The herald., 1897-06-09

honorable board with detailed state
ment in regard to the dHficultieA we have
to contend with in trying to enforce the
laws in reference to Chinese lotteries
lottery ticket selling. etc.
II am aware Of the fact that for sew.
eral years Chinese lotteries and lottery
ticket selling have been increasing, not
withstanding we havestried to suppress
them. In the first place, our officers, II
known, cannot buy tickets. nor will they
be allowed to witness the drawings. but
we have, by Disgusting our men, often
succeeded in making purchases of tick
cts and making arrests. In fact We
have made large number of arrests
but they have had no effect on the illegal
traffic, for the reason, believe. that the
parties convicted have not been properly
punished.
I'm my report to the city council In
last December, for the fiscal year end
ing November 30, 1896, made. in con-
nection with the exhibit of arrests fol
the year. the following statement: This
exhibit also shows that the department
has made in the year, 174 arrests and Sc
cured 161 convictions for selling lottery
tickets, but Notwithstanding the large
number of convictions, the lottery ticket
selling has greatly increased. The sen
tences imposed by the courts have beer
nominal cash fines, and I am afraid
these have been looked upon as license
which the lottery ticket vendors could
we'll afford to pay. I think there is a
way to stop this business. The law gives
the Judge passing sentence the right to
- In oa q
imprisonment for months, and II
each Of the vendors of lottery tickets
knew that conviction would be fol-
lowed by imprisonment, as well as a
heavy fine, they would not look upon an
arrest as trivial matter.
II am of the same opinion still.
1.-THE law governing this matter is as
follows:
"'Sec 321. Every person who sells
gives or in any manner whatever fur
nishes or transfers to or from any other
person any ticket. chance, share or in
terest, or any paper, certificate or in
strument purporting to be or to repre-
sent any ticket. chance, share or inter-
est depending upon the event Of any
lottery, is guilty of misdeme amor.
"'Sec. 10. Except in cases where a
different punishment Is prescribed by
this code. every offense declared to be
misdemeanor is punishable by impris-
cnment in county Jail not exceeding
cix months. or by fine not exceeding
$500, or by BOTH
Noting the great increass.in Chinese
lottery joints and lottery ticket selling
about one year ago I appealed person
ally to the police courts to impose heav-
Ter fines on the Chinese when convicted
in their courts, when to my surprise
was told that would have to see tn.
district attorney, as the. fnes were i'm.
posed on the Cinnamon by tacit agree
ment with them, that II they would en-
ter plea of guilty nominal fine woulc
be imposed. which was in almost al
cases $40. then appealed to the dis
trict attorney in person in regard to the
matter, and he seemed willing but sale
that his deputies informed him that |.
was almost impossible to make. convic.
tions when the C71inamen demanded
jury trials, and. besides, they did no,
have time to give to such cases: tlaa,
he jurles were no good, etc theu
requested the district attorney to try
all Chinese arrested for selling lottery
tickets and conducting lotteries BY III:
~, and to let me know when n1urorswers
Q be summoned. and promised woult
send my men into the business houSes