Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-27
GAY CHANDELIERS.
Two of tho Gentry Swell the City Ex-
ohequer to tho Amount of 1895.

chequer to tho Amount OF $""o.
Before Judge Wilkin, in the district
court, at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning,
George Eggleston, indicted for keeping a
gambling house, having already entered
a plea of guilty, was arraigned to receive
sentence. Before sentence was pro-
nounced Mr.. W. w. Erwin, counsel for
defendant, addressed the court. Counsel
called attention to the statute, which he
said provided no penalty for keeping a
gaming house, and, upon conviction, 1t
was within the discretion of the court to
inflict punishment, which should not be
cruel, unusual, or such as to violate
the observation-disclosures Of the defendant.
The defendant had como to st. Paul six
weeks ago; upon his arrival he found that
gambling existed by reason OF an arrange
ment between the gamblers and the po-
lice; it was claimed by the police that the
proprietors of faro tables were accus-
toned to furnish information as to the
presence of burglars and other evil doors,
who thereupon would be ordered out OF
town. After consultation regarding the
matter he had opened a house; he had
conducted what is known as square
game" which in this instance had proved
so fair that instead of beating the public
he had lost $4,000 in six weeks. There
had been no noise, disturbance or other
feature of nuisance about his house.
Counsel alluded to his plea OF guilty and
closed hy expressing the hope that the
court would impose only light fine.
In imposing sentence Judge Wilkin
spoke as follows: In this case 1 shall i'm
pose a fine of 500; l wish to disabuse
the mind of the public and those en-
gagged in this business of the impression
that 500 is the limit Of fine that can be
inflicted for this offense. The punish
ment is largely within the discretion OF
the court. The court owed no obligation
to any previous action or sentence. In
view of the facts that defendant has
pleaded guilty, thus saving some trouble
and expense to the State, and that he has
but lately opened, shall intlict fine OF
500. The fine was paid.
Mr.. c. D. O'Brien, counsel for John
Chinn, indicted for similar oifense, ad-
dressed the court, saying that his client
being in court, he desired to withdraw
his former plea, and enter a plea Of guilty.
Judge Wilkin enquired Of County At
torney Egan how long the defendant
had conducted gaming house in ST.
Paul, to which he replied that to his
knowledge, since September or October,
1880.
Mr.. O'Brien stated that in this case
there were no aggravati z circumstances.
Counsel referred to the fact that the
most diligent witness before the grand
iury had sued defendant IN q civil action
to recover $500, 5000 of Which he had
won at the defendants house.
Judge Wllkin then imposed a fine OF
s125. In so doing he said that it should
be understood that if brought upa second
time he might expect q heavier sentence.
With regard to the connivance of the
authorities, he said he hoped the remark
of counsel was mistake. Such corrup-
tion between the police and gamblers
could not be tolerated, and would be an
aggravation instead of mitigation OF
the sentence. Mr. Chinn paid his fine
Yesterday being doomsday in the dis
trict court, as observed by the above SEN
fences, several persons were arraigned
who had either been found guilty or so
pleaded on former days of the term.
The most important case, both from
the offense and the punishment inflicted
was ludI VI JUuu k1lulCACl; ttliu9 oOiih
Baeker, indicted for forgery, this being
the young man who swindled a number
of citizens for small sums, by means of
forged checks.
Having pleaded guilty, he was ar
raigned for sentence When'asked II ne
had ought to say why sentence should
not be pronounced, he replied that he
hoped the court would exercise its mercy.
Thereupon he was sentenced to one year
and three months imprisonment in the
State penitentiary.
George Thera, charged with commit
ting an assault on one Balki, the case
having been continued from last
term, vas sentenced to pay fine of s3oS
The case of the State against Charles
Wilson, indicted for altering a forged
acquittance, was next taken up and pro-
ceeded to trial. After hearing the
testimony the jury retired and returned a
verdict Of not guilty. The defenpant was
discharged.