Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-01
The GRAND JURY AND GAMING.

The Grand Jury of this county, which
was thoroughly representative body, has
Just made its final report. In it, in refer.
ring to the charge SO often made regarding
the violation of the gaming laws, it says:
There was abundance OF testimony elected to
show that corruption and bribery had long sealed
the lips and unneryed the arms Of those whose
bouudtn duty It vas TO bring offenders TO Justice
and enforce the laws. 1t deliberately shown
that for number Of years the gaming fraternity Of
this city had monthly contributed to a fuld, AZ a
sort Of shield OF protection from arrest.
The report adds that this fund was
collected and deposited in package-per.
haps on a stairway, perhaps on chair or
table-and that when the party who
placed it turned his back the money dis
appeared. The report declares that it was
found to be impossible to get beyond
these vanishing points and fix the receipt
of the money upon any official.
But the conclusions we're Irresistible that brides
had been received and lawssness had been protected
by those whose duty it to execute the laws and
bring 10 justice offenders, rather than shield and
protect them in their la~less acts.
One fact is cited by the jury that fixes
it beyond Notwithstanding the witnesses
to have testified truly-that officials re.
ceived the brides, and that is, that on Ger.
tain occasions the contributors received in
some way an intimaton that the monthly
fund must be made larger or the protec
ton would be withdrawn. Forthwith the
donation was increased, and non-molesta.
ton continued to be the order. 1t is SIN
cerely to be regretted that even the in.
quisitorial powers OF the Jury failed to clear
up this scandal. The jury is to be ap-
plauded for the vigor Of its utterance and
for so much Of light as it has shed upon
the subject. It is very mucu to be feared
that nothing further will be or can be
done The law has reached barrier be,
yOnd which it would seem it cannot psne.
trate.
1t Is not the intention TO enter upon any
consideration Of the wisdom or defensib'e.
ness of licensing, or Of regulating that
which the methods of the law seem to be
Powerless to suppress. The act OF one
branch Of the city government in consent
ing 70 gaming in order to break up such
bribery as the jury refers to, notwith-
standing II appears to be the exercise Of
very questionable authority, seems to have
had the desired effect. Whatever may be
thought OF the matter in other parts of the
State, locally it is believed to have scco:n.
plished that end, and to that extent it NAV
be said 20 have a measure of approval. not
because this community approves OF gam.
ing Tor tina. is not true but because by
the new system at least one class of Grim.
inal acts aas been, 1t is believed, eliminated
from the city's record.
OF course it would be silly to tempt to
defend the action on moral or other
grounds, while denouncing the practice
consented to ~ the regulation, for there
is no defense Is be made to it-the most
that the city department referred to does
do, ia to offer Ike excuse already stated.
All that is claimed, as we understand il. is
that while one illegal practice is not aepra.
waited particle, another and far more de.
spicsble one-one fAr more dangerous to
our institutions Seen throttled. In
short, this community il not so foolish as
to set up the ends as justification for the
means employed, but it has quietly con-
scented to the acts OF its legislative depart
ment in the effort to scotch where it can.
not kill.
In this whole matter of bribery, By the
Grand Jury report and by other testimony
it is made evident that the gamesters are
far more honorable and fair-dealing than