The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-17

and attaching property. at the instance
of litigants in civil actions. They lave,
as well, the entire county to overlook
for violations of the law. IL Inc sher-
ifs office were the exclusive guardians
of the public peace, then the police OH
cials would simply have nothing to do
in the detection of felonies.
Then the sheriffs office would be COM
PEELED to call for very much larZer
force than they have at present. II
they did not have larger force the
Clancy gang and all the other viola tors
of the law in the past would very like
ly have escaped detection and punish
ment. If the police force are not to
perform duties in assisting the state
officials in the prosecution of Offenders
against the laws of the state the city
of Butte would be making very large
outlay for the purpose of arresting and
Furnishing yiolators of the city ordi-
nances. The very purpose OF having
a police force patrol the streets of the
city day and night is that the inhab-
itants may be safe and secure from
footpads, burglars and other malefac-
tors, and under the law there seems
to be no distinction between maiefac
tor who violates the gambling law and
one who violates the law against rob
berry, arson and other crimes.
Will Render Assistance.
Mr.. Stapleton received yesterday
response to his letter addressed to
Mayor Harrington and Chief of Police
Mulholland, TO the effect that any as
sistance the city authorities could give
would be cheerfully rendered.
Mayor Harrington, when seen rela-
tive to the latest developments in con-
nection with gambling, declined 10
make any statement with regard To his
position, beyond this;
Il know nothing of any arrangement
,1.If IA Inv
ing a fine on the managers of gambling
houses contrary to the state law. The
police acted under the city ordinance
with reference to gambling, which au-
thorizes the course Chief Muihollana
adopted. 1t is the place, as / view it,
of the city authorities to enforce the
city ordinances and not the state laws.
There are county officials who are sup
posed to enforce state laws. If they do
ret do it | cannot see that 1t is any
fault of the city officials. | have nc
desire to either deny or confirm amy
thing that has appeared IN the news
papers and | have no explanation To
make for any of my acts. The city
books are in the clerks office open TO
inspection. All my official acts are re-
corded in them and | am perfectly Will
ing to stand on my record without TAX
ing the trouble to explain my course.
With regard to Mr.. Stapleton's letter,
he will be given any assistance the po-
lice force can render and would have
before now IL he had asked ii.
Takes n Similar Position.
Chief of Police Mulholland took a
similar position as Mayor Harrington
with regard to the state gambling act.
II do not consider it the place of the
| police to usurp the prefogatiVes of the
sheriff's Office" said he. II consider
| it the duty of that branch of govern
1 rnHi1t n enforce state laws If If does
4 not, / see no reason why city officers
! should be held responsible for the dere-
! LECTION.
with regard to the money | reported
/ having collected from gamblers, like
every one else / understood gambling
any eofficial knowledge Of it. | have
never been inside a gafablin., house
/ since / have been chief Of police, and
none of the officers have eyer made any
report to me Of any games being in
| progress Still, as | said. | understood
/ like everybody else that gambling
/ houses were running. and as the county
! officials appeared To take no cognizance
/ of it, it seemed unreasonable that the
games should run without contributing
/ to the support of the city government.
/ Il talked the matter over with City At
! torney DeWolfe and was advised By
! him that it would not be improper II
/ arrest the gamblers under the city or
/ dinance No. 402, let them put up bonds
and forfeit them or appear in police
/ court ard be fined.
Acting on this advice ! had Clerk
| 0'Leary of the police court swear to a
complaint against the proprietors of
| the places / knew to be running. A
warrant was issued upon the complaint
and / served the warrant on Nov. Ii.
| II placed the bonds of the defendants
at the rate of SIS for each faro table
/ II,
| bonds We're put up in cash and duly
turned over to the city upon the failure
of the defendants to appear i'm court
/ the following day. On the 9th the
| same process was gone through with
regard to another game we found to
be running. ] did all this under ordi-
/ nance 402, and with no reference what
ever to the state law. | may have
done wrong. but ] do not believe it. If
/ Mr.. Stapieton wishes the assistance oil
the police department he has only to
make known his wishes and anything
we can do to assist him will be done
cheerfully. If | have any information
that will do him any good | shall be
/ glad to place 1t in his possession.
sheriff Resan's Reply.
Sheriff Regain yesterday addressed
the following letter to County Attorney
Stapletcn in reply to the open letter
received by him from the attorney or
the gambling question:
Your letter of the 18th inst. request
! ing the cooperation of the sheriff tc
secure evidence against those who arr
violating the provisions of senate bill
No. %, known as the anti-gamblina
/ flaw, received this date.
Il Will state that during the past this
office has co-operated with the Office o1
the county attorney in securing any
! evidence possible to secure on any pro
cess placed in the hands of the sheriff
! necessary for the conviction of the per
son or persons charged in the com
/ plants, and in the future we hope II
continue as in the past to secure eyi
donce when possible and to work il
/ connection with the office of the county
attorney for the suppression Of crime
and to bring violators of the law before
| the tribunal OF Justice"
i A few weeks ago Sheriff Regain re
| voked the appointment of Deput,
| Sheriff Rea. who has been acting Al
/ officer in Justice Laurandeau's court
4 and when the gambling sensations wefl
sprung II was reported that his ap
\.