The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-09
A DOLLAR FOR NOTHING.
A Montana Lottory That II Not
I0ttafv.

NNNbNH Nfs &R 49, ~ A -
Lottery
Among thu 1000 and odd lottery tickets
confiscated by the police department. last
month we're somo that purpoftsd 70 b. cou-
poi,s Of the Montana State lott1ry. says the
aas. HFsuoisuo Examiner. What lA vas tho
Montana State lottery, whore were it's
drawings held and who Wsrs back Of w
Ihsse questions naturally sudggsated thhm-
sel .vA 70 the sleuth-honnds of this lppar
Off10e. A little latter a circular came into
the hands OF Detective Lean, explaining
the mystery,
Iha Montana State lottery. according to
thla document, was NJ corporation duly or
ganizsd under thu laws OF Montana by i. j.
jacobs and Murry Lfabenatsin. tho draw
inga OF which took place IT Butts City.
The prizes wefe similnr in amount to those
offered BY other lotteries, the highest being
$1,000, and tho others In proportion. Fur-
cnnsera OF coupons were assured ut the I'M
impeachable intsRrity OF the managers Of
the concern and liberal offers were made TO
such persons as were in q position to act
AZ agents.
Had Montana embraced the ~iniquitoua
scheme which Louisiana was just strug-
Cling to free herself from? 1t didn't seem
possible; but while the detectives we're pre-
pairing to investigate the matter they were
set back by the appearance IN u morning
SOAs APOI0Iy VI = liht RuIPNILAuk VI 10 Luo
drawing Of tile lottery. This would seem
to indicate that the Montana folks were ~
l~agitimntely in the business ~ it was possi-
Die to be, and communication was opened
with the authorities Of Butte City, where
tbs head office was alleged to be located.
4 reply came that Messra. Jacobs a Lieb-
enstein were known there q the managers
Of : lottery, bnt they had always repre-
sented that their drawings were held in
Mexico. the Laws OF Montana preventing
the holding Of them in that state.
John 3. Niles ~ 9 gentleman recently
something OF this dark and nefarions
scheme against the peoples purses, for, &C.
c~ordinRataeat biz own story. ne was for 9 time
IN the employ of the men at the back Of it.
1T is as rank a swindla as any you ever
heard off, he declared. Just let ms OK
plain to You how II il worked. In the first
place, II is not a lottery. for that term as
sumes that the purchaser Of 4 share ia il
has a chance to win; it il q simple stsal.
jacobs and Liebenstein purport to issue
6O,ApO tickets. but, as a matter OF fact.
about 10000 ars put out. These are placed
villa the agents. who receive a commission
Of Paper rent on their sales, the tickets not
l,00OAiskots are sold il San Francisco and
Oaklhhd. Yhe agents keep back $3.50 and
tnrn kRover $3.50. Five hundred OF this is
pocketed By the partners and the other $3.50
- divided up INTO approxlmat lon prizes to
lure tho suckers on"
"What becomes of the bic priest"
Prizes? There are no prizes. There is
no drawing. When the monthly drawing
comes round Jacobs and Liobsnstein take
aoms Of tbs unsold coupons and then ad-
~vertise to the world that these numbers
drew tho prizes. Thus Jaoobs drew the
grand prize Of $4,000 in December in Oak
land. It ID q huge farce, but while the play
lasts the partners are making barrels Of
money. I'd venture to say that their profits
are $4,000 q month.
.'You see, 1 came II know all thia from
tie fact that / printed their list of draw
ings' at, Butte City. In time I came to
know Ill about them. I think they are at
this time selling in the neiRhborhood Of
800 tickets in San Francisco and about 800
in Oakland. Their agent for this section is
a cigar dealer ut the foot of Clay street.
Their sales in tho interior are also large.
In this country they represent that their
drawings are held in Butte. In the north
west, whore such a palpable lie would be
Immediately exposed, they say that they are
held in Mexico"
An effort ID being made to catch the
achemers sending their circulars through
the mail, when they will be taken up By the
federal authorities.