The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-28
CLUB ANNOYED THE GOOD
REPUBLICANS.
JUDGE ORR TURNS EN- LOOSE.
POLICE MUST FURNISH A LITTLE
PROOF TO SECURE CONvIC-
TICN In HIS COURT.
MIR. JOHNSON VERY INDIGNANT
He BIames His Trouble ON ''MRyOr"
Grif;in-What He Says
AbOHt 1t

Mr. Johnson and the patrons OF the
Young Mems Social club who were az
rested Sunday night on tn. charge of
gambling, we're turned loose IN the
municipal court yesterday without
even having to promise to be good
They had an excellent excuse, however,
in the opinion of Judge Orr, and in this
instance it was the officers who made
the raid who hadn't any money to ex-
hibit as evidence, which fact was re-
sponsible for the prisoners discharge.
In fact, Mr. Johnson and Archie Scott,
the alleged proprietors of the resort,
were not tried at all, as City Prose
cuior Hall refused to lodge information
against them, when he learned the par
ticula IS of the raid, and, though the
police Insisted upon presenting the evil
dence against w. T. Britton, James
Johnson, Richard Ellis and w. P.
Moore, alleged to have been playing
cards for money when the raid was
made, each of the accused was found
not guilty, the court holding that there
was nothing to show that the game
had been for any stake.
Notwithstanding that the Young
Mems Social club has been vindicated
Mr.. Johnson is very wroth concerning
the raid and he didn't speak under his
breath yesterday wheR he said that
! Mayor" Griffin is responsible for it.
MI. johnson says that his refusal to
be shaken down. was really the cause
for the action of the police. He de-
clares that it was an outrage to sub
ject so good a colored Republican, too,
who labored zealously for the election
Of the other mayor, to such treatment
According to Mr.. Johnson he has sew
era1 times been approached by people
VII" said they represented Mayo -
Griffith with demands for a per cent of
the winnings at his place, and upon his
refusal to accede to the eXtortion, had
been threatened with being closed Up.
He says he was told that other gam
bling houses were paying Mayor
Griffin for being allowed to run, and
that il be desired to be unmolested he
yauld also have to split" The first
visit fl; ~ the go-be tween, johnson
says, was last fall, when a man whom
he had seen about Grfffin's saloon. told
him that several games were to be al
lowed to run, and that, if he desired,
he could open up on a so per cent BASIS.
the agent stating that Griffin agreed to
furnish the protection for half o. the
winnings. Johnson says he refused tn
open game on this plan, as the Iii
vision would leave nothing for III.
house
: Everything went smoothly enough
after this, until Tuesday of last week
when Mr.. Johnson says he received an
visit 6nn1 IN,
This man said he had come from
Mayor Griffin, and the latter insisted
on having part of the winnings alleg-
eel to be gathered at the Young Mems
Social club, but still Mr. Johnson stood
pat. Friday, according to Mr.. John
son, the same man called upon him
and wanted to know if he had anything
for 'Griff. .. Mr.. Johnson relates that
he emphatically said he had not, and
Furthermore Informed the caller that
he never would have, on the terms sug-
Sc sted. The man then informed the
proprietor of the Young Mems Social
club, according to the latter, that the
stuff was off, as every one who en-
joyed any privileges had to contribute
to a protection fund. Since this time
Mr.. Johnson says he rather expected
some action calculated to force him to
terms, but he declares now that it will
be decidedly unpleasant for any emmi-
sary of Griffin, or any other man, who
shows up around his place with de-
maEd for a rake off, Mr. Johnson
says that no sooner had Mayor Doran
left the city than Mayor" Griffin sieZ-
ed the opportunity to get even and uti-
lied the police in his efforts at
coercion Mr. Johnson thinks he would
not have been disturbed if Mayor
Doran's absence had not left the way
open. Seen at his club rooms last
evening. he said:
eff | had been willing to give up, my
place would never have been raided.
Other places which turn over a part
Of their winnings for protection are
not disturbed, and 1 was given three
chances to come into the same ar
rangement, but because l refused to
contribute my place was raided. The
man who was here last Friday and said
he represented Griffin, threatened
trouble when I stood out and l had
rather been looking for a move of soma
kind, but was surprised at the extreme
measures employed. 1t will do no
a cent to Mayor Griffin or mayor
any one else, and for that matter there
is not now nor has there ever been anv
public gambling in my place anyway. .
The news Of the raid caused a furry
among the local Republican politicians
johnson mas Deen Staunch party man
and worked as hard as ANYBODY for
Doran's election. To single out his
place and raid it at this particular
time was considered by politicians as a
stupid blunder, whether or not a social
crap game fourishes at the club or
not Sunday night there was some
shustling done by Johnson to find some
of the influential Republicans, but they
couldn't be found 1t was said yester-
day that they heard they We're wanted
and quietly dueked. One went to Min
neapolis, another to Bass lake, a third
selected a back street to reach his home
| while fourth disappeared as success
fully as the others. They all learned
the situation early yesterday morning
and individually said something about
| Chief GoSs.
Do NOT NEED 1T NOW.