The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-13
PUT A STOP TO GAMBLING.
NO MORE CARD PLAYING TO BE
ALLOWED THE CONVICTS.

Matter Yesterday, and Referred
IL to the Chain-gang Committee
Commissioner xehOe BEING the
Only Member of the Committee
Here, at Once Issued an order
Against Gambling at the Camps.
commissioner Vests Departure
Not Brought Before the Board.
There will be no more gambling among
the eonvicts at the county convict camps.
The matter was brought before the beard
of County Commissioners at their regu-
lar meeting yesterday afternoon, and by
the board referred TO the chain-gang COM
mittee. Commissioner Kehoe being the
only member of that committee now
here, since the departure Of Commissioner
T. Newell West with the volunteers. he
at once issued an order prohibiting any
further gambling among the convicts, and
IL will be stopped.
The gambling question was about the
only matter of interest that came before
the commissioners yesterday. It was
brought up by Commissioner Kehoe, who
said if gambling is against the laws of the
state ii certainly should not be permitted
at the convict camps. Young boys sent
10 the county farm were being taught to
gamble there, he said, and 1t should be
stopped Chairman Dale said he thought
gambling had been stopped there. He was
at the camps last Sunday and said he
saw none of it at that time. That was
during divine services held for the con-
victs. Commissioner Dale also told of a
little arrangement in the shape OF wheel
with figures on ii attached to pin which
he had seen in use among some of the
convicts II is known as the wheel of
fortune.
Commissioner Kehoe said IL gambling at
the camps had been stopped it had been
done since last Sunday as he was there too
OF that time and had seen gambling among
the men. Some of the boys on the county
farm told him, he said, that they We're
taught to gamble there. He spoke to some
of the guards about il, he said, and they
told him that gambling was permitted on
the authority of the superintendent OF
public works. He said he considered Il his
duty to bring the matter before the board
Chairman Dale told another story about
the Yamacraw and the Old Fort boys on
the gang. He saw some boys on one oc-
casion at the camp with four or five plugs
of tobacco and asked them where they got
il.
I'VE won ii from dem Yamacraw boys,
was the reply.
Don't you feel sorry for those boys who
have no tobacco?' the chairman asked.
Nav" was the reply, 'if dey wants any
dey's got to buy il from US"
Chairman Dale said he had seen gam
1-11 a.
good many occasions. He thought how
ever. that gambling for tobacco had been
stopped. though the boys and men did
sometimes gamble for money.
Superintendent of Public Works w. r.
Chaplin then stated that he stopped gam
bling in the camps altogether when he first
took charge, but went out there one day
and found that the men were drawing
straws for pieces Of tobacco and the fell
low who got the shortest straw took the
pot. on the strength Of that he allowed
the men to go back to gambling, but would
not permit them to gamble for tobacco
and ordered that men caught gambling fol
tobacco be punished
The members of the board thought The
committee on chain-gang could regulate
the matter and it was left to that commit.
tee.
1T happens that there is only one of The
committee left" Mr.. Kehoe said. 1.-THE
chairman, Mr. West has enlisted in the
volunteer army, and under Mr.. S. b
Adams decision he is the same as a dead
man so far as we are concerned, since it is
said he cannot hold civil Office and hold
position in the army too. l WILL there
fore. issue an order now directing that
gambling be stopped among the convcts
This ends the matter and the convtots
will have to throw away their greasy
cards. Their only chance now is to bet
chews of tobacco on the state of the
weather, or wager which of two birds III
ny first.
Superintendent Chaplin's report showed
that there are now 200 convicts on the
chain-gang, of whom 14S are men, About
sixty of these are working on the drains
and bitches around the city. During the
month of April they slushed IS 100 linear
feet of bitches besides doing considerable
other work
Commissioner Kehoe objected to the con-
Wet gang at Buckhalter being known as
camp No !. He thought the farm camp,
or main camp should be known as camp
No. ]. and the others numbered according
ly. There was some little discussion ON
this point and the matter was referred to
the chan-gang committee TO look into the
county books and see how the change
could best be made
Two petitions for relief from double
taxes were referred TO the chairman, with
power to act as Is customary.
The question of lightning rods for the new
Jail tower was the only other subject dis
cusscd Whether lightning rods are q
humbug or not Chairman Dale thought
they would be a good thing, they al
ways make the occupants of a building
feel more secure. The matter was left &c
the committee on jail
No action was taken with reference &c
l.
left as lieutenant with Company d of
the Guards, The matter win be held in
allegiance for the present.
RACE GIVEN TO THE MARY It.