Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-07
CASINO CASES ARE PECULIAR
Attorney General miller OF Indiana
Discusses some Phases of
the Litigation.

PAOL1, Ind, July 6.-Charles Miller, at
torney general Of Indiana. who is here per
sonally conducting the litigation on behalf
of the state against the French Lick
Springs and West Baden Hotel companies,
in discussing the statement made yester-
day by Thomas Taggart of the French
Lick Springs Hotel company to the effect
that the casinos were not part OF ,the
hotel properties. but were under lease TO
third parties. and suits we're pending to
cancel these leases because the hotel com
panies had learned that gambling was be-
ing conducted at the casinos. said today!
There are some peculiar features about
these two pending suits to cancel the
leases. why were they brought in JUS
tice OF the peace court at O'Clock at night
and tried with great EFFORT, and secretly,
and then as quietly appealed to the cir
cult court, where they have remained
covered up and unknown?
"They were brought to meet exactly such
a contingency as this and to be dragged
out and used as defense when needed.
| The leases were made March 19, the suits
were brought April II, the hearing was at
| nlght-a most unusual procedure-and the
| appeal from the finding Of the local justice
to 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 obligations to
the hotel companies for those official rec
ords. for, in their complaints, the hotel
companies set up ownership to the prop
erty. and base their 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 pos
session are jokes, as l characterized then
In the court yesterday"
WINONA LAKE, Ind, July 6.-Governol
]. Frank Hanly, at whose command tn,
raids on the casinos at French Lick HnC
West Baden were made, today made &
statement, in which be says:
We shall now learn whether the manage
pany and the Wssf t Rsa SpEI nts Cca1 G9
ts above the law. The issue is not between
the managers and these companies anC
me, It is between them and a far create
and more enduring power-between then
and the law. The statement Of Mr., Tag
CART that the French Lick, Springs Hote
company has not and will not toerat
gambling on it's premises, in the light o
recent developments and evidence In tn
possession Of the state, scarcely rises 4
the force and dignity Of a Jest. II hi
statement is true, what is the meaninl
Of the carload of costly psraphernalii
taken from the premises of the hotel com
pany? He admits himself that gamblini
has existed His counsel yesterday, in opel
court, agreed that gambling should b
permitted yesterday and the 18th inst
when the cases. are. to be heard. Wher
did they find this new power to stop It
The hotel itself has been used for week
nightly as a place of safe keeping for tn
money earned by the casino. The casin
building itself did not cost more than $40
000 What legitimate purpose use coul
Justify the payment OF the great sum, sal
to be $4,000 annually by the operator @
: the casino for his concession2 The trut
is that Mr.. Taggart, as manager of tn
hotel company hast at mo time desire
anything in connection With the casino tina
: has not been granted by its operator
on special days like that when member
of the National Edtaurial associate
visited French Lick he had the power I
cause the suspension or gambling in III
Casino durlngS the. whble time of the
as to the hover hopr. where the sic
machines were allowed to run. Mr.. Taf
CART will not be able to fool either tn
= people of Indiana or deceive the peoDl
. of this country In this matter. | heiey
I the suits filed by Attorney General Mile
= to be we'll founded. II for any reaso
h the law is inadequate as now written
: shall appeal to the people of the stat
a without regard to their party ahiliatior
$ to elect a general assembly in Novemb6
o that will erect a law clothing the excel
. tive with such authority as Will enabI
! him to reach such conditions.