Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-17
OUR GAMBLING SHAME.
The People Anxiously Watching for IL
Grand Jury,s Action


Grand Jury's Action.
tits claimed that the Grand Jury proposes
to make thorough work of the inyestiga-
ton concerning the gambling crimes and
scandals in this city. 1t is full time that it
was done, and that it be done also not to
satisfy the public" as is generally the
case, but that it be entered upon with full
grown intention to detect the criminals,
both OF commission and permission, and
present carefully-drawn and specific indict-
ments against them. The pretense that
gambling cannot be stopped in this city is
worse than sham-it indicates that those
who make it are not only willing defenders
OF 1t, but, what Is worse, probably are parti-
ceps crinli,ais.
When the present Chief of Police was
elected upon on ant-gambling platform,
and because he declared that if elected no
unlawful games should be allowed to run
in Sacramento; that he "could and would
close every last one of them; the gambling
bells all closed the moment he took Office
They closed simply because they believed
he meant what he said and would enforce
his declaration. They remained closed for
some time for the same reason. Two faro
games are now running openly for some
| other reason, and it is said another is about
to be started. Upwards of twenty unlaw-
| full games are running in Chinatown, for
| which the Chinese themselves say they
pay So per den per-. week for permits
sion to run and official protection.
When 0. C. Jackson was Chief of Police,
and put his foot down, that gambling
should cease, it stopped at once, without
arrests, and remained SO until he was de-
feated for collection by the political bosses,
| whose business and livelihood was thus in
| terfered with
When the Legislature passed law max
! ing it criminal offense to grant licenses
| for gambling, Mayor Brown gave notice
| that every game must close in Sacramento
forthwith. The proprietors complied and
| asked no questions, for they knew he
meant it. They subsequently went to him
and tried the usual funny business OF
wanting him to wink at it, and let il
come in on the sly. In other words, to
mot know" the games were running, OF to
set up the time-worn plea that "people
will gamble anyhow and you cannot stop
them" So long, however, as he said, in
his official capacity, that no gambling
should be permitted, not game was 10 be
found in Sacramento.
The people of Sacramento therefore
know, and know when they went out oil
party lines TO elect the present Chief of Pc.
| lice-because he was pledged to let no game
| run, and declared his full ability to make
! good his pledge-that the gambling bells OF
Sacramento can be eliminated If there is
determination to do it. Every proprietor
| or keeper of these robber roosts know they
are openly violating the law and liable to
indictment any moment for their crimes
but they depend upon the incapacity, OF
something more, of officials whose duty il
is to suppress them, to pass over their
crimes, and make themselves criminals by
neglect or conspiracy.
The people are arxiously watching for
the outcome of the present Grand Jury in
vestigation, hoping that indictments will
be found against every guilty party, and
thus the truth, as to responsibility for the
existence of the unlawful games, will be
| laid so bare before the public that deal
person can hear it, and blind person see
it as by MONDAY sun.