Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-02
THU POLICY GOOSE
IS FLOPPING IT'S Wines IN WHEELING
AGAIN.
The Result Of Thursday Nights Raid by the
Polics-Thsy Claim 70 Be Handicapped in
Their Efurts-Ths Fines Imposed.
The Mayors Views

1t is well-known fact that the policy
men have been carrying on their de-
spicable gambling business with a
pretty high hand, of late, despite the
attempts of the police to put stop TO
the evil. The goose" is rolled daily
in several saloons, and policy writing is
going on all around town, the black
boards, which for time were banished
from view, being again conspicuous
features of a number of saloen back
rooms. Thursday night the police
made a raid on the shop run in
George Mayors saloon and In
Mr.. Gundling's, No. 1049 Market
street, and ten or eleven arrests were
made, but the officers say they had
rocky time of it in Police Court, only Sc
curing conviction after good deal Of
trouble. They say there was grand COM
bination against the police, and Officer
Carney was made the especial object Of
attack in the effort to break down his
testimony and get the defendants of,
evidence TO this end being brought
from unlooked-for quarters by the
friends of Mayors.
Section 43 of the ordinance in rela-
tion to offenses sets forth the offense Of
lettering in gambling rooms, playing,
etc, and section A fixes the mini
mum hne at $40. Notwithstanding this
is the lowest fine, the Mayor required
three OF the defendants 10 pay but SIS
and costs, and they settled on that basis.
George Mayors, who allowed policy in
his place, was fined $50 and costs, and
Bob Miller, James Bennett, Jacob SoleS,
VIM. Winder and Thos. Jackson, who
were caught there, were fined $40
and costs, which was later
reduced to S., and still later,
on the request Of the defendants,
raised again to S1O.5O, to allow an ap-
peal TO the Circuit Court, as grand jury
time is coming on. Mayors also appeal
ed. George Watson, who was charged
with writing policy at No. 1881 Market
street, was dismissed, and VIM. Gund-
ling, for writing policy, got $40 and
costs.
The policy people involved In this
raid and their friends were very con-
spicuous Yesterday morning, and some
of their actions were the subject OF re-
mark and criticism during the day.
The whole outfit ought to be broken up
and rooted out, for policy is one Of the
worst forms of gambling extant, and If
allowed 10 flourish contains unusual
elements for harm.
Mayor Seabright was asked about his
disposition of the policy cases, and
said
cit was very much mixed up affair
throughout, and the evidence was very
contradictory. One of the firemen even
came in and swore that an officer had
made cracks about Mayors case, and
it looked a good deal as though there
was little spitework at the bottom.
Then, although two officers swore that
Mayors asked them 10 let the goose
roll once more Mr.. Mayors swore he
said nothing Of the sort, but that.he was
asleep and the room locked up when
the officers came. or course 1
couldn't say that the officers swore
to lie, and / had to fine Mayors $50
and costs. OF course, when l fined him,
had TO fine the FIVE men in the house.
thought it was the old S. ordinance,
and made the fines IS and costs. Then,
when I saw il was the new ordinance,
raised it TO $40. l claim the right TO
reduce a fine to any figure l please, or
to throw it off altogether. and so | re-
duced it to IS in each OF the FIVE cases at
Mayors place. Mayors came TO see me,
and told me he wanted to appeal the
cases, and l again raised the fines TO
$40. 80 each. Regarding the men at the
Gundling place, they were poor, inno-
cent negroes, and / thought it better
TO reduce it to S., as they could prob
ably pay that. To be sure, one of them
had ticket in his pocket as though he
was a messenger, or something, but
they were all standing behind a little
bar in the place. think l have the
right to reduce the fines, and l often
do"