The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-12
An Iron-CIad Oath For the
Police force.
TIE PROVISIONS OF THE Law
They We're First Put in Force al
Goldsboro.
OTHER CITES HAVE FOLLOWED SUIT
The Law is Especially Strong as to Gambling
in Barrooms, Hotels and Other Plac-s
Of Fnhrtainm Mt.

The last Legislature passed an anti
gambling law, which If enforced, win put
an end to gambling in the towns and cities
Of this State. And it is so stringent and
searching in its provisions, that, if not
enforced, it is likely to get the mayor
and police into serious trouble.
The bill was drawn by Senator 3. F..
Aycock, and became a law on March 10th.
Though it went into effect on that day, it
has so far been enforced in but few towns
of the State, owing to the fact that their
officials have not yet been able to secure
copies Of the law and familiarize them
selves with its provisions.
Goldsboro was probably the first town
in the State to put the law into effect.
Mayor Peterson began to enforce it there
almost Immediately after its passage.
Several Other towns and cities have fol-
lowed this example. but in Raleigh the
four or five public gambling concerns here
are still in full blast, and in reply to in
quiries yesterday, the chief Of police
stated that no special reports as to gam
bling were as yet being taken from po-
licemen, as the mayor had not been able
to secure a copy of the law.
Mayor Powell, when seen said: Il
shall examine the law in the Secretary Of
States Office tomorrow and have talk
with the chief of police about the en-
forcement of it. We will probably not
require policeman to make sworn reports
as to gambling before next week"
The act amends section 1858 of The
Code to read as follows, the amendments
being in capitals:
S'If any keeper of an ordinary, or house
OF entertainment. or CT house wherein
liquors are retailed, shall knowingly suffer
any game, at which money or property, or
anything of value, is bet, whether the
same be in stake or not, to be played in
any such house, or on any part Of the
premises occupied herewith; or shall
furnish persons so playing or betting,
EITHER ON SAID PREMISES OR ELSE
WHERE, with drink or other thing for
their comfort or subsistence during the
time Of play, he shall be guilty OF mis-
demeanor, and fined not less than FIVE
HUNDRED dollars and be imprisoned not
LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
Code section 1,043 is then further
amended by adding to it, as part
thereof, the following new provisions:
ANY person who shall be convicted
under this section shall, upon such con-
yiction forfeit his license to do any OF
the businesses mentioned in said section,
and shall be forever debarred from do
ing any Of the said businesses in the
state, and the court shall embody in its
Judgment that such person has forfeited
his sad license. and no board of county
commissioners, board of town commits
sioners. or board of aldermen shall here
after have power or authority to grant
TO such convicted person or his agent, q
license to do any of the businesses men,
toned herein.
1T shall be the duty of every police
officer of the cities, towns and villages
of this State to make diligent inquiry and
TO exercise constant watchfulness to dis
cover whether any of the offences emu
merated in said section are being com
mitted and to report once a week under
oath to the mayor or other chief officer OF
his city town or village, whether such
offences are being committed, and all the
facts within his knowledge, or of which
he has information relating thereto, and
if any such police officer shall know OF
have information that such offences are
being committed and shall fail or neg
lect to report the same to such mayor
or chief officer, together with all the in
formation known to him. as to the per-
son or persons committing the same, the
time and place of the commission and the
names of the witnesses thereto he shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction shall be fined or imprisoned OF