Los Angeles herald., 1890-10-23
POLICE AND FIRE.
THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY OF
THE TWO COMMISSIONS.
Wells, Guthrie and Lee Think the Police
Ought to Know Where Gambling is
Carried On-Fire Commission Matters.


noon in the mayors office, ex-Mayor
Bryson in the chai.
The chief having reported favorably
on the petition of d. Cronin for license
for a new saloon at 927 East First street,
the same was granted.
The application of Fred Conrad for a
permit to. obtain license for new
saloon at No. $40 N. Alameda street,
was, under the rules, referred to the
chief for investigation, as were also
those of Frank Bevione, No. COL Upper
Main street, and E. Fleur, No. 404 North
Los Angeles street.
In the matter of the claim of Grasser
Bros. against Officer Gilbert, for $34.05,
alleged to be due for groceries, the chief
reported that the officer had promised
to- pay the bill as soon as he received his
warrant for the current month, where
upon the report was ordered filed and
the matter was dropped.
The following communication with re-
gard to the gambling charges preferred
at the last meeting by Wells, Guthrie
and Lee, was received from District At
storney Kelly:
LOS ANGELES, OCC. 10, lOSU.
To the Honorable Board of Police Commission
ers of the City of Los Angeles
GENTLEMEN-Your letter of October
18th, 1890, containing the following
-"You are requested by said board to
give the board an opinion in writing, as
to whether the police force are obliged
to suffer poker games to run unmo-
lested"-has been received by me.
In reply, would say that the language
of the letter is indefinite, and, there
fore, cannot give an opinion upon it.
The statute (section 33O) of the Penal
Code provides that all banking and per-
centage games played with cards and
other devices is gambling-and among
other games mentioned is that of stud
horse poker, but whether all poker
would be considered as gambling games
must of necessity rest upon whether
there was any banking or percentage
connected with the playing.
shall be pleased at any time to give
the board such legal advice as may
come within my province, when the
board will make their statement plain,
thatI may know just exactly what they
desire an opinion upon. Yours respect
fully, FRANK P. KELLY,
District Attorney.
Another from Wells, Guthrie & Lee,
on the same subject, was also read, as
follows:
Los ANGELES, CAL, Oct. II. 1890.
Honorable Police Commissioners Of the city of
Los Angeles:
GENTLEMEN We received note from
your Office today, addressed to our firm,
stating that "at meeting of the board
OF police commissioners of the city of
Los Angeles, held on the above date
(towit, Oct. l5). you (we) were by said
board requested to furnish it such in
formation as you may have of the viola
tion of the laws against gambling and
the carrying on games in this city, that
the police force can Suppress"
To which communication we have the
honor to respectfully reply that we are
not detectives, nor are we engaged in
the business of gambling or carrying on
gambling games. All that we know is
by hearsay and report, and we now in
form you that we are creditably informed
and believe that we know where there
are gambling games constantly running,
and the police, or at least some of them,
are as we'll aware of these places as any
persons in town.
Our Colonel Wells had a conversation
with Mr.. Glass last evening and told
him, in conversation, where games were
8 carried on. Mr.. Glass said that the
games carried on at these places are
poker games and cannot be suppressed,
as they are lawful. As to this, we do
not know. We only know from hearsay
that games and large amounts are
staked and lost at these various places.
We are creditably informed that there is
nj m tv 40 for
is conducted
We have always been and are ready
and willing to do anything in our power
to have the law enforced against gamb-
ling, or any other violation of the law.
and as citizens, are willing to cooperate
and do whatever lies in our power to
have the law enforced properly, but
that we should be called upon to inform
the police where gambling places in
this city are kept, when it is the busi-
ness of the police force to know where
the games are carried on, would
seem to us to be a little something out
OF the ordinary course of business, but
we are very positive that games are run
in this city, and that certain members
OF the police force know where the places
are and what games are conducted
there. We are, Very respectfully yours,
WELLS, GUTHRIE & LEE.
Chief Glass stated that in the CONVEX
sation referred to Mr.. Wells had stated
emphatically that he knew nothing
about the matter, except from hearsay,
and that he had refused to divulge the
name of his informant.
In the absence of Mayor Hazard it
was deemed advisable to defer action on
the matter for one week.
A petition signed by William Fergu-
son ct ais. denouncing the Alhambra
and Philadelphia saloons, at 410 and Ala
N. Main street, as disorderly and dis
reputable places which should be de-
clared public nuisance, and asking
that the licenses for both places be re-
voked, was read and referred to the
chief for investigation, with instruc-
tions to report at the next meeting.
Mr.. Collins stated that he had been in
formed by the proprietor of the Hoff-
man house that guests had left his
hotel because of the nuisance created bv
these saloons on the opposite side of the
street.
The board then adjourned
Fire Matters.
At the regular meeting of the board
of fire commissioners held yesterday