The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-08-18
The Operations of the Lottery
Sharks in the Capt.
tai City.
postofilce Clerks bribed and that Ne
dium Made q Distributing
Center.
How the Scheme Was Worked--Pro-
esedings Against Them TO
Be Begun at Once

cHIcAoo Aug I6,
A Chicago Tibuas Washington special
says
The boldntss with witch the Louisiana
lottery has been carrying on its profitable
trade ia the national capital is amazing.
While the postofiice department has been
seeking for means to crush the giant, the
Washington city postof.ce has been used
as base of operations by the lottery agents.
The extent Of traffic Ia lottery tickets Ia
this city was described some time ago, but
only hint was given of the way tbs ma
tional capital was utilized as distributing
point Tor lottery mail.
box In the city postoffce was rented
for NJ. A. Dauphin ard the L .uisiana Lot.
terry company by on attorney who takes a
turn AZ lobbying now and then when leg
islation against the Loaisiann concern lie
threatened. The daily mail varied from
300 10 2,500 letters, but never fell below
the former figures. Every morning an
employe OF the express company which
does the lottery comphny's business
wonld call at the postoffice an receive
this mail, which would be taken Ia charge
by the express company and shipped
10 Baltimore In packages at times.
The delivery of the mail, II was
found, was an obliging practice which
had grown up without the warrant OF law,
as no one could produce the authority from
the man rsnting the postoftice box. The
fact that Washington is TO be used as dis
tributing point was not long kept secret
after ID was known that an immens
amount Of printing was dons here for the
lottery company. The distributing center
vas usually some place mp town near the
treasury building and handy TO the ex-
press companys branch eflise. Bags Of
mail would be deposited at the city post
Office mail division, sometimes dumped
out of wagons whose drivers had been
hired for temporary lob. Butlthis mail
was always made up sy .tematlcally, bunales
| for states, counties, etc., being neatly tied
together SO that handling by the mail
/ cierks was greatly facilitated. Govern
ment stamped Accent envelopes rcre al
wars used, and being sealed the
postofiice department had no authority TO
interfere with the mails. 10 one instance
5000 pieces were dumped al the milling
division, mostly addressed TO plaess in
eastern states. This represented bat 9
single days mail sent out by the lotter,
company. few loose pieces foand in tie
mass consisted Of the lottery circulars,
| drawings, etc.
Conclusive evidence, no sever, was uud
| of the unlawful character Of the mail by
marking large number OF pieces ad-
dressed 10 Baltimore and Wilmington.
Del, for Identification. The addresses Of
the parsons to whom the supposed letters
we're addressed were taken, and agents OF
the postofhce depart msnt learned from
| these p rsons that, as bad been suspected,
the supposed letters only contents were
the lottery circulars. Muea of this work
seems 10 be done for the lottery company by
persons who In past years were connt etsd
With the postoffice department. and
by reason Of their experience
or, able to direct the eva
sion of the postal rules andt dsviss means
Cor keeping outside the Law TIE gaiti-
more end of the business Is said 10 be con-
dncted by pereons Of this sort. The post
Office depart msnt seems 10 be OF the opin-
ION that the attempts 10 evade the law can
4 ot stand the test Of the courts. II has
laid mass of evidence like the above be-
fore the district attorney, and asked that
proceedings be begun In the federal courts.
| Section 1884 of the revised statutes,
ams nded by subsequent legislation, h
thought to cover the case. This declares
that letterl and circulars concerning lot
teriss are unavailable, and subjects any
person who shall knowingly matt thsr, 10
| prosecution. The district attorneys ONCE
has had the evidence before II for some
time. ID is said that the practice Of ths
lottery company has been 10 distribute
tickets among the employees OF the post
ONCE n this is the oEly decentralization
discovered 1t win be surprising, for the
lottery has never hesitated 10 debauch
pnblic servants who could be reached by
its peculiar agencies