Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-08
WAR ON GAMBLING CLUBS.
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES DErxKx1xID THAT TINE
CLASS OF OFFENDERS SHALL BE BRouoHr TO
THE RAR OF yUsrIcE-JuDox MILLER DIS
fNaUIsHxs BxTwEKN TWO KINDS OF CLUBS.

ruoUrsHrs BxrwEES TWO KINDS OF CLUBS.
During the past few weeks the police have
made several raids on rooms occupied by
various so-called "clubs," and in almost every
instance some one was held under the gambling
laws on charges Of setting up a gaming table.
or permitting gaming table to be set up on
premises under their control Maj Moore, in
his annual report, calls attention to these clubs
as follows:
"Under the general incorporation act Of 1870
efforts have been repeatedly made to cloak
open violations Of the law under the garb Of
societies pretending to be formed for literary
or other legitimate purposes. II il believed
that charter, although formally granted, cam
not be made to protect associations whose de-
sign is to indulge in the commission of offcnses
for which any single individual would be liable
to prosecution and punishment. Measures have
been taken to bring this class of offenders to
the bar OF justice, in order that their attitude
toward the law may be clearly understood and
declared"
FLAYEns GREATLY ENCOURAGED BIT A CRIMINAL
COURT RULING.
Several years ago the police made an attempt
to suppress gambling, and many of the poker
and keno rooms, faro banks and other estab-
ishments were raided and their paraphernalia
taken. Raid after raid was made on such places,
until some one conceived the idea that the fling
OF articles of incorporation would protect them
against the police and prosecution in the courts.
and many gatherings of men were turned into
Incorporated clubs for no reason other than to
eyade the law. 1t was not long, however. be-
fore some Of the club rooms were raided and
the cases tried in the Criminal Court In one
OF these cases the presiding judges remarks
were construed rs an opinion that articles of in
corporation would protect the members of
organized clubs should they desire to engage
IN q game Of poker. whist. or anything else for
chips or money. The result was that for
few months the fees of the recorder were
largely increased.
LITERARY IMPROVEMENT By MEANS OF CARDS
AND CHIPS
The objects of these clubs as set forth in the
articles of incorporation, were usually "mental
improvement or social intercourse" or Git
erary improvement" Although those are the
objects set forth in the articles of incorporation
nearly all of the clubs raided by the police are
found to nave no library or anything else about
the rooms to indicate an effort to carry out the
declarations in the charters, but all of them
have poker tables and cards and chips. Copies
OF the Police Gazette or Police Neps and few
copies OF daily papers are occasionally found.
Often the police papers are the only periodicals
found, but the members gravcly say that they
are purchased for the literary improvement Of
the members.
JUDGE AILLER's DEcIsIoN--rHERE ARE CLUBS
AND CLUBS
Judge Miller has held that articles Of incor-
poration or charter is no protection for any
Illegal act, whether it be game of poker or
something else. Ir the trials of some of these
cases reference Ia been made to some of the
old-established clu bs in the city, but Judge
Miller has remindec those who referred to them
that their incorporation was not obtained for
the purpose Of legitimatizing a game of poker
to benefit one or two men. In those clubs the
property is not purchased by one or two men
who fit up the rooms and then live by the
gambling that is dor The charter for a legit-
innate club the court has frequently said, ia OBJ
tanned so that the club can acquire and hold
property. and while being liable for debts con-
tracted they also hol1 responsible persons with
whom they have business transactions.
THE WAR TO 90 ON.
The clubs that are being raided, the police
cay, are Of an entirely different character and
many Of them are conducted by persons who
have made poker playing a business for years.
The work of making these raids is to be con-
tinued until the officers either break up oil
clubs formed for the particular purpose Of play
ing games or there is q new law passed by Con-
gress giving them the privilege Of playing.