The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-14
PUBLIC AGENTS
SCORED BY COURTS.
Judge Dickinson Lays His Finger on
Two Municipal Sore
Spots. its
Broadly Intimates That Police Are
Playing Favorites in Arresting
Gamblers.
Also Hands One'.' to Aldermen for
Laxity in Handling Liquor
Licenses.

In rendering decisions in two i1n-
portant cases in police court this
morning, Judge H. D. Dickinson
broadly intimated that the police are
not sincere in conducting their raids
on the gambling places Of the city,
and that their operations are being
directed against smaller houses to the
benefit OF the larger and better known
ones. i,
He also intimated that members OF
the city council were as much to
blame for the violation Of the liquor
laws as the irresponsible saloonkeep-
ers, to whom licenses are promiscu-
ously issued.
The decisions We're direct and clear,
with no possibility Of misconstruc-
ton, and contain much for the alder
men and police officials to think
about.
The first case was that of Scott
Phillips, colored man, convicted Of
conducting a gambling-house at 317
First avenue s. Before passing sem
tence, he asked the officers who made
the arrest if it was the intention of
the police to clear the entire city Of
gambling. They replied that they did
not know. He also asked them if
there was not a gambling-ho at
S25 First avenue S and another across
the street in the same block. They
gave the same answer as before. On
hearing these replies, the court passed
sentence with the following states
ment:
Straight Talk From the BEECH.
From this man Phillips careless
testimony feel inclined to pass
straight sentence, but until I am
thoroly convinced that there is an
earnest and genuine endeavor on the
part of the police to clean out all the
gambling houses in the city, will not
pass a straight sentence to have it
used by others as an instrument to ali
low certain few gambling houses
to run wide open. The sentence In
this case is SIS or. eighty days.
The other case was that of Joseph
McGregor, arrested at the courts
order on a charge Of selling liquor
without a license. He was arraigned
last week. and when he appeared ia
court against a man who, he charged,
had tried to tender bad check in
payment for drinks. He pleaded not
guilty at that time, but this morning
he changed his plea to guilty. Me-
Gregor has been buying and selling all
the liquors at the Saloen at lO4 Hem
nepin avenue, but the license lis In
the mamie. OF Lou Brown. a woman
who conducts restaurant in the rear
of the place. Before sentencing Nc
GregOr JuQSe. DICKINSON told Il. n.
Waite, attorney for the defense, that
in years past this saloon had been one
Of the worst places that had come to
the notice of the court. and it was a
surprise to learn that the man could
conduct an orderly place.
One for the Aldermen.
"Inasmuch as the act of this man
McGregor~ is but a part of the practice
in this city, where there is a careless
and vicious disregard for the law and
a culpable violation OF the oaths of
those officers who have charge Of is
suing liquor licenses" said the court,
Il hesitate to pass straight sentence.
1t appears that McGregor is but part
of this machine, and perhaps no more
to blame for this act than the mems
bers of the city council which issuesi
licenses in violation Of the law"
Mr.. Waite explained that McGregs
>or's case was parallel to a large nuns
Der Of cases where men are conduct
| ing saloons under licenses issued to
other persons.
| These decisions may bring about a
| crisis in both gambling and liquor
| selling. Either all the gambling
houses may be raided or all left alone
and the same with saloon keepers who
are not using their own licenses.