The herald., 1896-10-31
THE REDONDO GAMBLERS
Prosecution of Sea Side
Crap Shooters
| The GAME DEFINED rs NOT ILLEGAL
San Fernando Squatter Case
Revives Interest
TIE LEONlS' PHASE OF 1T
How the Squatters Were Advised to
Stampede the Lands
Terrlll skipped 0ut and Left His Wife to Get
Divorce
How the Squatters Were Advised to
Stampede the Lands
Terrill skipped Out and Left His Wife to Get
Divorce
The Billmeyer Case Still In Course Of
Being Heard-Heavy Indebtedness
of an Insolvent-The Monrovia
M. E. Church Gets Non-suit.

Quiet-going residents in the suburban
towns who, at times, have to come to
the city in order that they may relieve
themselves of the excess of goodness
with which their systems have become
surcharged are happy AS for the
negro contingent in these self same CEN
tiers Of Righteousness they are all in a
state of exuberant delight. "Seben,
come eleben! Seben, come eleben!
Craps!!" will soon be the cry along the
line for crapshooting has been declared
legal and a proper mode of amuse-
ment.
And how this came to pass consti-
tutes story and rather funny one at
that.
In the early summer months j. K.
warner, known as man of some means
and of decidedly sporting proclivities
with several of his friends of the tin
horn variety, left this city and made
their headquarters at Redondo. AL
though these gentlemen made their
money by somewhat dubious means,
the self-same money had the true ring
and was of full weight and value. and so
when Warren and his friends put up
with Boniface Roach their landlord of
the opposition house was wrathy.
George w. Rushton, who was not alto
gether unknown in this city as an ard
ent member of the A. P. A., runs the op-
position boarding house, and he is the
one who gets the credit for starting the
crusade against the gamblers at Re-
dondo, and not from the purest of mo-
tives. Be that as 1t may, it is certain
that Warren and company ran several
crap games around town and 1t is re-
ported made several good turns by
'buncoing too confiding players. 1t is
claimed that Rushton confabulated
with the local constable, who is also an
A. p. A. man, and after much sweating
of their brains arrived at the conclusion
that crapshooting fell within the mean
ing of the statute and was an unlawful
pastime.
To think was to act with these gentry,
and three complaints were sworn out.
Warren & Co. were brought before Just
ice Wetherell, who is shining light in
the seaside burg of the A. P. A. Kn.,,
ing the peculiar religious views of the
magistrate the defendants took
change of venue and were brought up
before Justice Harrison, who is an or
dinary American citizen without any
frills on.
Up to that point the Redondo people
had not thought 1t worth while to In
form, much less confer with, the district
attorneys office. But when the cases
had been set for hearing before Justice
Harrison, and L. H. Valentine, also
credited with A. P. A. affiliations, had
been retained to prosecute the cases,
the district attorney was informed of
what had been done.
Deputy District Attorney Willis was
detailed to. cooperate with the special
counsel in the prosecution of the cases,
and the case against Warren was first
tried before jury. Inasmuch as the
jury stood eleven for acquittal and one
for conviction, Mr.. Willis did not think
it possible, under the circumstances, to
obtain conviction, and moved for a
dismissal of the case, as we'll as the
other two untried.
But this didn't suit the Redondo con-
stable and the others standing behind
him, and two more complaints were
sworn to before Justice Wetherell, and
again Warren found himself In the tolls.
This time when change Of venue was
sought the cases were transferred to the
court Of Justice Sexton, at University.
The trial began on Wednesday and
lasted nearly three days, concluding
yesterday afternoon. A large amount
of testimony was taken, and the points
were placed very plainly and forcibly
men in the jury box failed to agree, and
after prolonged consideration, stood
nine for acquittal and three for convic-
ton. Again Deputy District Attorney
Willis moved to dismiss the case at bar
and also the other one not yet tried.
1t now remains to be seen what the
Redondo constable's next move will be.
A great deal of time, trouble and money
have SO far been expended in what was
known to some, and might have been
known to all concerned, would be a fu-
tile prosecution. When the matter first
came up the board of supervisors asked
for the opinion of the district attorney
as to the legality Of craps, and they were
then advised that it not being banking
game it did not fall under the ban of the
law. In this city it is an illegal game, it
is true, but 1t is made SO by ordinance
1t can be made illegal at Redondo by ex-
actly the same mode Of procedure.
In the light of these facts it seems as
if the story that the prosecution had its
initiative in splenetic temper of dis
gruntled hotel man was approximately
near the truth, and that sanctimoni-
Gus cloak was thrown over 1t by the CO.
operation of other members of secret
organization who may. or may not, have
acted in perfect good faith.