The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-09
A GAM BLING GAME
Disturbed by Deputy sherigfs Hawkes.
and Dresser.

Deputy Sheriffs Hawkes. and Dresser
made descent on a gambling outfit at
Willard, Saturday evening, and captured
James Guilday, who gave his place of
residence as Boston. He was master of
ceremonies, and chief worker. The game
was called baseball, and consisted of
throwing ball into the mouth of large
darkey painted on canvas. The ball would
go in back of the canvass and then roll
down through pegs driven at intervals
into slanting board which finally ter
minated in pockets in some of which
were displayed cigars, prizes of various
kinds, money, etc. Last Monday evening,
several started to play the game, and a
few came out winners, but they are al
legged to have been "cappers" for the
game. Several lost sums ranging from
81 up to SIS and bought their experience
dearly. Some of the bystanders who were
watching the game suspected that every
thing was not as it should be and de-
clined to take hand in it, and it is al
legged that there were fine wires running
back of the canvas which when pulled by
the operator would change the course of
the ball and close the winning pockets.
The man who was operating the game
Monday was ordered by an officer to close
up and get out, which he did In quick or
der, disappearing that night, and not
showing up again. The game was started
again Saturday night by Guilday who
was probably in company with the first
man and who was reaping harvest
when he was suddenly grabbed by the
deputy sheriffs and placed under arrest
Guilday had over 500 on his person when
arrested.
Guilday was taken to the county jail
and locked up and will be put before the
court this morning to answer to the
charge of maintaining a gambling nuis-
ance.
1t is understood that one afternoon dur
ing the week two men started in to play
what is called the' over, under and even"
game at the beach but were stopped by
an officer Just as they were about to COM
mence operations. They protested that
the game was legitimate, but finally con-
cluded that it was better for them to give
it up. So they folded up their paraphe-
MALTA and left for other green fields and
pastures new. tat
It seemed at one time as if the gamblers
had suddenly made descent on Willard
and s intended to camp there, but
Sheriff Plunmer and his deputies kept
sharp watch and broke up the little games
where so many might make sudden for
tunes and not have to travel all the way
to Alaska in order to do So
The others had all cleared out and did
not attempt to start in business again,
but Guilday was more courageous. Per-
haps he was tempted by the fact that
South Portland is just now greatly inter-
ested in baseball and so this device might
prove particularly attractive. Deputy
Sheriff, Hawkes. stated Saturday night that
he saw wires in connection with the board
which lead him to suspect that beside
being gambling scheme the device was
so constructed that it could be manipu-
lated to prevent outsiders winning any
thing.
1t was about nine O'Clock when the
deputies descended on the game and then
proceedings caused considerable excite
ment. Before the officers reached him,
Mr.. Hawkes. says that Guilday made an
effort to pull his machine to pieces.