, 1889-11-28
THE SUPERIOR COURT.
Full Text Of Judge Blake's Charge
as Delivered to the Grand
Jury.
The Conductors of Sure Thing
Games But Little Better
Than Highwaymen.
A Thorough Investigation to Be
Made Into the So-Called
Doodle Gases.

The superior court convened at
the courthouse Monday, Judge
Blake presiding. Clerk Armstrong
and all the other officers of the court
were present. A. $. Johnson and
John Todd were appointed deputy
clerks, and Ed Saunders crier. o.
X. Mcdonald, w. X. Brotham. w.
l.. Magers, Charles Gibbs, +. X.
Pugh and Robert F. Flettl were ap-
pointed bailifis.
Following is the grand jury: G..
p. Dart, Thomas Donk, G. w.
Clarke, b. Il. Johnston, A. Larsen,
A. Mckay, o. Hansen, n.
r. Jennings, John Shannon,
j. y. Stafford, Il. A. Snod-
grass, j. w. Hoffman, w. b. Webb
and M, Thorpe, with II. +. Suks-
dorf as foreman.
One of the jurors, Mr.. Clarke, was
challenged by one of the prisoners
attorneys, and satisfactory answers
having been given the jury was
sworn in.
THE JUDGES CHARGE.
Judge Blake began his charge to
the jury by explai ming the nature of
the, oath. They had sworn to rem
der a just and unbiased decision in
each case brought before them. Sc
crecy among themselves was abso-
lutely necessary, and they were to
keep a secrecy of opinion. The
judge remarked that transition
from territorial law into that of u
state was almost imperceptible.
They were the first grand jury inn
paneled In the new state of Wash
ington. The judge further added
that the prosecuting attorney would
attend at the jury's deliberations
and assist them as far As was i'm his
power, especially in the matter of
terms and 'techn nicalities of law.
Any member of the jury might ask
questions, bearing on the case on
trial, I'm the form of writing.
Their first duty was to dispose Of
county Jail cases. Their second the
cases of persons held under bonds,
and their third of crimes committed
in the county generally. 1t was
their duty to examine the county
Jail and inquire as to the miscon-
duct of any public official, and to
examine the records of the public
officers. The latter was, however,
unnecessary, and only formal.
Further, the votes of twelve of their
number to be necessary for the re-
turn an indictment. If an indict-
ment he found those finding to
sign their names and call it a true
bill. The judge then read section
1888 of the code, relating to gam
bling, and said:
"Nou will observe that two often
ses are defined by this section: the
one a misdemeanOr, and the other a
felony, the former punishable by
fine only, and the latter by impris-
onment In the penitentiary. The
class of games referred to i'm the last
clause of the statute as felonies are
denominated swindling games,
sometimes called sure-thing games,
and are so conducted by so-called
tinhorn gamblers.
sit Is matter of current knowl-
edge that this class of games have
recently, and perhaps to some eX-
tent are still conducted in this city
to disgraceful degree, and i'm an
open and defiant manner. AS to
the policy of these laws, we have
nothing to do here, but 1t Is fact
that the crimes against which they
are directed are under the ban of the
law I'm every civilized nation on
earth. That these practices are the
bane of any community in which
saying. Their open conduct drives
away capital that would otherwise
he brought into the community and
invested in the development of our
resources, and to the enhancement
of the public welfare. They repel
immigration. Ii Is IL crime little
better than highway robbery, for
the man who plays against the
game has no chance whatever Of
winning, 1t takes the money of the
inexperienced and unwary ont of
the legitimate channels OF trade and
commerce, and often the bread out
of hungry women and children.
The money that ought to go to
the grocer and tradesmen goes into
the pockets of thugs and thieves,
the hangers-on, around this class of
establishments.
"'They are the breeders of almost
all the crimes to the law books. Not
long since man was killed in this
city, and it is understood that the
killing grew out of transactions con-
nected with gambling place. This
il n matter that will also claim your
attention.
"The law draws, however, a clear
distinction, as | have already init
/ have just beeh speaking and the
oflense defined in the first part of
the section read In your hearing.
The former is a felony, the latter II
misclemeanOr. The playing Of the
games enumerated In the latter is
punishable only by fine. Thereason
of this is that the law recognizes
these AS games of chance, In which
the players are placed, i'm some de-
gree at least, upon terms of equality
Ms to their chances OF winning. To
win money upon these Is gaming or
gambling, pure and simple, not
stealing, These games are also pro-
hibited by nearly all civilized ma
tions. As to their general tendencies
and effects upon the community in
which they are openly carried on,
the remarks have made touching
/ the other cluSs lre anplitr,lJle bot IN