The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-20
TAUGHT THEM GAMBLING.
james III. Bergen Convicted of the
Charge Against Him.


James H. Bergen, the proprietor of
a cigar store at No. 80 North Dale
street, accused by Herman Schnell
with conducting gambling in his place
OF business, was, yesterday, found
guilty in the police court and SEN
fenced to the workhouse for ninety
days without the option of fine.
While arraigned upon but one COM
plant, thirty five st. Anthony hill
youths. between the ages Of thirteen
and twenty years of age, were in court
as witnesses to testify to having been
inVeigled into gambling practices in
Borgen's place, and in passing sem
tence Judge Twohy severely scored the
defendant, remarking:
IF you should work for the saliva
ton of these boys and their parents
for the remainder Of your natural life
you could not undo the influence of
the past few years."
BOrgenS arrest grew out Of the ar
raignment of the two Schnell boys in
the police court on the charge Of in
corrigibility, preferred by their father.
who stated that. though but thirteen
and sixteen years of age, he could
not control the lads, and desired them
sent to the state school at Red Wing
Mr.. Schnell in a large measure at
tributes the WayWardness of his boys
to frequenting Borgens place and the
habit for gambling contracted there,
which led them to play truant from
school, in order to enjoy the fascina-
ton of dice-playing and to finally
steal $25 and a gold watch from their
parents to furnish them with stakes
for the game. In order to save other
boys from travelling the same road, he
instituted proceedings against Bergen
with the hope of Kidding the neighbor-
hood Of a menance to the moral we'll
fare of the UOnth of 10 Of oh
Bergen made no defense whatever to
the charge against him, except to pre-
sent request, which the court re-
fused, for the payment Of a fine in
stead of being sent to prison. After
the trial the parents of many Of the
boys. who have been in the habit Of
frequenting the place, thanked Judge
Twohy for his action, expressing the
belief that they would now be able
to reclaim their Maynard sons
only few Of the young witnesses
called in the case testified, but their
stories were sufficient to establish the
fact that Bergen has practically been
reaping a harvest from the youthful
gamesters for the past three or four
years. The father Of one of the boys
a lad Of seventeen years, said to a re-
porter for the G o b that his son
had spent over 5000 in Borgen's place
and had lost his position in whole
sale mouse through an effort to dis
count his salary before pay day in or
der to obtain money to satisfy his
desire for gambling.
After passing sentence upon Bergen,
Judge Twohy delivered a strong lee
ture to the boys present in court upon
the evils of gambling, especially as
had been practiced by those Of such
tender years, and warned the lads
against such courses in the future,
Undressing the 10CCnY1 NV cto
the boys, themselves, were guilty Of
an offense under the law in having
participated in the gaming at Borgen's
store, and that continuance of their
evil ways might ultimately bring them
before the bar Of justice.
The conviction Of Bergen, while
viewed with satisfaction by the parents
OF the boys, has also aroused their
sympathy, as the man has a wife and
two children, but they declare that in
the event of their necessity, they will
be provided for.