The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-05-28
Law Strictly Enforced in All
Large Cities.
BUTTE SPORTS QUIT
Attorney General Donovan Promises a
Stringent Enforcement Of the Law
Pool Selling Declared Illegal.

MOT0 SIIlI6cuI Cudu CNCl VIII UC
the enforcement of the gambling laws
throughout the state," announced At
torney General Donovan yesterday.
We are going to continue right
along" said he, until we have put an
end to gambling. Already the move
ment has met with the greatest sue
cess, and | have encouraging reports
from all sections. The county attOr-
neys are working with a will and are
doing good"
The gamblers of Butte tried to get
from under" the law Friday. They
have met with severe check and
have promised to depart from the
ole money to learn definitely that the
attorney general and County Attorney
Peter Breen of Silver Bow county
were in earnest in prosecuting them.
The were given severe object les
son, then begged and promised to be
good.
1ACy IA4Ou W AOouAAO GAAAO OAAAS AA
Butte" remarked Mr.. Donovan yes
terday But they failed. l received
a message from there this morning.
A dozen or more of the prOprietors of
gambling houses and players were ar
rested Friday night. They spent the
night in Jail and were then taken into
court. All of them were fined. Then
they asked for lower fine, promising
to cease to conduct gambling houses
and leave the state"
Reports received ny the attorney
general from other cities indicate a
similar state of affairs, although the
gamblers in other places were not so
bold as at Butte. They wisely reason
ed that something was meant by the
opening of prosecutions and ceased
any extensive efforts at operating
their games of chance.
I'VE have heard from Anaconda
and Great Falls" continued Mr.. Dono-
van. "In both places gambling has
been practically abolished. The coun,
ty attorneys have taken hold in earn
est and the gambling houses are ef'
fectually closed. Cases have been in
stituted in both cities and will be
prosecuted at once"
There is much speculation as to
whether pool rooms and pools sold at
race tracks will come under the
head of gambling, as the law is being
construed by the state and county
officials. There has been no occasion
for test on this point yet, but the
opening of the racing season will
bring up the point.
Attorney General Donovan said yes
terday that he had not yet been re
quested to render an opinion on this
point. 81 will refer you to the law
or any lawyer as to that" said he
"It seems to me that the law is plain
It provides that any gambling is a
misdemeanor." Although the attor
ney general does not stand committed
on this point, it is to be inferred that
pool selling is under the ban as much
as faro or roulette.
In the general construction of gam
ling laws in other states, the selling
of pools is considered violation o.
the statute. When the racing begins
this point will be passed upon one
way or another by the state and coun
ty authorities.
Prohibition of pool selling at race
tracks would seriously interfere will
the sport. The betting is one of thu
principal features considered neces
sary in a successful race meet. Tt
stop this would mean the loss of mucl
interest in the sport, as we'll as con
siderable financial loss to the racin,
sociations.-Record.