks and grades in society-the school
boy, the clerk, the mechanic, the mer-
chant and men of almost every profess
sion.
From the difficulty we find in getting
evidence that will convict the keeper Of
the house or the player, and from our
knowledge of the plan which has been
pursued by the Chief of the Police in
imposing fines and forfeitures, we are Of
opinion thatthe Police Department can
do very much more, and at lighter ex.
pense, in holding such nuisances in check
or abolishing them entirely than can be
done by any other legal authority. We
feel confident that if the police force
would inhict upon the keepers of these
gambling saloons, as we'll as all found
gaming there, the full extent Of the law,
including fines and imprisonment-and
that every day or night, as they may be
found so engaged-the evil to very
great extent might be abated.
1t has been intimated to us that the
police force has been in the habit oflevy-
ing fines upon individuals for offenses,
or receiving moneys from offenders, to
prevent arrests, which moneys have not
been paid into any general police fund,
but taken and used for private and indi-
vidual purposes. Several witnesses have
testified to having paid money as fines or
forfeitures to police officers, but never in
any case when they had any reason to
believe such moneys to be taken for pri-
waite or individual benefit of the officer or
officers of the force; nor have they ever
had any assurance from an officer Of the
department when paying forfeit, in case
of arrest for keeping gambling house,
that they would not be arrested again the
next day for similar offense.
When forfeits have been paid, receipts
have been given for the money, specify.
ing the amount and the purpose for which
it was paid. The police records, how
ever, show payments of money in several
instances where the parties, having paid,
have no receipts or having taken vouch-
ers when payments were made, have lost
them.
In pursuance to instructions, we have
visited the upper and lower station
houses of the Metropolitan Police, exam.
ined carefully the official records, which
we found carefully, fully and we'll kept
for the purposes intended We also ex.
amined the cells and various apartments
for persons under arrest, and found
commendable decree of care exercised
for the safe keeping and comfort Of the
prisoners, more especially was this the
case at the upper station house.
We also visited the old Jail on Adams
street; the apartments in this Jail are
lily adapted for the purposes designed,
and, as q consequence, the prisoners are
compelled to be placed in close and con-
find quarters. We found sixty-three
colored persons confined in one small
room, and do very strongly recommend
a removal of the prisoners to the new
jail at the earliest practicable day,
We have also examined the new county
Jail, on the northwest corner of Chicka-
saw and Auction streets, and are well
pleased with the structure and its general
adaptation to the ends for which it is in
tended.
The building, as q whole, is highly
creditable to the architect, Mr.. j. b. Cook,
and to the contractor and builder, Mr.. ].
]. Powers. 1t is universally acknowledged
to be the best prison structure in the
southwest, and is at once an ornament
to the city, and q tribute to the public
spirit and liberality of the people of
Shelby county.
Taken altogether, the new Jail has
been most admirably planned and exc
cniad That soma errnrs and defects