Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-27
GAMBLING DEN RAIDEB.
Tables and Devices Captured
and Set Fire to by the
Police.
A Long Delay, but q Speedy Execu.
tiOn Of Outraged Law.

Yesterday an E~nglishmsn named G.
s. Burgess was roped by Jim Marshall
into Browns gambling house on Monroe
street, between Main and Second. Bur-
CESS is a tourist, who for several days
was stopping at the Peabody Hotel,
where he CHANGED to meet Jim Marshall,
with whom he took several drinks YES
terday, and was finally induced to visit
Browns gambling establishment. The
Englishman, with a generous soul for
fun rarely characteristic Of his nation,
bet money on some game and finally
lost $500. Last night be made com
plant to the police, and Captain Aratta
lost no time ia arresting Julia" big.
gins, but Nip Wayne and jim
Marshall managed to escape. Not a
cent Of the money was recovered,
despite the diligence of Captain Aratta.
Only a few days ago a young man named
Smith, from West Virginia, was roped
into Browns establishment and swindled
out Of every dollar he had. The chief Of
police was notified Of this outrage, but
no definite action was then taken. The
daring system Of roping and ~swindling
has been going on in Memphis for years,
but the chief of police has never exercised
his authority to break it up. This morn
ing the chief Of police, as il inspired by a
sense Of duty, sudden as it was determ-
ined, took Captain Weatherford and pro-
ceeded to Browns establishment. The
door was locked, and Brown was moi at
home. The officers bursted open the door
and entered the len, where they captured
two or three faro and roulette tables,
spreads, checks and other devices used
for gambling purposes. These articles
the officers broke to pieces and pitched
out of the window into the street. In q
few minutes the broken furniture and
gambling devices we're piled up in the
street, and then set FIRE to. Quite q
crowd collected in the vicinity to witness
the burning Of the articles, which had
subseryed the base purposes Of sane.
toned thieviDg, rascality and robbery for
two or three years. We say ' sanctioned"
because the police have not been igno.
rant Of the existence OF this den, nor IN.
aware Of the manner in which strangers
have been ropsd into this and other es-
Establishments, there to be robbed with
impuuity. In fact, this species Of rob-
berry has been sanctioned to such
an extent that the mysterious word
misdemeanor" is always placed as the
charge" against the gambler arrested.
The payment of a nominal fine and the
settlement Of all costs" have very gen
orally resulted in the release Of ropers,
gamblers aud thieves. At last the chief
OF police has raided, and we hope broken
up, a swindling establishment. There
are many other gambling bells in Mem
phis. VIII the chief of police raid these?
We await to see what be will do. Will
he instruct his police to keep a strict
watch on all suspicious places, and there.
by prevent innocent parties from being
robbed? We fear not. Why not raid
other establishments in this city2 Why
not make a clean sweep, and thereby rid
the eommusity OF q set of thieves and
robbers? Why will not the chief Of
police exercise the same authority to
demolish other and all other gambling
institutional He has no right to dis
tinguish between any violation of law by
gamblers, and he must either do bis duty
or else admit his ineficiency to exercise
official authority, or confess his partialily
to some gamblers and their dens We
commend his action in breaking up
Browns den, but unless he execute the
law ~imOartiahy we will Oe compelled to
speak in plain and positive language.