, 1875-01-31

it have that the possessor has not made
copy of it before parting with it and taking
the handsome reward !?
-------.--e-
THE POLICE AND TIE GAMBLERS.
The events Of the last week have shown
that it is an open question in Chicago whether
the law and the courts or the gambling fra
ternity exercise q superior authority. The
Grand Jury, and the Prosecuting Attorney,
and the Court did their duty, and yet score
or more notorious and avowed gamblers
escaped con7iction The reasons for this
escape were twofold: l. In several lnstan~
cos the Police Justices anticipated the Grim
inal Court by fning the ganblersa small sum-
The judgments in these cases were appealed
from to the Circuit Court, and there, with
long docket Of like appeals, remain to be
tried at some day in the remote future
Still, under our law, the judgment OF
the Police Court is recognized as pre-
vious conviction, barring any subsequent pros
ecution. 2. The failure of the testimony by
tho police officers, who, according to Capt
BUCKLEY, have bean instructed or edmonished
to keep away from gambling houses, and,
generally, to know rs little concerning them
as possible. For instance, Capt. BUCKLEY
himself, an intelligent and generally efficient
officer. declared that he did not know the
! reputation of certain establishment SO no.
torious that there is hardly bootblack or
newsbo7 in Chicago that cannot describe the
character Of it's business and Of its pro-
nr;etors and patrons. There WAS therefore
no evidence furnished by the police. The
police and the Police Courts combined stood
between the gamblers and justice, and the
| former went forth free.
The responsibility for the silence or igno-
rance Of the police force rests upon the
| Police Commissioners. Whatever tie exists
| between the gamblers and the public euthori-
ties is Of political character. The gambling
fraternity, with its afinities in all the crimi-
mi and degraded classes, constitutes, when
united, an active body Of unscrupu]ous lend
| ers Of the criminal classes, controlling both
primary meetings and closely divided wards
and districts. This body Of sin and crime
| has no fixed habitation. It can be moved
into any precinct, ward, or district, or spread
over several, and can be depended upon for
| any nunpeI u sotea Ae1oAAeo - 40
ployors.
There has been no interference with or dis
t1rbance of the gambling fraternity since
WAsuouns went out and the "People's
Party" rule came in. They have had prncti-
cally the ttfreedom of the city" They have
ayailed themselves Of this immunity in the
most unlimited manner. They have kept
their gambing-houses open to the public
hnye played their games without disguise, and
vet the police hive had ''no knowledge
Of their transactions! The gambling houses
and faro-dens have, under this freedom from
arrest, multiplied in number prodigiously
Gamblers have been attracted hither from al
the other cities by this immunity from asres
and disturbance. The public have become
faniliarized with the vice in all it'
forms, and the daily gatherings o1
the gamblers, and the condaence-men,
and the thieves upon their exchange have
been as open and as notorious os the
meetings Of the Merchants Exchange. Tht
parades Of this regiment Of sharpers on tn
streets, with their array of dianonds, ant
jewelry, and fine apparel, have evidenced th
! pIUSpGI1ki oA LtAp b4aAAA<oo3 90 HGAA es3 ~+1
conscious security with which it was cazriet
on.
The people OF Chicago have become tiret
, of this. They have no share Or interest i
any "contracts in for political services. # tn
, Police Commissioners, or the Superintendent
or both, have had any political reason for es
tending this long immunity to the gamblers
H.. In frv4
I enough. The timo has come when the polio
force must be used to break up thes
ga1nbling-dens, and run the villain
out Of the city. It is Of no us
; for the Police Commissioners or til
Superintendent to handy between them th
, responsibility for the past neglect of duty
; The future places the responsibility upon til
. Commissioners, and they cannot avoid il
The late Grand Jury placed on record lon
: List of premises used for gambling purpose'
md larger List Of gamblers engaged in til:
Illegal business. The Commissioners came
, plead ignorance on this subject 1.-THE Super
= intendent neglects or refuses to direct II
police to enter gambling houses and nrrei
. those therein engaged at play, then the Poltt
o Commissioners will discover where tho ol
), struction Is. Il tho Polioe-Suresintonde,
= will not rosign, then the Commission
. ors know what il their duty
:. the pre:nisea Tho Superintendent
L Police Is subordinate, anbiout to ordsra, a.
n rofusal on hia part to do his duty forces tt
!. Commissioners either TO tolerate bis osaal
Il u,Itoouduos and beoontn responsible thoro!o
y OF to take the propar measures to aeoura e
d otlor oi1loat.
> VI hnSa 10 auast;an that within thu III