The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-01
Gambling Devices Seized in Rock
Road Raids Burned in Belle
vile Public Square.
SHERIFF APPLIED THE MATCH.
Kerosene Soaked Fuel Cast Re-
Election Which Drew Great
Crowds to the Scene
Only Metal Left.

Half the population of Bellevi!le rushed
to the Public Square last evening. attracted
by what they thought was fire destroying
the Courthouse. The flames ran higher and
shed brighter reflection in the sky More
people came until there were but few resi-
dents of the town who were not on their
way to OF at the scene OF the fire. Wnen
they arrived at the Public Square they saw
two huge bonfires raging, about fifty feet
from the Courthouse. Six elaborate nickel
in-the-slot machines. soaked with more than
FIVE gallons of kerosene. fed the flames.
The Fire Department and also an i'm
promptu bucket brigade. armed with all
sorts OF water. was on hand ready to tackle
any fire caused by the burning slot machines.
but their services were not necessary. The
fire died out, leaving only pile of ashes
and twisted metal
The destruction Of the slot machines closes
all chance of argument hereafter about
their disposition. The machines were seized
by Sheriff Herman Barnickol in a raid he
made along the Rock Road summer resorts
and roadhousss early last summer. A num-
Der Of persons were arrested and charged
with operating the machines. All were con-
victed and were fined. A couple OF months
ago. while Coroner Schidroth held the Of
flee OF Sheriff. former Deputy Sheriff of
East St Louis opened the slot machines
and emptied them OF the coin. The act be-
came public and created big sensation
throughout the county. Both the deputy
and the Acting Sheriff were blamed fo- the
affair. The deputy said that the money
was his. ana the Sheriff said that he did
not know that any money was taken, as he
had not seen the machines opened.
Since then there has been considerable
talk by visitors and residents of the county
even as to the disposition OF the machines.
Sheriff kickham received a number of Of
fers for the machines by persons who said
that they would take them out of the coun-
~. Then the Sheriff was bothered consid-
erably by his friends. who would joke him
and would ask him what he meant to do
with them.
Yesterday afternoon Sheriff Hickman
talked with State Attorney Martin ID. Ba-
ker: He asked the State Attorney IL he
could not burn the machines and thus rid
matter up and told the Sheriff that he
could burn the machines if he chose TO.
About .. m. Sheriff kickham ordered ia
cob Grossman. superintendent of the Belle
Vile Workhouse, to get six of his TRUSTEES
and then to carry the machines into the
street In front OF the Courthouse. Sheriff
kickham meanwhile repaired TO a nearby
grocery store and ordered a can containing
more than five gallons of Kerosene sent to
the scene of the proposed fire. He also no.
titled the police and Fire Department OF his
Intentions The news spread quickly 10
East St. Louis. and by the tme the Sheriff
was ready to apply the match to the ma
chimes a crowd of about a thousand persons
had gathered In circle around the ma
chimes. About o. m. Sheriff Kickham or
dered the machines soaked with the kero-
sene. few minutes later he used an az
on them to assist the destroying flames,
ana then. while the crowd held its breath.