Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-26
I'LL UnDGaI
Roulette Wheel Arrives to
Replace One Of De-
stroyed.
CRAPS TABLES BUSY
Members of Fraternity Feel
Secure in Reopening Bus
mess at Old Stands.

The local gambling fraternity don't
appear to have taken seriously the an
nouncement of Sheriff Edward Kittil-
sen, simultaneous with his raid of a
few weeks ago that there would be no
more public gaming in this city during
his administration Of the office he pres
emily fills. The storm, in their opin-
ion, has passed over. and they are pre-
pairing to open business at the old
stands. In fact. two of the resorts
have been operating quietly for over
week
Sheriff Kittilsen. it will be recalled,
invaded four gambling resorts and con-
f1scated all of the paraphernalia, the
whole valued at $4,000, and it was
sent up in smoke via the court house
furnace, under advice of the court.
Sheriff Kittilsen expressed surprise
that gambling was so brazenly conduct
ed in the city. He claimed that he did
not know conditions until the exposure
following the complaint of Davenport
. citizen, who lost $50 in the Billburg
saloon on Twentieth street.
Paying for Protection, Claimed.
Sheriff Kittilsen, in truth, was shock
ed, seemingly. However, The Argus
had said for weeks previously that the
city was wide open" in gambling;
that the city was infested with a band
OF confidence men, crooks, and tin
horns, the majority Of whom had been
driven from ether communities, and
had been brought here by the elmer
circle" that thought it had the situa-
,icn in hand The proprietor of one of
the rooms reminded the sheriff during,
TIC raid that he did not propose to
rock Interference from that official;
It he was paying out his good
I oeey" for protection. This was
sl0ch 10 the sheriff, also. At least he
III II Va. lie remarked then that he
d u, g ma out who was receiv-
tEe rioJ- -'ic. Money; that he had
% Ct i agc.rd II, sherirf's of
EeHEc" had there been any at
I. 81 fGI e - rGs aware, to fix
y ct ccfc O. Is c[icc.
Gambler. STE around.
3e thgt IS 81 nay The gamblers did
o. move to crcC2cr fields. From nys-
eriCvs sources Icy had assurances
that Il VS. merely little blow il re
s. onse to pU1lic sentiment. and th2t
fer a few weeks the kitty ccul3 be
brought OFT again, and the roulette
'~hcel and the CRAPS table put into &c
lion
The gamblers had the correct dope.
Tfey are on the job again after brief
vacation. A resort on Second avenue
has had & craps table in operation for
several days. Poker games have been
going on in the saloons that were raid
ed by the sheriff. The tinhorns of late
have been soliciting for lambs" on
the public streets, since the word had
gone out that they were closed. The
lambs" when they would fall for the
invitation, were led into the rooms run
IN connection with the saloons and
treated to the trimming process. This
work on the streets has been carried
IN openly.
Roulette Wheel Arrives.
During last night a new roulette
wheel arrived in the city, having been
shipped here by express from a distant
city. Just to whom it was consigned
will come to the surface, it is suppos-
ed, in few days.
Sherif Kittilsen was told by one of
he leaders of the gambling crowd that
ae was paying protection money. Gam
Dlers tread on too shaky ground to
proceed unless they have consent from
some Official source. Sheriff KittilseD
has had weeks to investigate the infor-
nation given him by the gambler and
prove or disprove it, if he feels sufi-
,iently interested. The gambler in
question is still in the city.
Who Gave the Word.
What the public now would like to