Evening journal., 1907-06-11
MANY RELICS IN
LOTTERY SMASH.
Many Books and Records of
Historical Interest in De-
SlrOyed Material
SHOW HISTORY OF BUSINESS

With the destruction in this city yes
terday and in Gloucester, N. j., to-day
Of materials seized as property Of the
Honduras Lottery Company the lottery
traffic in the United States is completely
put out of business. This form of lottery
had nounshed in "a more or less degree
in this country for a century, and more
could possibly have been CLEANED from
the books and papers burned to shed a
light on the business than could have
been learned from any other source.
John M. Rogers, proprietor of the es-
Establishment in which much printing per-
tanning to the lottery business had been
done. was an interested spectator at yes
terday's destruction. He came from Cape
May 10 be present
Many books and papers OF historic in
terest were included in the seized prop
erty which was destroyed yesterday.
Many persons who had viewed some Of
the books had an impression that they
should have been turned over to the
Delaware Historical Society, or should
library at Washington. These scrap books,
especially, were closely associated with
and were evidences of the various rami-
ications Of the public lottery business in
the United States since its inception. Dis
trict Attorney Nields and some Of the
authorities would have been willing that
some of the books be given to the Della
ware Historical Society, but the Federal
orders were imperative for the destruction
Of the papers and records.
Relics Of Lotteries
One Of the books that was Of valuable
historical interest contained samples Of
tickets Of almost every lottery in the
world dating back before the Civil War.
This and other books contained tickets
Of the old Delaware Lottery, bearing the
date Of 1858 were also interesting relics,
but they went into the fire together with
the others. The books were burned in the
furnace Of the engine Of the Rogers
printing plant, there being a stronger
draught than in the smaller furnace out
Of doors, where the papers and tickets
were consumed.
Materials Destroyed
The thirty-five books destroyed at the
printing plant included: Books Of the Ala
bama state Lottery for the benefit of
the Masonic Orphans Home; books con-
tanning tickets of the Patapsco Female
Institute dated October ., 1856; other
books containing tickets Of the old Louis
lana state Lottery; another book labeled
Missouri State Lottery; Kentucky State
Lottery and several other books contain
ing numbers, codes and lottery tickets,
bearing dates from the early 7O's through
the SOS.
After the books and papers had been
consumed at the printing shop, District
| Attorney Nields, Marshal Finn and his
force of deputies of destruction went tc
the Federal Building, on the lawn Of
which the electrotypes, plates and dies
were demolished. Halleck c. Ray was the
first man to smash the plates and when
tired he was succeeded by William Nc
Intire. Many persons in the crowd desired
to get some of the plates as souvenirs
but were prevented from doing So as al
had to be destroyed.
To-day in Gloucester, n. j., the re-
mainder of lottery materials seized IL
New York and at Gloucester, will be de
stroyed. They include plates, books rec
ords, tickets and partly printed sheets.