The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-19
TO TELL ABOUT GAMBLING.
uNsUCCEssFUL CANDIDATE FOR So
LICIToR BEFORE GRAND JURY.

IB1AIOat DEF UAefA-ND
Messrs. Walter c. Hartridge and
John j. Sullivan Asked What They
Know About Public Gambling.
Grand Jury Has Taken New Tack
as to the Suppression of Gambling
and the Initiative in Instituting
Prosecutions Hartridge Is Said
to Have Promised His Aid-The
Policy Tickets Matter Investigated.
Another Meeting Tuesday.
TIE grand jury Of the Superior Court
held a lengthy session yesterday after
noon, Messrs. Walter C. Hartridge and
John J. Sullivan, The former the unsuc-
ces sful candidate for solicitor general and
the latter one of the most active Of his
supporters were before il as witnesses in
an investigation of the gambling evil
The action taken by the grand jury
is an entire departure from the method
of procedure for the punt shment of gam
bling that has been followed in the past.
Former grand juries have instituted their
indictments or presentments against gam
bling upon evidence furnished them by
County Detective Henry WetherhoFn, the
witnesses generally used being employees
of the gambling rooms and policy shops
themselves The present grand jury has
seen fit to take the matter into its own
hands, to institute proceedings on its own
account and has called upon Mr..
Hartridge. and his friends, recently en-
gagged in a crusade against the evil, to
furnish the evidence upon which the in
14ofv he
founded and public gambling suppressed
or sought to be suppressed.
The proceedings of the grand jury leak
out very gradually and 1t is possible to
secure something of them for publication
only at second or third hand An unguard-
ell expression used by a grand juryman
in conversation with a friend, the wit
nesses who are brought before 1t and ex-
amined and such surrounding circum-
stances as may be calculated to throw
light on the proceedings must be relied
upon to form the hasis of newspaper ar
ricles. The oath of the grand jurymsn
prevents their talking for publication.
Solicitor General Osborne left for the
North yesterday morning, and Mr.. r. l..
Coiding was made solicitor general pro
tenn. Mr.. Colding was in attendance at
the Court House while the grand jury was
In session, and prepared to furnish It with
his advice and assistance whenever they
should be called for, and 20 examine wilt
nesses should this be deemed desirable.
Evidently the grand jury intended to look
after the matter itself, for Mr.. Colding
was not called upon.
1t IS understood that both Mr.. Hart
ridge and Mr.. Sullivan were interrogated
as to their knowledge of public gambling.
Mr.. Hartridge stated, it is said, that the
knowledge he possessed was that known
to every public official in Savannah and
had come to him either during the course
of judicial Investigations, at second
hands from friends or others, in whose
integrity he had perfect confidence.
While, therefore, he was not in a posi-
ton to give evidence himself. he ander-
took to furnish it, and would do so II
the grand jury meant to make a real
EFFORT to suppress gambling, and not mere
ly to use him for the purpose of perpet-
uating the existing state of affairs. Mr..
Sullivan was also called upon to tell what
ne knew on the subject. II Is understood
that the policy tickets displayed by Mr..
Aartrldge at recent political gathering,
and said by him then to have been pur-
chased openly on the day of the speech
he was making, formed part of the in
quiries to which he was subjected by
the grand jury.
The session of the grand jury was con-
unued for a considerable time after the
two Witnesses who had been called before
W ttsAt-At+en iIAnSplIHu Is not KNOWN
10 others than members of the jury.
The grand jury Of the present term OF
court Is made up of representative BUSH
ness men, who command the respect of the
community Both political factions are
represented in its personnel and there are
others who are allied with no faction. It's
foreman is Mr.. Henry D. Stevens. The ac-
ton taken by it, therefore, may be taken
TO be expressive of the sentiment Of the
best element Of the people Of Savannah
and be ell that can be done by a grand
jury to investigate and if possible, to sup
press an evil. the laws against which are
specially given in charge by the court
Should the action taken by the grand jury
fail of its intended effect il will be either
because the evidence furnished is not suffl-
cient or that no grand jury has sufficient
power 10 do anything about the matter.
When the grand jury returned TO the
court room Foreman Stevens stated that
there were no preSentments or indict-
ments that the grand jury wished to re-
turn, but that il did desire to meet again |
Tuesday afternoon. The foreman request |
ed in the meantime. that the absent MEM |
bers OF the jury should be summoned.
Mr.. Hartridge, Mr. Sullivan and those
upon whose evidence they rely to make |
out their oft-repeated charges as to the |
existence here of public gambling, will
be brought doubtless, before the next
meeting. The proceedings that will fol- |
low will be watched with interest and !
there may be sensational denouements. |
Instead of the fight against gambling ne |
ing over as hos been thought for tile |
past day or two, it seems to have been |
but well begun.
The rumor was on the streets yesterday |
afternoon that the grand jury intended to !
take up charges as to the sale of votes and |
their purchase at the last primary cleo |
ton. So far as can be learned this rumor |
Is without foundation. 1t could not be |
corroborated from any source.