The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-21
HIT GAMBLING HARD
'6YOg ARE IN DUTY BoCND TO IN
NESTIGATT0'' SAID JUDGE BARROW
IN CHARGE TO GRAND JURY.
"FIND OUT WHERE THE HOUSES
ARE AND INDICT THE OWNERS"

in Sherid's Office TO Aid the Grand
Jurors-FoId Them Not to Dtscrim-
mate Against the Poor, Ignorant
Negro Who lie Connected With the
Gambling HOuse-StriISe Mt the
Landlords. He Snid-Jury VIII De-
clare Them Guilty and He VIII
InAict Adequate Punishment.
Judge Barrow's charge TO the grand
Jury yesterday afternoon on the sub
1ect of gambling was one of the strong
est addresses ever made to that body
on the prevalent evil 1t came as
direct result of the assertions made
in one of the pulpits of the city that
gambling was openly carried on in Sa-
vannah. AS a result of the charge, 1t
is not at all unlikely that Rev. A. NJ.
Williams, who vouchsafed the intor-
nation, will be summoned to appear
before the grand jury.
Judge Barrow said that the mem
bers OF the body were in duty bound
to investigate the charge, so that the
offenders might be dealt swift and Sc
we're punishment, or the charge against
the good name of Savannah disproved.
To this end he offered the assistance
of every member of the shrievialty. He
impressed upon them the Importance
of striking at the prominent members
of the fraternity and the landlords, and
said that if they would indict, the ju-
ries. who had hitherto shown no dis
position to release the guilty, would
do their duty, and he would impose
punishment commensurate Win the
~ of q
The Courts Charge.
Judge Barrow said:
"Since your last session the public
statement has been made by Mr.. a. NJ
Williams that gambling is openly car
ried on in Savannah; that he knows
of ten places where policy shops were
conducted, and that he was informed
by one person that there were nun
dred and by another that there were
thousand such places in Savannah
Even although you may think that
he has been imposed upon by some
body and that the statements are wlld
exaggeiations, / think it is your duty
to investigate the truth of these state
ments and summon witnesses VINO
know the facts and get the names of
the Violators of the law in order that
they may be indicted and punished. 1t
is a serious charge against this COM
munity and the standard of morality
mere. II mas, strange W say bttAA
copied without question, into our To-
cal papers even, and has also found
its way into other papers in the state.
1t is a matter which l think you are
in duty bound to investigate. If the
eharge is true, the offenders ought TO
be brought TO swift and severe pun
ishment. If it is not true. it ought to
be exposed, and the charge against the
good name of Savannah be disproved.
Get the Big Bugs.
I'm looking into these matters. 1
suggest to you not to throw away your
time in the pursuit of some poor ig-
norant negro who may be connected
with gambling house and leave alone
those of more prominence who are also
violating the law. No such discrimi-
nation has heretofore been made, and
/ hope it will not be begun now.
Strike at the landlords. Indict the peo-
pie who own the houses where this
thing has been carried on. Find out
where these thousand. or hundred or
ten houses are in which gambling has
been conducted and indict the owners.
THE last clause in Paragraph 1913 of
the Code is in these words, 'or shall
knowingly rent or let any house or
room with the view or expectation of
the same. being used for such purpose,
he is guilty of a misdemeanor.'
You will lay your hands on some
a real estate owner if you indict the
crowd covered by that last clause.
Indict Once "A Week.
Gambling is a thing which cannot
be carried on in the open. The person
who undertakes it has got to have a
house or room where he can hide his
calling and the law allows you to in
dict the owner of that house or room
If he lets or rents ii with the view or
afu,rs ,F
bling. This law has been recently en-
forced in this county and in this city,
and | will undertake to say that no
gambling has been carried on in that
place since and probably never will be
again. 1t will take more than a years
rent to answer to the judgment in one
case. You can meet once a week and
indict them once a week. It is easy to
see that they will have to shut up if
this course is pursued
I'm investigating this matter, you
nave at your disposal the entire force
of the sheriff's office, numbering nine
They are good men, faithful officers
and entitled to your confidence-every
one of them. They are not in compile
1ty with any lawbreakers and can be
trusted, without fear, favor or affec-
uon, to carry out your orders and do
their duty They are a part of the
machinery of this court for they are
know, and do know, that they are per-
fectly honest and truthful men who
are ready to do their full duty under
the law.
Up to the Grand Jury.
'In this connection, / again call your
attention to the law which makes II
impossible for crime to be punished
unless the grand jury first indicts. All
the other departments of the court are
powerless unless your department
moves first.
If you will indict criminals the pet
" Juries manifest no disposition so
far, to let them off. They find Them
guilty when they ought to be found
guilty, and they will receive a punish
ment which is adequate to the crime
desire to say now that no pledges
will be made by me in advance of the
trial as to what punishment / will in
met upon convicted offender.
judge who would pledge himself in ad-
vance of the trial, either to the defend
ant TO impose a light punishment, or
TO the prosecution to impose a heavy
one, is utterly unfit for his position
NO man, who has ever been punished
by me, has ever known, nor has any
other human being ever known before
the case was tried, what punishment
would be inflicted. After l hear case
adequate punishment will be inflicted
according to the facts as developed on
the trial / am absolutely free to i'm