The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
John CLANCY Swesrs to Com
plants Against Two Houses.
SITTER FIGHT ovLMINArEs.


ana their rivals in gambling eliminated
yesterday afternoon In the closing OF the
standard and Horseshoe gambling houses
an warrants for the arrest of the proprie-
eors ana search warrants for the conhsca-
eiOn OF their gambling apparatus. Tne
warrants we're issued out Of Justice Aus
tins court. They were sworn 20 ~ sJonn
Clancy, who says he proposes to close
gambling in Seattle because he has not
been given what he regards as square
dears by the other gamblers
Two rambling houses--the California
club ana the carp rquhart house-were
unmclested. but the statement was made
from reliable source yesterday that the
only reason their proprietors were not ar
rested was because the Clancy faction be-
Meves they win close of their own accord.
II was further stated that. II they do not
close they will be given the same treat
ment a. tho other houses
The warrants were served by Constable
Matthews, Of Seattle precinct. and Consta-
"a Nelson. Of west Seattle, who also
acts a. constable In Justice Austin's court.
The two constables were assisted by depu-
ties The gamblers offered no resistance.
The police had nothing to do with the raid.
Incidents Or the Raid.
Constable Nelson took seven men with
him into the Horseshoe. Approaching a
stud poker game, he informed the dealer
that, by virtue of his search warrant, ne
proposed to seize the layout and money.
Placing man at the table. ne repeated
the action at all the other tables. In
short time Edward Shank. one Of the pro-
prietors. who was at the other end OF the
long room when the officers entered,
came up and gave his promise that no
money or apparatus would be removed.
Then the officers cleared the room
At the Standard, Constable Matthews
served his warrant on Frank Kelly the
day floor manager. who at once recognized
his authority. The room was quickly
cleared but Kelly, on learning that
Matthews warrant did not command him
TO seize the money on the tables. refused
to allow him to take 1t. At the Horseshoe
no question was raised as to taking the
money, and Constable Nelson took - 700
in coin up to Justice Austin's court room.
The dealers at both places were inclined
to take the raid in ocular way.
Say" said one Of them, addressing q.
reporter "Help me to get job boosting
over at Argyle's before the rest OF the
gang get over there"
.'The boys won't smoke imported cigars
any more" remarked another as he light
ed his last fragrant Havana. .
..I'm the luckiest mug that ever was"
observed another. IT won $500 at bank
yesterday, and I've got 1t yet I'm regis
tered, and I'm going to stay in Seattle
and vote. You say Austin's. out for
mayor? Well, I'll vote for him."
After considerable talk. Justice Austin
consented to allow the gambling apparatus
to stay where 1t was I'm charge Of keeper
until Monday George A. Liable on be-
half OF the Standard proprietors, and
Shank for the Horseshoe, went UP and
arranged for the release of their associ-
ates on their own recognizances until to-
morrow.
Arrests Create Comment.
The raid, and Clancy's action in swearing
to the warrants, was the sole topic OF
conversation In sporting circles last night.
One gambler said:
.Ciancy and Justice Austin both want
gambling closed. They have different mo-
tives, but they Joined hands and worked
to the same end. Clancy wants gambling
closed because he and his brothers. al
though they claim to be straight gam
blers, thrive better when the town Is closed
than when 1t Is open. They run secret
games when public gambling Is shut up.
but never in their lives did they make
success of gambling when they were in
open competition with other houses.
Justice Austin, on the other hand. has
two motives. One Is that he wants to be
mayor. He has to break the power of
Mayor Humes In the First ward. Mayor
Humes permitted gambling to open. and 1t
Is but natural to expect that the gamblers
would support him in his alleged ambition
to succeed himself II Justice Austin, by
closing gambling, can drive the gamblers
out OF town he has done much, he thinks,
to shear Mayor Humes of his power. The
Clancys. in return for Justice Austin's as
sistance In helping them to gain their
point will do all In their power to deliver
him q solid delegation in the Republican
ba frct w rd
Moreover, 1t must be remembered that
Justice Austin has personal motive in
wishing to see Humes defeated. Humes
once had the naming of police Judge, to
which position only Austin himself and
Judge Cam were eligible. Humes named
Cam, and Austin didn't like 1t little
bit"
Judge Austin. when seen yesterday after
noon. said:
IT have nothing further to do with this
matter than to issue the warrants. I am
always ready to assist in the prosecution
of violators of the law, and when COM
plant is made to me have nothing to do
except to issue the warrants. When Clan
cy asked me to do so had no alternative.
He Is responsible citizen and has n right
to have any one arrested whom he be-
lieves has violated the law. So far as
am concerned there is no politics in this
matter"
The question of whether or not the pros
ecuting attorneys Office had anything to
do with the arrest caused considerable dis
cussion last night. 1t is known that q
member of the office drew the complaints
upon which the warrants were issued.
Clancy's Alleged Grievance.
The grievances Of the Clancys against
the other gamblers was stated in an inter-
view with Charles Clancy printed In Fri
day mornings Post-Intelligencer. They
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