The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-16

4 receive your cordial cooperation and .
clear violation of the law, which seems
| GUY
Butte, Mont, Dec. 10. 1897
The disclosures made concerning
| gambling operations in Butte by Chief
| Mulholand's bill presented to the coun-
| Gil finance committee Tuesday evening
| for a share of the bonds forfeited by
| gamblers, precipitated action by the
county attorney yesterday and resulted
| in request being made to Judge
| Clancy by Mr.. Stapleton that a grand
| jury be called to investigate the viola
| tons of the law and the filing of an
| information against Ike Moreheuse and
Henry Albertson, proprietors of the
Combination and later the issuance by
| the county attorney of open letters to
Mayor Harrington, Chief of Police Null
holland and Sheriff Regain. The county
| attorney, his deputies and several de-
tectives in his employ. have been work.
ing on the gambling case for more than
month and a raid was contemplated
some time this week, but the matter
was precipitated by the disclosures
made before the city finance committee
Tuesday night.
The county attorney claims that the
violations of the law have been notori-
Gus, but that the authorities decline 70
assist him in suppressing gambling,
of the city and county officers. After
he had read the morning papers yester-
day, Mr.. Stdpleton went before Judge
Clancy in open court and made re-
quest that a grand jury be called. He
said it had been called to his attention
that gambling was running wide open
in the city in violation of the law, and
it was evident that some officers, either
county or city, or perhaps both, have
been and. still are derelict in their duty
and have allowed these violations of
the law to go on right under their eyes
a fact known to almost everyone, and
that the city of Butte and its officers
have been collecting fines from gam
blers and thereby practically licensing
a crime.
Compromising Felony.
I'm this connection said Mr. Sta
pleton, such officers, ] believe, have
been guilty of compromising a felony.
Now, | would like to ask, / may say
demand, that this court call a special
grand jury to inquire into and investi-
gate the acts of every county officer
whose duty it is TO prosecute and OBJ
tain evidence against gamblers and TO
look into the affair mentioned and
bring such indictments as are neces-
sary and just, no matter where the
blow may fall
Judge Clancy replied that he did not
have very good opinion of the grand
jury system of this state, as the law
limited the jurors to such a small num-
Der that the jury was almost useless. A
grand jury is composed of only seven
members, and three can prevent the
return of an Indictment. The judge
thought the county attorney could
reach all law breakers by information
better than by indictment, but Mr..
Stapleton said he had for months been
trying to find witnesses against the
gamblers, as citizens are backward
about informing against them, though
they might be induced to appear before
grand jury.
4 want the opportunity. he said, 10
compel some of the citizens of this
county and city and also some of the
city officers, to go before a grand jury
and either tell the truth or walk out of
the presence of the jury bearing the
brand of a perjurer.o
Judge Clancy said he would hot call
grand jury at this time. owing to the
approach of the holiday season, but he
would take the matter under considera-
ton until after the first of the year.
Mr.. Stapleton left the court room say
ing. that If he could not have the assist
ance of a grand jury he would proceed
against the gamblers on his own ac-
count. and shortly afterwards he APP
peared in court again, this time with an
information against Morehouse & AL
bertson, which he filed after obtaining
leave from the court to do so.
An Information Filed.
The information reads as follows.
In the district court of the Second
judicial district of the state of Mon
tana. in and for the county of Silver
Bow. on the 18th day of December. 1897.
Isaac MCrehouse and Henry Albertson
are accused by Guy ". Stapleton. the
duly elected, qualified and acting coun-
ty attorney IN and for the county of
Silver Bow. state of Montana by this
information, in the name and on behalf
of the authority of the state Of Mon
tana, of the crime of gambling. COM
mitted by them, the said defendants.
as follows, to-wit: That at the county
of Silver Bow. state of Montana. on or
about the 18th day of November, 1897,
and before the filing Of this informa-
tiun, the said defendants above named,
Isaac Morehouse and Henry Albertson,
did wilfully and unlawfuily and felon-
lously and knowingly and Intentionally
carry on and open. and cause to be
opened and conducted, and cause TO be
conducted as owners certain games Of
fare. which said games of faro We're
played for money. cheeks, credits and
ether representa- Ees Of value, contrary
to the form. force and effect of the
and against the peace and dignity Of
the state # Montana
Secondhand the county attorney
aforesaid duly elected, qualified and
acting as aforesaid IN the name and on
behalf and by the authority of the state
of Montana, accuses the said defend
ants. Isaac Morenouse and Henry Al
bertson. Of the crime Ct gambling. COM
mitted by them, the said defendants. as
follows ta-wtt. That at tba county II
silver Bow. state ~ Montana. an Gr
about the Nth day OF November. 1897,