Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-19
THE SLOT MACHINES
Again Receiving Official Attention.
Where They Can Be Found.

Augusta is not a very cOnSeniai pihce
, for slot machines. Previous 10 May
1900, there We're many machihes OF
many kinds in the city, and all were
| doing q profitable business, but at that
time, in response to to complaints be-
| ing made against the machines on ac-
count of minors being allowed to ploy,
| the mayor and board of aldermen or
dered them out of commission ana the
marshal was directed to enforce the
order, under Section 10 of Chapter l.6 OF
the Revised Statutes, as amended by
Chapter &C of the Public Laws OF 1888,
relating to gambling or any scheile or
| device of chance" and to prosecute an
parties using or maintaining slot
machines within the city limits
AS a result of the above move, all
machines in the city went out OF busl-
ness. Some We're turned toward the
wall, others We're sent back TO the lac
tory, while still other found their way,
it is said. into hotel offices III country
towns. where they are stun paying
a big Der cent. on every d"llf IN
vested in them, as cheerfully rs OF yore.
Put be that as it may, they have not
been in use III the city, ana the count
loss nickcls which they took out OF cir
culation are now jingling merrily in
more legitimate channels. No COM
plants have been made to the marshal,
and as far as is known, the only slot
machines now in use are those which
play a musical selection for Il nickel,
cigars, the gum machines ana the one
that shows your weight for cent.
During the early part of III" present
week, however, a new device in the way
of slot machine appeared in this city,
ana though it was destined to be short
lived, and only two were established. still
it took" with the boys and had already
begun to do a land office business.
The machine is called 4 cigar machine
aud is composed of an ingenious series
of pins On a beard and n bail to roll be-
tween them. a nickel is placed in the
slot. which starts tine ban on Il Zg-Zag
course down among the pins to a row of
pockets at the bottom. There is one
chance that a player may get 10 cigars
anG !. great many that he won't get any
thing Hut there have been lots of boys.
during the past few days, who haVe been
willing to take the chance.
1t was the popularity of the machine
that gave it away. Yesterday afternoon
Marshal Brcen was passing place and,
noticing a crowd inside went in to SCI
what the attraction was. The proprietor
was notified that he must discontinue Inc
operations of the machine, which he did
at once and last evening the. marshal
went on Il search FOR others, but found
only one. The proprietors Of the place.
were notified that the order regarding the
machines would he rigidly enforced, and il
is very doubtful if the cigar machine APP
pears again in public at least in Augusta.
The Bath Times of Friday, said: The
sad news WAS tclcphOn"d to this city,
this morning from toX's Head. that
Robert Shea, head StcVcdOre fur James
G. MulliSan, had received serious in
iurieS while at work on the schooner
Charles simmons. MIR. Shea With u
crew of stevedores has been discharg-
ing u part Of the cargo OF coal III the
Simmons for the hnicilerGockcr Tow
age SO. ut the tugboat wharf at C0X'$
Head. At 1890. this morning, he il some
way stumbled and fell distance of 3,
feet into the hold of the schooner,
striking The kcelsun on his way down
and breaking both legs, one fracture
being compound. He struck i'll the hold
on his head, suffering q severe fracture
Of the skull. Mr.. Shea was brought to
this city by the tug Macy, taken to the
the 4 o'clock train.