The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11
HELENA GAMBLERS, LAST NICHE.
AFTER Uninterrupted License for Thirty Year,
the Games stop.
Nom the Chfodyo Record.

HELENA, Mon, July 5.-For more than thirty
years without interruption, except for a briee
period in 1895, licensed gambling has had fun
sway in Montana, but on the night Of juno 80.
1897. promptly at the hour of IL, In accordance
with the requirements OF the Chandler Anti
Gambling law. all games were closed, boxes
turned down, dealers settled their accounts.
turning tho money S1orsF- to their respective
houses, and by l o'clock not even i social game
o. cards for cigars could he found.
Tor the last few weeks the members Of the
gambling fraternity have been taking counsel
with one another and with the leading mems
oers OF the legal profession regarding the advise
bility Of testing the new Anti'Gombling law
to find II any possible flaw could be detected
In the statute or in the manner OF Its enact
ment. A plan of procedure had been carefully
arranged, in such event, BY which ono Of the
rerua.in open in defiance Of the new law, each
OF tho loading houses throughout the State
Of of' TIC f tsst! Bon sisH @eTo P PS have o. BEEN .h' i sh lPssai.
ness, and the case would have been taken at an
early date Into the State Supreme Court for do.
cision. But the unanimous opinion OF the legal
experts was to the effect that the fight would
result only in useless expense, as the new law
the court which could be brought against it,
A few local houses declared their determina-
a oioh While " kSG tRiSS P douS Sies mi night aiei haTs Been su dom;
with IMMUNITY, rs the officers OF the law were
not disposed to be captious. yet as the final day
ullflS NhSAS WOO nv AAAAtftthi AestS ftO
prietor or owner OF tho building in which the
gaines wore run who was willing TO take the
risk Of incurrlng the heavy penalties imposed.
rs the new law ID 80 sweeping in It's deciara-
tions that owners of property In which games
arc connected are also included.
Contrary to universal expectation there was
no excitement during the last hours of legalized
gambling and tho play did not run high. There
were no remarkable winntnSs on either stdoi
winnings and losings were small and few beta
ovcrran S25. In Helena, Butte, and other prin-
cipal cities OF the state large crowds, were pres
cnt, the halls becoming densely packed as the
hour for closing approached. but nino-tenths OF
tho crowd were SPECTATORS, and rather an I'M
usual lot Of spectators at that, Not a few were
there for the FIRST time in their lives, drawn by
curiosity: others were old-timers, who had
many a time taken a hand In tho games OF early
days, when bets were backed with piles OF shtnr
Ing gold dust and when Thousands were staked
upon the turn OF a card. Tho players were
good;nutured. joking over tho situation. and as
the hour Of II approached many, bets were
made that the games would not close on the
stroke of the clock In the largest house In
Helena several faro tables were running up to
the last moment and money was rapidly chang
Ing hands, Tho clock struck; one OF the deal
ers announced. 'Gentlemen, this game. IL
closed" The remaining dealers having finished
the final dea. stopped all within a minute uk
each other and the twelfth stroke had scarcely
died away when all was over and tho crowd
began TO mote toward the doors.