Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-09-07

In wyoming Games OF Chance Are q.
dared Lswfai and LevitImats


eH --
In wyoming Games OF Chance Are Con.
stdsred Lswfai and Legitimate.
4 In Wyoming the person who wishes to
gamble need not go through dark ALLEYS
and climb narrow staircases TO CRAFTY
this passion, nor is it necessary for the
proprietors OF faro lsyouts to ''stand in"
with the powers that be. 1t is not u
criminal act to gamble or to permit
gambling
Under q law which has been in force
Tor years ANY person may procure IL
cense for carrying on game of faro,
monte, roulette, lansquenette, rondo.
vingt-et-un, keno or props. Blank Ii
censes are prepared by the register Of
deeds of each county in the state aud
they are signed, issued and accounted for
as ia by law required with respect to
other county licenses. Each license de-
livered by the sheriff contains the name
of the licensee, description of the room
in which the licensee desires to carry on
the game lincensed, and by its terms au-
thorizes the licensee to carry on the game
mentioned. For such license there is
paid the sum OF 5000 year. Appropri-
ate penalties are provided for carrying
on these games without licenses.
BY another section Of the law "anv
person or persons who shall keep or deal
or permit to be kept OF dealt in any
building or place under his or their con
troll any banking or other game Of chance
Tor money or other representation oil
value, PLAYING with cards or other dc.
vices, shall be deemed guilty of a misde.
meapor, and OH conviction thereof shall
be punished by fine Of not less than
$500 nor more than $1,000, or by impris
onment not lees than three months nor
more than one year, or by both such fine
and imprison ment."
The seductive three card monte man is
shut out by the following provision :
Provided, that the word monte in this
chapter shall not be considered to mean
'three-card monte "
The territorial legislature which took
the fret step in this matter appreciated
the fact that not all gamblers are above
reproach, and hence closed the gamb bling
chapter with the following, which is still
in force: "It shall be unlawful for any
person or persons to deal or play any
game mentioned in this chapter unfairly.
or with the intention OF cheating, or
swindling. or in anywise winning in any
way more than the fair percentage of the
game; any person or persons or party
who shall 30 deal or play with the inten-
ton of cheating or swindliDg shall. on
conviction thereof, be guilty OF misde
meano-, and shall be fined in any sum
not less than $500 and not mora than
$1,000, or imprisoned not less than thirty
DAYS and not more than one year."
Up to the year 1890 the law contained
the following provision; mo city, town
or municipal corporation in this territory
shall hereafter have power to prohibit,
suppress or regulate any gaming house or
game licensed as provided in this chap
ter" In 1890 the Legislature repealed this
section, bnt lett standing provision that
a license obtained as provided in the
chapter constituted o protection agains
any crimnsl prosecution for carrying on
the game mentioned ; and is still an open
question as to whether or not citiea and
towns have that power, question which.
according to the views of most resident
attorneys, depends upon The wording OF
the charter of the city in question.
The gentlemen composing the legisa
ture which enacted the above laws would
seem to have been divided on the ques-
ton, and it would further seem that a
compromise was adopted, the anti-gamb-
lers being conceded the following: can
contracts, promises, agreements, convey
ances, securities and notes made given,
granted, executed, drawn or entered into
where the whole or any part of the con
sideration thereof shall be for any money
property or other valuable thing won by
gaming or by playing at cards or any
gambling device or game Of chance or by
betting on the side or hands of any pev-
son gaming, or for the reimbursng OF
paving any money or property knowingly
81 81 4 ,,1.
OF such play 10 any person or persous
SO gaming or betting shall be utter
, " void and of no effect No assign
ment of any bill, bond, note or other
evidence OF indebtedness where the
whole or any part Of the consideration
for such assignment shall arise out OF
any gam bling transaction, shall in any
manner set off the defence of the person
or persons making, entering into, execut
ing or giving such instrument so as
signed or the remedies of any person in
terested therein"
: Viewed from the standpoint of public
policy, people throughout this state seem
to be pretty evenly divided on the ques'
ton of proIonging the existence OF these
laws. At the last session OF the legisla
ture. which met in January, $685. bill
was introduced making it criminal logan
t BILE, but the bill was laid on the table be
I fore il had gone far.
) Theoretically, every one admits thai
the law should he bIotFed out. Bu
: there are many persons who claim
and with some reason that the law in
practice is right. With open gambling
dives die from lack Of support, the state
, derives revenue, and, SO far as possible
in such business, honesty is on top.
The great majority Of gambling institu
tions in the state are conducted in a well
regulated manner Charges OF cheating
and swindlinp are surprisingly rare
A Although the law seems to prohibi
''short card" playing, the authorities APP
E pear TO take no notice Of that fact, anC
poker is played openly and extensively
Faro does not seem to be popular will
proprietors. as the percentage is small
a In roulette. which has many devotees
! the percentage is much better, and it i
on this game mostly that the proprietor
thrive.
! THE truth" IN DETROIT.
Tho Mayor of the Biggest City In Michi
gan Helps Along the Single Tax.