The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-09-18
THE WHOLE TRUTH.

/ Mr. EDITORIALS A. Hall in your last
weeks paper has tried to cast reflections upon
| my official conduct. deem II but Justice to my
self and others that the public should know
the whole truth OF what was done to suppress
gambling at Fair time by officers of the Coun-
| ty. and IL anyone is ccnsurablc. then let such
censurc fall where it justly belongs.
At about 10 o'clock n. m, on the third day Of
our last Fair, Sheriff Hall came to my Office
| and wanted me to write up an information
| against a man who was running wheel or
/ fortune on the Fair ground. Before doing SO
| called his attention to the fact that another
| wheel of fortune was running In the streets
| Of Crcsco in front of the Court House, and
proposed to him that we stop all gambling. to
| which he assenfcd. ] then drew up nf0rna-
| tions against the one on the Fair ground and
| the one on the street as each were identical in
principle, both wheels Of fortunc-hofh gam
/ bling devices. When both informations were
complete ready to be signed. Mr.. Hall refused
to sign the one against the party that was be-
ing run In front of his Office on the street, and
claimed that he didn't know II was gambling
/ That knew was subtcrfuge-an evasion
not TO prosecute the one in the street-as he
had already explained the modus opcrandi Of
how they took in the unwary and entered into
particulars as to how it was beng conducted
(which showed both wheels to be identical in
principle. How could he help but know just
what II was because he must Of necessity pass
and repass this one on the street several times
| u day, and II had ut this time been running two
days and ms long into the night rs customers
would stay.
Even were 1t conceded that he did not know
a rQ
him At that time. and when il is remembered
that this talk between him and me took place
less than single block from where it was be-
ing run, had he been putting forth an honest
cndcavor to suppress gambling he could with
In minutes walk have acquainted himself
with what was gong on.
After Mr.. Hall had absolutely refused to sign
infornations against both parties told him
would not make any discrimination, either for
or against anyone and that / would not be a
party TO arrcsting one without both. but that
it was his duty to arrest anyone nc found com
hitting crime without a warrant and tax G
him before Il magistrate and would prosecute.
All that took place between Hall and myself
was heard by NJ. NJ. Moon and C. c, Upton, and
after failure to get Hall to sign information
against both gamblers. he says I skipped to
the Fair grounds. probably to inform the Of
ficers OF the society how had beaten the slner-
i'll" shows upon its face an imagination mixed
with biliousncss and gall. for it was then If
teen minutes past noon and ! merely went
home to my dinner. Justice Moon informs me
that after had gone he tried to get Hal to
sign infornations against all gamblers, but
that he still refused to sign any except the one
on the Fair ground.
vTf tfa nfN- Il.
cute and not net as complaining witness. 1t
would place..an attorney in a very cnbarras.i Y
and non-professional position to act as an at
torncy prosecuting Il case and also act as the
complaining witness ut the same time
Mr. Halls duty was eqnally plain to suppress
crime when committed in his presence, or
make the arrest when he had reasonable
grounds for believing crime had been COM
mittcd.
The conclusion of Halls kick" shows the
animus of all he says about me when he Con
gratulatcs the officers of the Ag'l Society and
gamblers that they had u friend in the County
Attorney" and says had not been derilect in
duty they would have been indicted in 1882 As
Il matter of fact this Is the first time l ever
heard of any attempt being made to indict
such officers in 1883. No complaint was ever
made to me, none to the grand jury. to my
knowledge nor was ! ever consulted about
such proceedings by any one. Then why such
lbloviatioa? Why such bomhasty is it done to
suppress crime or to stir up strife. or il our
Sheriff trying to use his Office AS cover to sa-
tate his i'll will towards those whom he dist kes
instead of executing the law without favor or
partiality, as his oath Of Office prescribes he
shall 10! W. h. BARKER.