The sun., 1899-04-02
KING EARO ON rAclTIoN.
Montana Games Closed for the First Time
Some High Betting.


BUTTE. Mon. March 27.-The truth OF tie
saying Wherever YOU find a hisi mining
camp YOU will also find King Faro" was always
possible OF demonstration in Butte Helena
and Anaconda until few days ago. Montana
is mining State second TO none in the value
OF its production. and until two years ago the
sign Licensed Gambling Here" was statu-
tory requirement to be seen above the door of
every gambling house in the state. Then a
law was passed making either playing at or
running the ordinary card games n felony.
with the result that tlp signs were taken
down. but the gambling did not cease. The
law was so strict that witnesses were unoU-
tainable and consequently no convictions were
had. The recent Legislative Assembly passed
another law making the running OF games II
msdemeanor with no penalty for playing
This bill was vetoed by Gov. Smith, who ex-
pressed tho opinion that it would only he
legalized blackmailing instrument in the
hands OF officials both city and county: and
the old law remained in effect and gambling
games were run openly in the larger cities.
That they suddenly ceased to operate almost
eimutan eously throughout the State was not
ousy among the gamblers themselves. yes. - ''"''
in Helena Just as i did two years years ago when
discounted gambling house proprietor was
largely instrumental in securing the passage
of the anti gambling law, A Helena gambler.
owning Q fourth interest in one of The largest
houses there. had n brother who was "A mem
ber of the last Legislature and was reported to
he renay Tor TO o tRe
gambling act. The fight against making it a
misdemeanor was vigorously pushed and the
THE other partners In the gambling house in
sisted that the remaining member should sway
this he either failed or did not attempt to do
aa requested. and upon learning that the effort
mo- longer .usG membsr Of the rm He t tRen e
| sought TO secure an interest in some Of the
other houses. but was unsucce:sful He then
not do business himself the rest should not
either. and he gavo all the Helena houses warn
they did, Some men iSterestcd in both Hell
ena and Butte houses were compelled to close
here as well, and they naturally insisted that all
fected, and thus YOU may understand why
snss hns FoE9 FoG Kas Is on n for the time
by the way. there we're, several pretty live:
ygqmesi in Helena during the recent session OF
continent, but cannot recall ever having seen
such stiff games for u town Of even ten times
tween Clark and Duv was largely responsi.
bic for the unnaturally large flow Of money.
aIc whch seemed as plentiful as the snow in the
noon where sl3.UOO changed hands in two
hours. and but three numbers were used in the
entire play. lou probably remerlbe that on
the first day OF the Assembly the sensational
$4,000 bribery charges were made against
Mr.. CLARK. that the Legislature recommend
ed that the Grand Jury investigate tho same.
and that while they cNOneratcd Clark the
Grand Jury remained in session investigating
other matters.
We'll. they got a gambler before them and
becoming ratified. he told them all he gnew
| After leaving the Jury room. he told what lie
had done. aGd Of course, the houses were in
clans who had m Dnev to burn. and one after
| noon one of the Butte plungers effected an ar
| rangement whereby he and the proprietor and
myself went upstairs for Il private whirl. The
plunger had $4,000 cash. while The banker
! had an equally large roll. | was to, spin the
| ball for them. and when you consider that
| there was n SO limit and that some numbers
| maid thrty-iive for one. YOU cnn readily uer-
| ceve that It was u pretty lively game. The
| plunger PLAYED II. Il. and II. and while he
| would occasionally strike il. IL was but short
| time until the $4,000 in currency was on the
| wrong side Of the tab lc. He put in markers
| for $4,000 more but luck was against him.
and in Just two hours and five minutes from
| the time went up he was $4,000 poorer, al
! though no sadder. although he had no more
prvate:sessions., J understood thnt after the
| games were puhlicly reorened upon the failure
| after them with a vengeance and left Helena
| with q neat sum to the good.
'FaIo with 500 limit on cases was n
| daily occurrence. and they tell me that one
| man is ahead $4,000 on poker during the
| winter. Their" is rcputed to have been game
| Of roker at one Of the clubs over there during
the session with :. O.OOO the table for nearly
| a week running. but who got the POT have
| been unable to learn.