The San Francisco call., 1906-07-07
TAGGART' 'sDEFENSE
CALLED A JOKE.
Indiana Governor Says
Gambling at Springs
Has Been Notorious
Asserts That the Politi-
clan Has Been a Party
to Illegal Proceedings

WINONA LAKE, Ind. July 6.-Gov-
ernor Hanly. at whose command the
raid on the casinos at French Lick and
West Baden were made. today made a
statement. in which he says:
We shall now learn whether the man
agement OF the French Lick Springs
Hotel Company and the West Baden
issue is not between the managers OF
these companies and me; il is between
them and far greater and more en-
law. The statement of Mr.. Taggarr
that the French Lick Springs Hotel
Company has not and will not tolerate
gambling on It's premises, in the light
of recent developments and evidence in
the possession of the State. scarcely
rises to the force and dignity OF a
Jest. If his statement is true. what 10
the meaning of the carload OF costly
paraphernalia taken from the premises
or the hotel company? He admits him
self that gambling has existed. His
that gambling should not be permitted
between yesterday and the 18th in
slant, when the cases are 10 be heard
Where did he find this new power TO
stop il? The hotel safe itself has been
used for weeks nightly as a place OF
safe keeping for the money earned by
the casino
The casino building itself did not
cost more than $4,000. What legiti-
mate purpose or use could justify the
payment of the great sum, said to be
the casino for his commission? The
truth is that Mr.. Taggart, as manager
Of the. hotel company, has at no time
desired anything in connection with
the casino that has not been granted
by its operator. On special days like
that when the members of the National
Lick. he had the power TO cause the
suspension of gambling in the casino
during the whole time of their visit.
and 1t was actually closed except as to
the lower floor, where the slot
machines were allowed TO run.
Mr.. Taggart will not be able to fool
either the people OF Indiana or deceive
the people OF this country in this mat
ter. I believe the suits fled by Attor-
ney General Miller 70 be well founded
If, for any reason the law is inadequate
people of the State without regard to
their party Affiliations. TO elect Cen
eral Assembly in November that viii
enact a law clothing the executive with
such authority as will enable him to
reach such conditions
PAOLI, Ind, July 6.-Charles Miller,
Attorney General Of Indiana. who Is
personally conducting the litigation on
behalf of the State against the French
Lick Springs and West Baden Hotel
companies. in discussing the statements
made by Thomas Taggart. TO the effect
that the casinos were not a part Of the
hotel properties, but were under lease
to third parties and suits were pend
ing to cancel these leases because the
hotel companies had learned that gam
bling was being conducted at the ca
sinos. said today:
There are some peculiar features
about these two pending" suits TO can
eel the leases. Why We're they brought
In a Justice of the Peace Court at 7
o'clock at night and tried with great
effort and secrecy and then as quietly
appealed to the Circuit Court. where
they have remained cooped up and un-
known.
They were brought to meet exactly
such a contingency as this and TO be
dragged up and used as a defense when
needed. The leases were made March
19 the suits were brought April II.
the hearing was at night-a most un-
usual procedure-and the appeal from
the finding of the local Justice 70 the
Circuit Court was made June Is and all
was so quietly done that few seemed to
know that any such action had ever
been instituted.
But the State is under obliga jops
to the hotel company for those Official
records, for in their complaints the
hotel company has set up ownership to
the property and bases its petition on
the ground that the people operating
the casinos have been using them for
gambling purposes. Here we have the
admission of gambling. In all other
respects the suits for possession are
jokes-as I characterized them in the
court yesterday.