Omaha daily bee., 1893-02-25
Action Against the Alleged Gamblers Was n
Iiasco.

Action \ gainst the Alleged Gamblers Was IA
Tiasco.
Another police court fasco was terminated
yesterday morning, when Assistant County
Attorney Troup asked that the case of the
state against certain South Omaha gamblers
be dismissed. The ease had been continued
on the showing of the county attorney that
material testimony, which he had reason to
believe could be procured, was not then at
hand. 20
The county attorney was on hand promptly
on time, but after waiting in vain for q half
hour for the return of Chief OF Police Bren-
nln, who had been sent to the Office of City
Attorney Van Dusen on an errand, he arose
and addressed the court as follows:
May 1t please your honor, ] came here
this morning fully determined to prosecute
thus case, but after waiting beyond the hour
set for trial am compelled TO admit that
testimony which l, yesterday, had every
reason to believe would be on hand at this
time is not available. ! have utterly failed
to secure the same. 1t seems that the Off
cials and citizens of this city do not appear
to be particularly anxious to prosecute the
gamblers at this time The COM
plants We're filed in good faith
and on my part due diligence
has been exercised to prosecute the case
with vigOr, but this morning it seems the
principal witness meaning Officer Thomas
Emmlnger is absent in Lincoln; at least, a
telegram has been shown me purportlng to
come from him at Lincoln, and the chief of
police, who was sent out on an errand over
an hour ago, has not returned: therefore
there is nothing left for me to do but TO ask
your honor TO dismiss the case. ] do not feel
justified in asking further continuance under
the peculiar circumstances surrounding the
case
The abrupt and unsatisfactory termination
of the case against the gamblers and the ap-
parent dupliCity of the officers who made
the arrest and were depended on TO furnish
the testimony necessary for conviction are
causes OF ml,h indignant protest on
the part of the order loving citizens. Assist
ant County Attorney Troup gave expression
TO his disgust and disappointment in no meas
ured terms when he found that both Chief
Brennan and Officer Emminger were either
purposely absent or had suddenly forgotten
all they knew about gambling.
There are many curious circumstances
connected with the case, which naturally
eXcites the suspicious Of the better clement
of the city. 1t is an open secret that
gambling has Deen going on nightly for the
past year, not secretly, but openly by the
grace of the police. The gamblers however
have apparently wanted some assurance
from the authorities that they would not be
molested aud have repeatedly made over
lures TO the city officials for immunity from
interference, either by paying monthly fine
or taking out u license.
it is also said that the gamblers declare il
costs them too much TO run as they have
been doing, and they would prefer TO pay a
definite sum and feel safe. The inference
Is that although the city has not received a
dollar by way Of fines or license fees from
the gamblers, somebody has, and that the
sum thus taken is greater than a regular
fine or license fee would be.
The apparently unfair action of the police
in singing out one hoitse TO be pulled while
others We're not disturbed is likely to result
IN exposures which may result disastrousiy
10 certain OfflClNlG fSrS stated nv "a in hl Ia
gentleman that he was IN Dick Berlin
place few minutes bS fore beavers house
was raided and saw certain councilman
come in, hurriedly take the proprietor aside
FOR a whispered conversation, after which
some money was put A the counciIman's
hands and the place darkene1.
The houses We're running the next night
after the raid and Deaver himself opened up
IN new place. On-Wednesday a certain
hotel had mechanics at work elabOrately tit
ting up gambling rooms2
Russell in Another Role.