The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-12
A CONCEIVABLE DEPARTURE.

In charging the new grand jury in the
First district court at Ogden, last week,
Judge HENDERSON called the attention of
the inquisitors to the fact that gambling
and prostitution are crimes in this terri
tory, and impressed upon them that it was
their duty to investigate as to those Of
lenses. The charge was in the nature Of a
wide departure from the instructions which
have usually been given to grand juries by
the courts. 1t was departure, however,
which the public will heartily commend,
and for which Judge HENDERSON will be
applauded. We mean by this, the over
whelming majority of the community will
commend and applaud his honor. For long
years i'll this territory the district courts
stood between the better element and the
gamblers and prostitutes, protecting the
offenders against law, morality and de
cency, and discouragin2 those whose sworn
duty it was to punish the guilty Because
of the interpOsitiOn of the courts to
prevent the enforcement of the law against
the immoral classes, there have been times
when the community has felt like taking
matters in its own hands, and applying JUS
llNC III d Sull4uldlN lldLHtL. II NoullOG Dt
denied that the protection thrown aboutthe
gamblers and the prostitutes by certain Of
thejudges sent here by the federal admins
tration, is largely responsible for the vices
in this country, for had it not been for that
protection there was never time when
gambling and prostitution would have been
tolerated here. Those who follow these
avocations would ever have found this terri
tory an improbable and unhealthy place for
them.
There can be little doubt as to the occa-
sion which induced Judge HENDERSON to
specially direct the attention of his grand
Jury to the offerses referred to. 1t is com
mon talk that gambling is practiced openly
in Ogden, one or more houses for playing
being little less public, it is said. than
the licensed saloons. Men go in and out at
pleasure, the proprietors of the games not
even deeming it worth while TO take ordi-
nary precautions to guard against dis
covery or interruption by the officers of the
law. As to prostitution in the junction
city, only few days ago The HERALD re
printed an editorial paragraph from an
Ogden newspaper to the effect that the
city council was going to hold session to
discuss the propriety of permitting
a public house Of prostitution to be
continued. The paragraph conveyed the
impression that it had dawned upon some
member of the council that it was not ex-
actly proper to allow that sort OF an estab-
lishment, the character of the place being
well known by the public.
We can see in these things the incentive
to Judge HENDERsoN's charge. We are
glad his Honor has taken the matter in
hand, and hope the grand jury will be as
earnest, energetic and thorough in its
efforts to suppress the crimes referred to as
it will assuredly be to punish those guilty |
of other offenses against the laws. Where |
public sentiment is so earnest
and pronounced as it is here
against gambling and prostitution.
and the courts being in sympathy with that
sentiment, it should be no difficult under
taking for officers of the law to at least
drive gambling and prostitution away from
the public eye, and into secret places where
it will be least offensive to the public sense
of decency. If the Ogden officials desire it
they can make their city as free from the s
vices named as any other city in the terri
tory. They certainly can relieve Ogden ,
from the ugly distinction of being the only +
town, excepting the mining camps, where {
gambling and prostitution faunt them {
selves before the community without fear Y
IF molestatiOn or annoyance by the author 7
ties c