Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-09-11

han the outlaws of the country sought
it as their natural home. Gamblers
who had been driven out of Omaha.
Sioux Falls and other high license
towns struck straight for Sioux City.
One gambler whom | knew very well
vas driven out of Sioux Falls, ID. r..
and he struck a bee line for Sioux City
and opened up a saloon and gambling
house that cost him SIS, 900 to furnish.
1t Is without exception the most ele-
gantly furnished gambling house and
seen them in every state in the union.
1t is a perfect palace. Shatler took
great stock in the Sioux City rebellion.
He is II very clever fellow. He Is a
straight gambler; he keeps Il straight
house. Shatler never played Il crooked
card. When he came to select a place
in which TO erect the finest temple that
was yer erected to King Alcohol, he
selected prohibition soil. What do YOU
think of that? He had the whole world
to select Il place from. and he saw no
place that gave him such promise rs
prohibition Iowa. He felt that in the
arms Of the mayor and common coun-
eli of Sioux City there was absolute Sc
curitN.
But the mayor and council of Sioux
City are not alone responsible. The
sheriff Of Woodbury. count, is response
blc. See. $40 of the code Of Iowa pro-
videS As follows: ''Sheriiis and their
deputies are conscryator, OF the
peace. See. l,JJl. relating to the
prohibitory law says: "-All peace Off
GERS shall see that this law is faithfully
executed" 1t was the duty Of the
sheriff of Woodbury. county to close the
saloons in Sioux City. 1t was his
sworn duty. He could have closed
them any time IN fortv-eight hours.
When hc took the oath he swore that
he would DO it. ilc took this oath to
get the Office. After he got the Office
he willfully neglected this duty. He
refused to do what the statute in plain
words commanded that he should do.
This responsibility does not stop
h,~e. The district attorney of the
Sioux City judicial district i, responsi-
BILE. ! know him well. He is "A tall
entca lawyer. He is a royal good fell
low. He is a gentleman. Bat he is
responsible for the condition of things
in Sioux City. Sec. i, of chap. &c of
the laws of the Twenty-iirst General
Assembly provides; That actions TO
tnioin nuisances ~ authorized by sec.
II of chap. lt3 of the laws of the
Twentieth General Assembly may be
brought in the name of the state of
Iowa by the district attorney and then
says: 1T shall be the duty Of said dis
trict attorney. where such nuisance cN-
lists. to institute and prosecute such ac-
ton for the abatement thereof" II
was the sworn and imperative duty of
the district attorney Of the Sioux City
district to enjoin and close these Sioux
City saloons. This duty he neglected.
Worse than this, he willfully refused to
perform the plain duty that his Office
imposed. The n officer of the state
who of All Others should have acted.
was as quiet As the tomb, There was
everything TO prompt him 10 his duty,
but he summed it.
The responsibility goes still further.
The Judges of the district courts of the
Sioux City district are responsible. Sec.
146 of the Iowa c@de provide. that any
county officer may be removed forwill.
ful neglect of duty Secs. 1j6 and 157
provide that the district and circuit
Judges may upon their own motion re.
move II sheriff for willfui neglect OF
duty when such negligence comes to
the knowledge OF the Judge, and the
Judge may then order the district at.
torney TO prosecute such sheriff. Now
every man, woman and child in SiouN
City knew that the town was crammed
full of open saloons. The whole state
knew it. These Judges knew it. They
also knew that it was the duty of the
sheriff of Woodbury. county to close
them. They further knew that thi,
sheriff willfully neglected this duty
They also knew ii was their Swor duty
To remove him and appoint in his plac,
Il man who would enfore the law a,
commanded by the statute. These
yudgeS chose not to io their duty ano
TO shut their eyes TO that which sur
rounded them. | know these judges
They are abe men. They know III,
law. They know their duty. They arr
considered good men They are goot
men IN everything that is social, moral
and religious. They have lacked the
courage, however, to do their duty il
the face of a defiant and threatening
opposition. Think Of it. Mayors
eberitis, district attorneys. and Judge
upon the bench by conniyanec and b.
negligence allow the cold blooo
of treason to be warmed into hot cur.
rents till it poisons the public pulse and
kills the public conscience. The mayor
and his council indirectly license these
saloons. The mayor and his officer,
visit them every month TO collect The
bloodmoney that he has levied upor
them. The sheriff and the district at
torney wink at the mayor. and til,
Judges upon the bench wink at til,
sheriff AMI the district attorney. Mr.
Mayor. MI. Sheriff, Mr.. District Attor
ney. Mr.. judge, do you not feel ljk,
washing your hands? The blood 0.
George &. Haddock was shed hv i de
mon that was developed in your sight