The record-union., 1891-01-16
TO STOP GAMBLING.
Officers Higgins and Frazee Assigned
to Down Town Beats.
The Board of Police COMMISSIONER
Meet and Adopt Two Resolu-
tions by Judge Cravens.

The Board of Police Commissioners
met yesterday afternoon.
The Mayor called the meeting to order
and stated that the board had been re-
quested to meet by number of citizens,
who had cause to believe that unlawful
gambling was going on, and who wanted
to see that the law was enforced on the
part of the police officers. He read Sec
ton go of the Penal Code, which pro-
vides that it is nisdemeanor for any
officer to shirk his duty when it is known
co him that the law is being violated. He
stated that several citizens had suggested
to him that the Police Commissioners
direct the Chief Of Police to place officers
Higgins and FraZee on the beats where
the faro games were running.
Chief Drew remarked that he did detail
officer Frazee to do duty on downtown
beat some time, ago, but changed him to
beat No. 6 again at the request of many
Of the residents in the eastern portion of
the city.
E. NJ. Leitch handed the following res
olution TO the Mayor and asked the COM
missioners to adopt it:
ReSolued, That officers Higgins and Frazee
be, and they are hereby specially detailed by
the Board of Police Commissioners for the
purpose of suppressing gambling in Sacra-
mento, and said officers are hereby directed to
immediately enter upon their duties under
this resolution and to consider themselves as
solely under the direction of this Board
Chief Drew objected to the adoption Of
the resolution.
sI don't think it would be good idea
to do this said he. ''If this board
places two of the officers on special duty,
and allows them to go wherever they
please, they will antagoniZe the rest OF
the force and leave a part of the city
without protection. | have no objection,
if you wish, to placing these two officers
on any two beats you may name.
WARM FOR THE CHIEF.
A. S. Hopkins said: There's no reason
why gambling should not be stopped. If
/ was police officer, or ii | was in your
place, Chief Drew, I'd resign if 1 couldn't
stop it.'
S. e. Darlington said that there was
general impression among the people of
Sacramento, that the police officers would
do their duty if they were not afraid their
heads would be cut Off. If the board
would only issue an order directing the
officers to do their duty, and hold them
responsible if they cid not, they would
quickly put a stop to every faro game
that is running in this city.
Il suppose you mean to say that 1 will
not direct theIn?n said Chief Drew, in
quiringly.
81 think there are strings on you or
your ORDERS" replied Mr.. Darlington.
Chief Drew-"I can tell you there are
no strings on me and there never were"
John Bradley-"rd like to ask, Mr..
Mayor, that if there are no strings on
Chief Drew, why hasn't he stopped
gambling? Why hasn't he taken the
pains to direct his force and place them
where they could do, some good. Ii he
meant what he said he ought to person
ally see that his men were enforcing his
ORDERS"
Chief Drew-"My officers have some
thing else to do besides watching one
particular place. They have large beats,
and it is all they can do TO get around
them.Y
G. G. Brown asked permission to say q
few words, and he advised the board to
license gambling.
I'm an old gambler,'' said he. ..and
I've ganlbled in this city for seventeen
years. They have shut mp my place but
the rest of the fraternity are running
their faro ganles.n
HoKEY-PoKEY, TOO.
Grove i. johnson favored the resolu-
ton introduced by Mr.. Leitch. and was
willing to wager that if passed it would
have the effect OF closing the leading
games of faro in town. He believed
'hokey-pokey'' should be stopped, but
it was not at present among the list OF
unlawful games. lie had prepared a bill,
though, and had handed it to Assembly,
man Bruner, which provided for the
amending of the gaming section of the
law. SO that "hokeyrpolley,, n wedll lllA3e
included in the number of exanes Vlsich
the statutes made unlawful. N&
Judge Cravens said he did not think
the resolution proposed by Mr.. Leitch
just the proper thing. The police force Of
Sacramento was very small in proportion
to the size Of the city, and the officers had
more territory to cover than any reason
ably disposed person could claim they
should guard properly.
Il have couple OF resolutions here"
said the Judge, (which l think will do
just as well as the one which Mr.. Leitch
has presented.'
The resolutions read:
Resolred. That each and every officer on the
police force is hereby instructed to diligently
endeavor 10 suppress all unlawful gaming in
this city, and especially ON their respective
beats, and to arrest and prosecute any persons
whom they have reasonable cause to believe
are engaged in such unlawful gaming and re-
port their action to the Police Commissioners
ReS9tced, That the detail of policemen be so
changed that officer Rooert krazee be placed
iel Higgins on beat No. i. and the Chief of
Police is directed to carry this into effect inn
mediateiy.
All parties seemed to be satisfied that
the resolutions would have the desired
effect, and upon motion of Mayor Com
stock, they were passed unanimously.
The Board then adjourned.