Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-15
ii BEGINS TO LOOK SERIOUS,
The Commissioners Inquiring
into Chinese Gambling.
Some Racy Testimony Given at Yes
terday's Session.
Jesse Hardesty's Plain statement-some
Good Officer Walsh's
Testimony-Oficer Holmes on
the Stand.


sion is making as to gambling in China
town, and the steps that are necessary
to put a stop to it, was resumed yester-
day by the police commission, sitting as
a committee of the whole. Some racy
testimony was developed, and some in
teresting facts were brought out. There
were a number of councilmen present,
who listened to the developments with
considerable interest. Below is a de-
tailed report of the most important in
formation elected:
MIR. HARDEsTy's PLAIN STATEMENT.
Jesse Hardesty was the first witness
sworn. EIe testified that, in his rela-
tion as attorney for some OF the China
men, they had told him about paying
money to policemen for the privilege OF
running fan-tan games without police
interference. A number OF Cinnamon
told him that they were paying money
to the police. The witness swore that
the Chinese were great liars, but they
were no greater liars than white men
who were rascals. For lottery games
SO per month was paid, and from So 80
3 to So was paid for fan-tan games. Off
GERS had frequently come to him and
told him certain things about China
town, but had further given him to
understand that if he used their names
the said policemen would lose their Job.
Mr.. Hardesty declined to give the names
of the policemen until he was assured
by the commission that the officer or
officers would not be fred from the
force for telling what their suspicious
were, and what they based them on.
A FEW GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
Mr.. Hardesty suggested that, to abol-
ish gambling in Chinatown, he would
enforce the vagrant ordinance, and also
enforce the health ordinance requiring
all the novels in Chinatown to be kept
open and ventilated. He would also
have an ordinance passed to make it an
offense to exhibit lottery drawings, and
run down and break up all of the domino
games which were clearly percentage
games.
Mr.. Hardesty's testimony was Of de-
cidedly refreshing character, and was a
surprise to number of the commits
eioners.
Chief OF Police Glass made some state
ments about Jesse Hardesty's testimony,
setting himself Alright before the public.
Ex-CHIEF DARcY's TALK.
Ex-Chief of Police Darcy was sworn,
but he seemed to be ignorant of any
thing that was going on in Chinatown.
He had been in Chinatown, and seen
the doors closed where games were run
ming when he went by. He had never
had no difficulty in getting games when
he was chief of police. He had been
offered money to permit games to run
while be was chief. He had always
pulled games, 15 or 20 at time, while
he was chief, and $4,000 month was
paid into the city treasury in fines by
the Chinese gamblers.
OFFICER wALsH's TESTIMONY.
Officer Patrick Walsh was the next
witness to testify. He had been on the
police force five years. Capt. Emil
Harris, when captain Of police, told him
to let games alone; that when he wanted
them pulled, he would send men into
Chinatown to do the work. Under the
present administration, his instructions
were to stop gambling wherever
he found it. He said that the China
men had told him that Bevan and Rohn
used to hang their coats upon nail in
a restaurant. and the Cinnamon put the
money in the pockets of these coats.
He had been offered $500 per month at
one time to let certain things go on. He
had formed the impression that money
was being given to police officers or to
some one to let the games alone.
JUSTICE OWENS SETS HIMSELF RIGHT.
Justice Owens denied that he had
ever instructed Officer Rohn or any
other policeman as to what evidence
was necessary to convict in any case.
He did not give instructions to police
men, as it was not his duty.
IT LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.
Officer Holmes testified that he had
gone up into Chinatown atone time and
met Officer Bevan. He told Bevan that
he thought there was fan-tan game
running in certain place. Bevan said
that that was none of his business, and
that he and his partner, Rohn, would
take care of Chinatown. On three or
four occasions he had seen indications
which led him to believe that the officer
did not want the game disturbed.
Justice Owens stated that it was very
difficult to secure testimony to convict
in Chinese vagrancy case. He thought
that it would be good idea to pass an
ordinance making it q misdemeanor to
exhibit the result of Chinese lottery
drawings This would be legal, and
would tend to break up the games. The
supreme court, as he understood, had
decided that dominoes was not per-
centage game.
A CoUNCILMAN's SUGGESTION.
Councilman Rhodes thought that it
would be good idea to pass an ordi-
nance that would shut up all the poker
rooms around town. They were the
source OF great deal of trouble.
Officer P. s. Baker was sworn. While
he was on the Alameda street beat he
never noticed any indications that fan
tan games were running.
Clerk R.. E. Cottle was sworn. He
knew nothing about any fan tan games
running in Chinatown. Jesse Hardeety
had said that Officer Bevan was taking
money, and that he could prove it.
OFFICER RoHN EXPLAINS.
Officer Rohn stated that he desired tc
appear before the commission agar
and make statement in justice to Off
Ger Bevan. He said that Officer Bevar
was suspicious that some of the officers
wera giving the Chinqaa informor;o,, a,