Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-05-29

County Attorney ClInt's Oviuion Of the
Suppression Of Gambling.
A Law Sermon in Nutshell : Some
Solid Truths Tersely Told.
Local News BreEities and Happenings
In Our sister City.
specla, to the Gazette.

been received py county AtVorue
Clint from number ofcounty officia
and Others at Fort Worth, san AL
tonic, Galveston and other points !
regard to the suppression of gambling
and asking about the result of its SUI
preston in Dallas. Learning Of thes
inquiries, THE GAZETTE correspond
ent called on him to-day for an inter
view on the subject. He sat down
saying he would embrace the oppor
tunity of thus answering the inquI
ries. and the interview was rs follows
"What will be the result of the sup
preston of gambling in Dallas?" wa
the first question asked Mr.. Clint, t
which he responded:
IA decrease in crime of about TWEEN
ty-five per cent, and consequent de
crease to corresponding extent o
taxation incident to the prosecution
OF criminals; a decided decrease in the
shedding of many womanly tear and
manly drop of blood; less wasting OF
human aims and destruction Of noble
lives; fewer hungry mouths, desolate
homes and wasted fortunes; economy
oftime and money; disappearance OF
many avenues to vice and crime.
along which the young, the weak and
ignorant have often trodden and often
fallen by the wayside, and a nearer
approach to normal condition of the
mental, moral aud physical man."
HavSany of these results been re-
allied since the gamblers were driven
away last Octobei?n
"Yes; with the gamblers departed a
horde of petty criminals who swarmed
about their resorts as the night-fy
does abouta candle. Blow out the
light and the flies depart; strike down
gambling and the criminals depart.
The professional gambler carried with
him the professional criminal and con-
hdenee man to very considerable ex-
tent. AS consequence our county
court has fewer new cases on the dock
ct by more than twenty-five per cent.
than it had year ago.
SO with our district court, only the
per cent. is not so great, besides quite
AN appreciable advance in all the other
particulars mentioned. Although in
so short time, of course ii is not to be
expected that everything anticipated
could have been realized, there are
however, fewer desolate homes and
sore hearts, less hunger and want. and
fewer lives going astray. Heretofore
the infatuated mechanic and laborer
deposited his weeks earnings with
the faro bank or keno table, leaving
his wife through the needle or wash
tub to keep body and soul
together; now he responds TO home
wants with it, and she to wifely dutie 5.
Heretofore, the credulous farmer
squandered in night his years hard
labor, leaving his wife and children
through stress and want to drudge il
through the coming year; now he
husbands 1t, and provides home wants
and comforts. Heretofore, the weak
and unwary town lad was IMPROVE
dent and prodigal. living from hand to
mouth licentious and dissipated life;
now he Is more circumspect in his
habits, and beginning to be more PROV
ident with his Time, money and
morals. Safeguards are begin
ming to spring up aud strengthen
around society, and that gem
eeral Generalization which invaria.
bly, accompanies vice and crime. per
meating the very atmosphere about
us, slowly poisoning its purity, and
which hangs as lowering cloud over
the people, ever threatening to deluge
the earth with its putrid ofIal, par
aiyzing us integrity; Supplying its
virtue, binding its reason and stag
mating its judgment, thus rendering
the best efforts OF the law abortiye and
society prey 10 thousand Losses. i
gradually but surely evaporating and
disappearing with the evil magi WHO
contured 1t into existence
'Since gambling uapara tas s,, ,,,,,ul
that is disastrous to the well.beinp
OF society why is it that it was allowed
so long to exist In our commuuityP,
principally, believe, because 4
was supposed that our laws were to,
weak to suppress it; partly because i
mas Deen a source of great revenue I,
the officers and, lastly, because no on
seemed to like breaking the ice witt
an experiment ut suppressing it.n
NOW That 1t has been demonstrate,
IN dallas (which was the very hot be,
OF The vice. that the law Is more tina,
suincient to cope with IL, and sine
the highest court in the Ian
has sustained and Endorsed the cours
pursued here, what effect will IT bay
In suppressing the crime elsewhere /,
Taxas?D ~
"a most decided effect. AS a rule
officers are possessed with inteprit
and Intelligence, and now that Ii
settled that gambling can be sur
pressed, they will doubtless be anxio,,
and willing to inaugurate a vigorou
and persistent crusade against hi
crime. With concert of action on tn
part OF officials, and well-directe
prosecutions, gambling can In thre
months be suppressed throughout ti
state. believe our different count
Officers throughout the stal
will do their duty, and
q very short while professional Gan
bling will be thing of the past VIII
our people.n
but suppose In some communiti
faithless or corrupt officers fail or r
fuse to enter upon this warfare mn
discharge their duty, what is to
done about it?n
prosecute the constabulary fore
aud impeach tae county Judge or q
torney. The law Is very plain in rel
ton To the matter. Articles 38S M
$3.50 of our penal code expressly decla
that any Justice of the peace, NAV
or recorder, orany peace officer, whit
includes sherifis, city marshals, depu
sherifis, c0nstables and roliceme
shall be fined from twenty-five de
lars to one hundred dollars fer fa
ure pr neglect to prosecute or ha,
prosecuted violations Of the gamblir
statutes which come to their know
euge, and by proper official diligen,
no public professional violation of Il
gambling laws can we'll occur withol
tneir nnding II out. In the very n