Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-25
GAMBLING IN FUTURES


Judge Turner, of the Troup county
Ga, court, has some very sensible ideas
in regard to the gambling" which is car
ried on by members of boards of trade.
In recent case involving what is called
a transaction in "cotton futures" he de-
cided that court will not hear a case
founded upon an illegal contract, whether
the lllegality is pleaded by the defendant
or not. Commenting upon the general
subject of trusts, combines, corners and
syndicates formed for speculative pur-
poses, the Judge said: "The courts can
not check these evils by originating meas
ures TO suppress them; but will be found
always, as they always have been found,
ready to exercise their beneicent powers
In rendering eficaoious Legislative enact
ments for this purpose. Surely when the
tendencies of this evil practice are con
5idered in connection with the ruin, mo-
raj, physical, and financial, that such
gambling, in ninety-nine cases out of ev-
cry 100, sooner or later entails on the in
diyidual, and the long train of innocent
persons who are dragged down to the
lowest depths of misery by such viola
tions of law, no one can be surprised that
the courts refuse to lend their aid to the
enforcement of contracts so nefarious in
their conception, so odorous with crime,
so fraught with evil, both to individuals
and society" A judge or two with sub
stantially similar views could do pretty
stroke of work in Chicago just now.
SIR CHARLES WARREN, the head of the
London police, appears TO have in him
the making of q Gilbert and Sullivan
character. If these two artists set about
it, they would make a hit with Sir Charles.
When the Whitechapel murderer began
his work Sir Charles did not seem to know
just where Whitechapel was situated. AT
ed In that quarter until the public began
TO demand his resignation. Then his
blood was up. lie drove to the East end
and commanded the search fof the cul-
prit in person. After the detectives had
reported thas the murderer had left not
one trace behind him, a school-boy called
his attention to some tracks that began
at a fence near the spot where one of the
bodies was found and continued through
a back yard. Blood-hounds we're suggest
ed TO Sir Charles, but he had no faith in
such detective device. Thereupon the
public deu anded blood hounds. The
track had become cold and it was useless
to try any experiments. The London
public by this time had become convinced
that the murderer could only be hunted
down by dogs, and the chief of police
subdued his own preferences and bought
some hounds. They were American
hounds, and suggested fugitives slaves
and things. In order to test their powers
ne repaired to Hyde park at daybreak on
Wednesday accompanied by one reporter,
two dogs and three bloodhound experts.
he gave direction TO en- attendant to
hold the dogs until he had crossed the
park and then TO give them the scent.
This was done and the dogs went on brave
ly until they came to the spot where g
policeman had crossed Sir Charles's path
They turned aside upon the new trail
Several other starts were made, and final,
ly the chief of police was hunted down.
Sir Charles is said to have been much dis
turbed because the dogs ran of upon q
policeman's trail. but thinks that if the
WhitechapeI murderer should besmear his
feet with blood the bloo6-hounds would
take this scent rather than that of &
policeman. The Pail Mall Gazette says
that the words, II have murdered four
and [ will murder 10 more before I sur.
render myself TO the police" have beer
found written on the shutter of house
IN Whitechapel, and that Sir Charles or
dered the inscription to be erased before
photograph could be taken. This is 6
great blow 80 the chief, because he evi
IDENTIFY has taken the news to heart and
will feel bound TO wait until the 16tt
murder before setting on his blood
hounds.