The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-26
OFFICIALS ARE
NOT WORRIED
COUNTY ATTORNEY AND SHEER
IFF At ANACONDA FREE
THEIR MINDS.
Action Of the Attorney General in
Filing Complaint Against Them
:. for Failing to Enforce Anti
g Gambling Laws of the State u
Is Not Causing Them
Any Loss Of Sleep.
Especial to Inter Mountain.)

(. Especial to Inter Mountain)
Anaconda, July 26-Nothing that has
happened in Anaconda for long time
has attracted so much attention as the
action taken yesterday by the attorney
general In ordering the arrest of seven
men, members Of the gambling fraterni-
ty, and the filing of informations in
the district court against Sheriff Con-
ley, charging him with willful neglect
of the performance Of his duty in the
suppression Of gambling and enforcement
of the law, when he had knowledge
that various games were bring conducted
at place known as the Turf Exchange
and at other places within the city Of
Anaconda.
The same Information was filed against
County Attorney Duffy. except that he
was additionally accused of failing to
prosecute the violaters of the gambling
law.
1T came to my knowledge" said the
attorney general. ''some little time ago.
that the officers of Deer Lodge county
were not performing their duty. and a
few days ago additional information
came that gambling was being con-
Quoted in open violation of the law,
so I decided to come to Anaconda and
ct have done so. and spent all of We'd
nesday forenoon and part of yesterday
In collecting evidence that left no doubt
On my mind that the law was being flag
rantly violated and that the officers
whose duty it is to enforce the law, had
openly dtsregarded their oath of office
and are fit subjects for removal
when saw the actual situation and
1ust how things were running I decided
to take q hand In the game myself, so
] have taken steps to remove the sheriff
and county attorney and also ordered
the arrest of Richard Rowe. Thomas
Harvey, John Griffin. Newton Shannon.
James Gardiner and Charles Graham"
John, Shannon and Gardiner were ar
rested last night by Constable Lynch
and taken before Justice Kennedy, who
released them on their own recognizance.
They appeared before him again at 4
o'clock this afternoon. entered plea of
not guilty and were bound over to the
district court.
County Attorney Duffy, when asked for
a statement, replied that all he could
say was that he did not believe it was
his business to go about town hunting
for these games.
II do not intend to put myself in
the position or witness ana prosecutor,
he added. land it is strange to me that
some of these people who claim to know
gambling is being conducted do not come
to me and give this information.
Il have never refused to issue war;
rant and have stated time and time
again that if any responsible citizen will
come to my office and furnish sufficient
proof that the law is violated, will
Issue warrants for arrest and will prose-
cute the offenders to the best of my
ability.
II did order the arrest of two men
gone time ago. but when the cases came
up for hearing no one was there to fur
nish evidence that gambling was going
on That is just the way it is. and
unless the informant can furnish suff1-
cient proof there is absolutely no use to
put the county to the expense of bother
ing with 1t.
"Why, could bankrupt the county in
a short time by allowing indiscriminate
arrests. but I don't propose to do it; I
have not failed in my duty as county
attorney. I am ready to enforce the law
and will do so if the proper complaints
are made to me-"