The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-24
WILL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN.
so CHARLES A. VETTER sWoRE TO
THE SUPERIOR COURT.

His Fine Reduced to $500 ana Costs
Because 1t Was His First ORense,
and He Took the ExcuIpatory
Oath-The Reduced Fine Paid
Through the Efforts of His Friends
and He Was Released Last Night.
The Oath to he Entered on the
Court Minutes.
Charles A Vetter was released from
Jail last night, through the efforts of his
friends and attorneys, and on account Of
the consideration of the court.
Along with Ed Marcus. ]. D. Hirsch and
Charles Odell, Vetter was fined $1,000 and
costs or sentenced to spend twelve
months on the chain-gang, in lieu of The
payment of the fine for running policy
lotteries They were all given several
days In which to pay their fine, and were
put under bond to make it good. Vetter
could not give the bond, and had to so
to jail, where he had been just a week
when released.
Within the last few days his friends
have been at work in his behalf and
raised a considerable amount of mooay
enough to pay a large portion of the llne
Messrs ]. +. B. Beckwith and A. S. Way
were employed to bring the matter to The
attention of the court and see what could
be done for him. Judge Falligant was
at first not inclined to recede from the
sentence passed, but it was shown him
that this was Vetter's first offense, and
that the defendant was willing to take
an eXculpatory affidavit in consideration
of which Judge Falligant reduced the
line to $500 and costs, which was paid. The
affidavit signed by Vetter is a strong one
1t reads:
State of Georgia, Chatham County,
Before the undersigned appeared Charles
A. Vetter, who, being duly sworn, deposes
and says, as follows:
AT this present March term, 1897, of
the superior court of said county, l plead
guilty to an indictment charging me with
the offense of gambling-carrying on a
lottery shop-whereupon the Judge of said
court sentenced me to Imprisonment upon
the chain-gang of said county for the term
OF twelve months. or in lieu thereof to
pay fine Of $1,000 and costs of the court
My various friends throughout the city of
Savannah, Georgia. realizing my physical
condition, and the destitute condition in
which my wife and children would be
placed should be compelled to serve upon
the chain-gang in accordance with said
sentence of the court, have at the expense
of great labor and sacrifice to themselves,
succeeded in raising the larger portion of
the said fine imposed by said sentence, and
thus relieved me of the humiliation and
shame of having to serve upon a chain
gang.
Now, in consideration of those efforts
and sacrifices upon the part of my friends,
in consideration of nay own respect and
in consideration of the respect and duty
due my wife and children, and to my
friends before named, 1 do most solemnly
swear that never again, either in the said
county of Chatham, or at any other place,
will l be guilty of the said offense for
which was sentenced, nor at any time or
place engage in any game of chance,
gambling or gambling device whatsoever,
or be in any wise concerned in the same.
Charles A. Vetter.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
sd day of March. 1897. A. N. Manucy.
N. p. c. c., Ga.
Upon the back Of this affidavit is writ
ten the order of the court, as follows:
In the matter of Charles A Vetter gam
bling. Plea guilty. In consideration of
the within affidavit and the fact that the
offcnse with which he was charged was
his first offense, it is ordered that the
fine imposed be reduced to $500 and costs,
and that upon the payment of said fine
of $500 and costs, the said Vetter be dis
| charged. 1t is further ordered that this
order and the affidavit be entered on the
minutes.
In open court, March o. 1897.
r. Falligant, Judge
This view of the case was shared in by
almost every one who heard of the action
of the court last night Vetter had never
had anything to do with policy until just
before his indictment, as was shown the
court, and this, with the other considera-
tins mentioned, led to the reduction of
the fine. The fines in the other cases men
toned, $1,000 each, have all been paid.