New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-18
FRAUD IN CHARITY's NAME.


ATLANTA. Ca, May 20.--The people OF At
ianta are indignant at the continuation by NeW-forK
managers of the charitable fraud known as tie Georgia
State Lottery State and city officials, and private et
zens on in regrets that the earnings OF the poor OF new"
York and other cities should be ehed by so abomnaOle
an enterprise In looking into the business mere nave
been treated with uniform Kindness all eyincing an ear
nest desire TO have the bottom facts brought 10 shI
The remark is frequently made to mo; If The TRIBUNE
can wipe out this blot upon tho fair fame OF the city ana
State it will the gratitude OF every INQUEST ctIeh
Few Of the people here are aware that nnder INC"
very eyes, in defiance Of late legislation uP0n
the subject fact within the very building hrst efeeteu
for the charitable purposes Of Soldiers Orphan Asy
I1um william j. Dabney, an agent Of Benjamin WOOL
Of York who has or had controlling interest IN the
lottery makes drawings twice every day. and sends the
results by Western Union Telegraph to he"-iorK A'
noon and p IN. The Chief OF Police here has sus-
pected and Investigated" and found nothing Each
day. at IL and o'clock shrewd boy, armed with an
unsuspcious-lookng bundle and large stock OF dis
creon enters the rear office OF the Lottery Building anu
receives package OF dispatches from Agent Dabney'
which he conveys TO tho telegraph ofhce
DEMORAIIzING INFLUENCE OF THE LOTTERY
When the charter Of what is known as the Georgia
State lottery first obtained II was intended W eroo'
Masonic Orphan Home of its proceeds; but man
named Broadbent, of Baltimore, obtained controi Oh INC
sale OF the tickets and the nature OF his management
soon caused the Masonic fraternity openly TO repuAe
the scheme The character OF the charity ten ehause
and il became simply school for white orphan ehaen'
The proceeds soon realized enough 10 ehaoie 'Ho
managers, after taking care OF themselves 10 puy
few Acres OF ground in the outskirts OF the city ana aS
to erect the building which was to serve the uouDe P
nose OF school and headquarters BY this time the enter
prise had taken most offensive features wen iVe'
ested in the charity began TO live u1urousiy ana 10
drive equpages not at all IN keeping with the mooes'
earnings Of their legitimate business But the most
pesLlent feature OF the thing was its influence upon
the negro population Of the city. The Weu-Aho"h
passlon for gaming OF tho African race became an
endemic that destroyed all the selfcontrol when Tue
negroes possessed They were completely carried away
by the excitement Of the game They stood IN crowns
about the lottery Offices and policy shops, an eyesore 10
respectable people, aud aront to deeency' every
penny which they could earn. beg or steal, went lhto
the till Of this euterprise-ald never came back
10 them Though hungry ragged, dirty and dis
eased they cared for nothing save TO gam pos
session of a dime or q nlcke for the lottery Northern
people can scarcely realize the frighfu extent TO when
this passion hold Of the ignorant bneks and dc
priyed them Of any habits Of honesty and industry which
they ever had before by reputable citizens the thing
was felt 10 be n shame and degradation But Whatoaied
the phanthropic managers Of this charitable enterprise
Tor tho suffering engendered and the sIn It eausedf IL
was carried ON for the sake Of the poor orphan and II
was turning them many penny.
NORTHERN AGENTS THE MANAGERS
ton spirited attack made upon the lottery IN tho
Legislature by Mr. Hester, whose purity OF pur
pose not tho friends OF tie concern are able TO I'M
peach He introduced bill repeating the grant, when
received a majority vote; but fecon5lderatlon
was moved, when no quorum was present
and the motion smugsled through About
this time Benjamin Wood purchased con-
trolling interest in tho lottery; and DIR. II. L.
wilson OF Atlanta, MT Broadbont, Of Baltimore, and
Others who had prominent in the fight, retired into
the background they say wholly from the Held
Mr. Wood, sent from New-York as his counsel, Colonel
sncad, whose name has appeared In connection with
Henry Cews and others, in transactions In the fraudu-
lent Georgia bonds, issued in tho time OF Governor
Bullock snead was at one time editor OF The
Dafy Yeirs OF New-York When the bill making 1t
penal offence 90 turn lottery wheel or sell lottery TICK
cts In state introduced snead worked hard TO
prevent It's PASSAGE threatening legal proceedings on
the plea that the bill invading invested right and
was unconstitutional. Benjamin Wood was also in the
city during the session Of the Legislature and the regis
ter OF the Kmbau House contains his name as guest
He openly aVowed at that timo his connection with the
concern His denunelation OF the prohibiiOry act
loud and strongly expressed
THEFT or A BILL PROHIBITING LOTTERIES.
Then followed the crime the history OF which, hitherto
suppressed has been given TO for publication. II
comes from responsible public officials, and may be re-
lied upon ma strictly authentic The bill had passed the
House. and secured reading In the Senate, when 1t
suddenly disappeared from the clerks possession
Search was made for IL. but bill could 10 found
copy was framed and the second reading accomplished
when, Io the copy also disappeared Governor Col
quit finally took the matter 10 hand, aud APP
pointed Hoko Smith. young lawyer OF At
anta to look into the case, and detec-
tiyes were stationed whore interesting conversations
might by chance be overheard The thief DID talk one
Of the detectives catching just enough Of the conversa
ton to learn that the thief had been paid
10 steal the bill This information was carried
10 Hoke Smith, aud be followed the com
munoatye gentleman 10 his homo in the central
part of the State armed with warrant and provided
with assistants in OF trouble Here the thief
confronted. but stouty denied any knowledge OF the
transaction or the conversation which had been over
heard He was brought back to Atlanta, and shortly
after was allowed 10 go tree but his fol-
lowed by detective for the purpose Of asoeTtanng what
persons he would visit when he supposed himself
watched. With the information subsequently obtained.
he was again brought face to face with an NC
cusation, and under the pressure Of the accu-
mulated evidence, he finally confessed his quit,
and offered 10 tell the whole story. Unfortunately,
there was not enough evidence to convict the guilty per
sons OF criminal offence, and the authorities finally de-
eded TO do nothing the matter until the next session
OF the Legislature when the whole subject will be inyes-
tgated. third copy Of tho bill was drnwn up passed
tho third reading carried through the Senate and re-
eeyed hearty Endorsement by the Governor. The
original document found buried In Held not far
from the home of the thief.
The name OF this talkatye gentleman ia j. W. English,
member OF tho City Council, who has filed several po
tlons both in and city politics. His home is in the
central portion of the State, but nc has Office here In
Atlanta In times past his associated with the
Virginia Lottery though at present he dsclaims any
connection with the business. Mr.. English handles no
words about the new Georgia fraud but calls 1t
swindle and dsgra CO TO the city.
Tup scuoor MAINTAINED ny LOTTERY
] paid q short time ago Obtrusive visit to
the lottery building Callers were not expected,