The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-09-07
WILL SOON HAVE A TRIAL
GEORGETOWN GAMBLERS ARE IN
A SWEAT OVER OUTLOOK
Prosecutor of King County Takes mi
tiative in Cases and Will Soon
Have Them on Trial.

SEATTLE, Wash, Sept. 7.-Gambl-
ing circles are in a state of unrest and
anxiety over the way the prosecuting
attorney has handled the cases against
the Georgetown gamblers, including
that involving one of the most in1uen-
tial bosses ever known in Seattle
sporting circles-Dave Argyle. When
the civic union caused the arrest of
Argyle and five other gamblers, it re-
suited in no disturbance among the
men who live off the profits accruing
from furnishing the people with games
of chance.
and the PRELIMINARY hearings. though
rare events, We're simply travesties on
justice. And with the same prosecut-
ing attorney the sporting element ex-
pected the same old treatment, but
has failed to get it. The gamblers felt
uneasy before the hearing was over
that an attempt would be made to
have them all bound over But friends
on the inside" convinced them that
there was no danger.
The cases were managed by Prose
cutting Attorney Scott and E. H. James
representing the Civic Union. When
Justice Gordon made his decisions
holding the gamblers for trial, a new
chapter had been written in gambling
history in Seattle-and a novel one.
Gamblers Surprised.
A still greater surprise came yester-
| day when Dave Argyle was arraigned
and given chance to plead not guilty.
Why the prosecuting attorney who had
in the past been so kind to them
should be so anxious 20 place the
sporting element in the shadows of the
penitentiary was conundrum that
taxed the minds of the FOUNDERS and
fxers" all day long. Argyle, the boss
of them all, the head ard front of the
gambling fraternity in Seattle under
the Humes regime, is the first man to
be given "a chance to try conclusions
with the felony law.
| 1t was rumored that after the gam
blers We're bound over no information
was stated that the binding over of the
| gamblers in the justice court was just
| a spectacular play to win public APP
prevail and satisfy the active members
of >he Civic Union. But persons who
made these statements We're taken
aback when the infOrmations were
filed, and when Argyle was arraigned
yesterday all We're willing to say that
the stories declaring the cases would
be dropped could be believed only by
the most credulous.
Prosecutor Changes Front.
The prosecuting attorneys office has
stated that the cases against the
Georgetown gamblers would be given
that instead of waiting for their regu-
| lar turn on the trial calendar, Judge
down for an earlier date. Evidence in
abundance is in the hands Of the pros
ecuting officers, and they are all will
ing to say that if the men are not con-
victed they must produce some very
! strong evidence to contradict the
states testimony of prominent men.
Prosecuting Attorney Scott has de-
clared that every piece of evidence in
his possession will be submitted to the
jury, and that he will urge convictions.
If a conviction is obtained and appeal
ed from, then the prosecuting attOr-
neys office will ask the supreme court
to hurry the cases to final disposition.
For some strange reason the prose-
mination that gambling shall stop in
Seattle. A conviction with a peniten-
| tiary sentence. with a city administra-
ton alert to arrest other violators of
the felony law. will be an example that
will deter the opening of gambling in
Seattle for many years. 1t will prove
that whenever a citizen wishes q COM
plant that some man will stand an eX-
cellent chance of going to the peniten-
|
the easiest testimony that officers are
ever called upon to obtain.
New Party for New Jersey.
NEW WORK. bo