The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-16
MINISTER'S PROTEST
Set Forth in statement-They OBJ
ject to Police Raids for Revenue,
and Desire Permanent Slot Machine

Bet GQECu III y SLRGS4SAS lucy w
ject to Police Raids for Revenue,
and Desire Permanent Slot Machine
Withdrawals.
To the Editor OF the Intelligencer.
sIR:-whlle 1t Is true that a raid
was made Thursday night on the slot
machines Of the city and in the police
court Friday morning fine was impos
ed upon each of 1O7 persons operating
such machines. It was not at the In
stance Of the Federation of Churches.
we do not believe in raising revenue
from crime or violations of law Our
object is the suppression OF Vice. and
to this end we ask for the seizure of
these machines and their entire remov-
At the conclusion of the police court
Friday morning, we asked the mayor
and chief OF police to make such SELF
ure OF all slot machines against which
fines had been imposed that morning.
They refused, giving as their reason
that the law providing for such seizure
Is unconstitutional. When asked for
their authority, they said: Judge
Jackson had so decided" We made no
answer Mt the time, but were confident
Judge jackson had no Jurisdiction in
the matter, he being district Judge in
the United State8 court. To satisfy
ourselves, however, we sent the fol-
lowing telegram;
WHEELING, W. Va,
December Il, 1880.
Judge j. j. Jackson, ParkersburE, W. Va.
Have you ever decided It unconslt
nj TO seize and destroy any gambling DE:
Vices, whatsoever. under the state laWs9
II 10, what devices, what law, and when
decision rendered? Answer immed IIey
''''''''N' PARKERsBURG, W. Va,
The following is his answer:
December Is, 1850.
Rev. j. l., sooy, Wheeling.
No such question as you refer to was
eT CsIE gse9'0 '"' J.J. JACKSON.
The following is the city ordinance
under which we asked the mayor and
chief of police to seize and remove all
slot machines in the city;
"1'he mayor, or any member OF coun-
Gil, or the sergeant, or any OF his depu.
ties may seize or direct TO be seized
any table, instrument, device or thing
used for the purpose OF gaming. and
the property 30 seized may be demol-
ished or destroyed under the direction
OF the mayor, in case the person or per-
sons In whose possession the same was
found shall be convicted OF gaming.
Sec. so, under Offences"
The following nre the ordinances COW
ering the duty OF the official: "rhG
mayor, sergeant, members OF council
and every member of the police OF the
city are hereby empowered to arrest on
view, every person found violating any
provision in this ordinance and convey
such offender or offenders to the city
lock-up, there to be detained for trial.
Sec. 46, "OfrenCes,"
at shall be the duty OF the sergeant
| OF the city and each one OF his depu'
tics. knowing or being informed OF any
| violation Of any of the provisions OIL
this ordinance, to make Information
against the person so offending, and u
the sergeant or RdepUty shall fail e
make such Information he shall forfeit
and pay to tho city the sum Of s. nnC
| costs OF prosecution for every such Of
| Tense" Sec 81. Offences"
ut shall be the duty Of the Bergean
to enforce the ordln9nces OF the city
| generally; to Institute prosecutions FOL
all offences against the same; and "
after having been informed OF ans
offences nEaInst the said ordinances, h
shall neglect or refuse to institute I
prosecution against the offender o.
offenders. he shall forfeit md pay L
the city sum of not less than ten MOI
more than twenty dollars and costs o
prosecution Of every such oncrise.
Sec. Z, under Sergeant"
Upon legal advice we waited upon tn
chief OF police. Friday afternoon, au'
asked him 10 make another raid tina
night. His immediate reply was: THE!
VIII cry persecution" Finally, however
he asked until evening in order that h
] might consult his counsel. AccordinI