The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-06
eLDERKIE SAYS VAN N0Y
WAS UNJUSlLY PROSECUTED

Rev. Elderkin, In MIS- pulpll ounud!
evening. said:
The thing has gone far enough. II
has gone too far. II Is high time the
facts in the famous Van Noy case
were brought TO light have unearth-
ed the truth. feel in duty bound TO
give 1t 10 the public. The days have
been tremendously trying n man Ia
cur midst Is being prosecuted, hunted
down by the police They accuse him
of running a gambling house, DO we
not all know that gambling is not per
mi,ted in ogden? They batter down
mis- doors and embarrasS him with
confusing questions. The attorney
undertakes 10 convict him, preSumes
To publicly charge him with being 4
| lnwbreaker The officers take the
stand against him. There seems to
be no hope-unless the truth can be
gotten in hand.
knew his enemies were searching
his past record. l knew they were
poring over the police docket
knew what they were finding They
were finding Van Noy's name every
month for three years upon the police
records They were finding that along
about the 22nd OF each month he was
cruelty dragged into court, put through
'the third degree" and unjustly as
sessed $50. Or they were finding
some such entries as this. William
Van Noy. charged with keeping a
gambling house" Dec 81, 1906, 10 a.
IN. Case called. Defendant in court
who entered plea of guilty as charg-
ed" They were going back TO Nov.
12 1906, and gloatiIg their evil eyes
upon a similar entry.
And | knew that all these entries
were false. Every honest man knows
they are maliciously false. l knew
that the accused had been hypnotised,
or that he misunderstood the Officers
when they asked him to plead, or
that here was public benefactor
anxious 10 reduce taxes and TO
achieve that noble end allowing him
self to be falsely charged with an
ugly offense each month for three
years. so that he might contribute $50
to the city treasury.
There was but one way TO get at
the truth. An interview, That was
litl
Mr.. Van Noy, this hideous charge
against you" but l was inter
rupted.
Nothing 10 it, sir"
Thai reassured me
Mr. Van Noy." said |, do you
really play poker?'
Let me hasten TO rob you of that
idea" he replied. Il have never
touched a card in my life / do not
know one when l see it. had never
heard of such a game as poker until
| the papers unjustly connected my
name with 1t, Then | hunted up a
definition in Webster. Imagine my
horror upon learning the exact nature
of the game"
Would you know poker chip If
you saw one? / asked.
Believe me, Mr. Elderkin, when
erlphatically tell you, no | know a
Saratoga chip when / see one, If that
is what you mean"
But. dr. Van Noy," said ]. well
pleased with the magnificent evi-
deIce. what were you doing thai
night when Chief Browning battered
down your doors?"
Tears welled up in those great eyes.
That said he, was regular meet
ine OF the Ogden Law Enforcement
League. We gather every night in a
room OF George Frye's saloon to dis
cuss ways and means OF assisting of
ficers TO enforce the law The organ
ization is powerfully entrenched In
Ogden. You have no idea of the num-
erous branches located along lower
Twenty-fifth street"
| cannot tell how happy | was. The
interview must so on. Such facts
were priceless.
"Mr. Van Noy." / went on, Chief
Browning intimates that he found
chips on the table when he broke
down the DOORS
All. that is easily explained said
Mr.. Van Noy, AT the close of each
league meeting we always engage In
little social recreation. II is so we