National Republican., 1877-02-22
THE POLICE hoard.

Attorney Riddles Opinion ON the Power of
the Police to Enter Gambling Houses
Some sharp Sentences for the Police to Con-
sider-The Police should be Active, Not
scdentary.
The Board of Police held q meeting yester-
LAY. On tho 18th inst. President Gatchel, in q
communication to Attorney Riddle, asking for an
opinion upon the powers OF the police TO enter
gambling houses. brothe,s and other suspected
places ~-
In response to that request, Attorney Riddle
submitted the following opinion;
Attorney Biddic on Gambling Houses
WASHINGTON, Feb. IS, 1871.
Tkodors r. Gdichci, Pr6sidsRi Board Police
Com missioHsrS:
sIR-In reply to the questions of yours of the
18th inst. l have To say
First. Section 53i, revised statutes Of the Dis.
trict, page 10, makes IL the special duty Of the
Board of Police to enforce the laws regarding
gaming bawdy houses, policy shops, ETC., and the
laws provide for the suppression Of the first, and
ample punishment for the last To enable the
Board to perform this and other duties, an ample
force Is placed at their disposal. which only re.
quircs proper discipline. efficiency aud vigilance
to accomplish the purpose. This force must be
active, not sedentary, aggressive and not pas.
sive.
It should be everywhere present, vlgilnnt to
observe, and prompt to arrest. 1t must procure
and act on It's own Inform alton and not wait for
complaints or information from others. IL should
be oIen to all complaints, and active IN following
up all clues that may lead to the punishment Of
Complaints are often made Of the los. Of money
TSs sS OF ne SsS e. The
places in the hands Of the police the means Of
furnishing, the guilty, Il Should Invariably be
Gs SSsPSs Se
rendering his services unnecessary. 1t would
S6S% nS HnS S, to ss rsS wsS
greater risk than that OF occasionally returning
the money Of such as might complain. trust
| aid individuals will never do It by any arrange.
meut, whereby an ofncer against the public will
sssaPs PrOPer Hr0:esutiCn The return Of money
being prosecuted Is prohibited by sec. i3l, Revised
second. The 3ai,h, svotn and .o2ud section Of
the Revised Statutes, p. p % and AZ, make II the
duty Of your ofcers to execute all warrants, any
and everywhere In this District.
| The fastening Of a door, or closing other ave-
MUGS OF entrance, would be NO excuse for the
| on-performance OF this duty. Armed with q
the officer should permit no obstacle to prevent
its proper execution, doing as little damage to
| property as may be. The united states Is SOW
person or thing to come between Its Officers and
| their execution Of Its will.
is ths O.
| The 307th section, revised Statutes, p. 10,
and Of each ol your susordlnate., without war.
rant, to arrest any person committing or attempt.
| ing TO commit any act known as an offence In
this District, In tho presence or within the view
Of such member of your force. l have no doubt
that the commission Of an offence within hearing
| would behoded to be within presence.
An oiflcer acting with discretion and courage
| under given circumstances, could seldom fall IN
| der censure. Timidity and hesitation should moi
The ssth section Of the Revised Statutes, pag,
20, defines the duties Of the Major and lieuten
| ants In reference to suspected fclonies In build
ings, or on ship-board, and requires them In al
instances, when there Is ',just cause to suspect
| to break and enter, make arrests, sc.
1t is thus seen that the law is simple In th
| powers with which II arms, ard the protection
with which II surrounds You and your ofreers
ltregures corresponding wisdom, vigilance
and efficiency.
Respectfully,
(SigneD A. q. RIDDLE
Keep Away from Had Places.
The Board adopted the following as one Of tn
rules Of the force:
| RUIZ s. That when q bawdy house or gaminl
house Is faided In accordance with these rules
the major shall instruct his officers TO take dow
| with great care the time. name and address Q
| each party found therein, so far as the same ca
possibly be ascertained, and to report the sam
through him TO this Board.
Applications for liquor licenses were dis
| posed of as follows: Disapproved-John Fltl
gerald, Dennis keady Hannah Hallahan an
| Cornelius Barley.
The board declined to recon slider the following
| dlsapproYed licenses: Peter DonnelIy, Geo. W
Thecker, Edward T.. Jones al Theodore Rauthe
| Referred to MAJOR Richards-Wm. ii. Edelin,
| r. IL, MCConaghy and y. q. Godfrey.