Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-23

| mon thing In billiard halls Wnere tney
were employed but that the house had
no part in 1t as it is just between the
players and no money is put up IN
sight, but after each game a settle
ment is made between those who play.
They said that policemen occasionally
come into the pool halls but that TO
their knowledge they never saw them
watching any Of these games where
money was played for and that as 10
pea pool or pay ball, one might play
game of billiards on the next table
and not be conscious of the other
games being the kind of pool played
unless they should be told OF 1t. Oat-
man told of the mayor ordering MIN
to stop two young boys playing pool.
Young Plays Pea Pool.
| CLYDE Charlton seventeen year
old youth residing on Weller street.
was called to the stand and stated that
he had played pea pool about four
times. Twice or three times a week
he had visited the Kaiser place and
the Colonial but did not go very often
to the palace or Hutchinson's Green
street pool room. He frequently play
ed at Nledis' place on the south side
and had been playing pool for the
mast six months He said he went
with his brother and other boys and
in answer to question by tn court,
he stated that he spends ABOUT twenty
five cents week on pool. he also
stated that the owners OF the places
never have said word to them acoue
playing on account OF nelr youth. Al
the close of his testimony the prosecu..
ton stated that pending the return OF
a Mr.. Gage who is q travelling man ana
on whom they were unable TO serve
a subpoena. the state would rest.Gage
is witness on the intoxication charge
and the state wishes to use him.
Recall Deeds.
The defense then called Cit.- Clerk
Charles Deeds and questioned him
ahout the city records and the meet
inss of the council at which the reso-
buttons of consent offered in evidence
were granted by the body. He stated
that he presented the resolutions in
the regular order of business and he
thought that Mr.. Silyers. had presented
them to him. He said the mayor was
absent at one meeting and the meas
ure carried by majority vote, but ne
did not know from memory who dis
scented if any one had nor II the en-
! tire council was present
Gallagher on Stand.
| The feature witness of the afternoon
was then brought forward in the per-
son of Chief of Police Peter Gallagher
who was used to good advantage by
the defense. He said there were
gambling houses from April 1907 until
lJanuary 1908 and that he filed infor-
nation once month against them and
sometimes more frequently with the
police Judge. Judge Kirby would
not issue warrants. saying that it was
/ too much work and that then he, the
witness would either summon
an officer or would himself bring
the person up to the police judge or
tell him the police Judge wanted him.
They were arrested on the disorderly
| house ordinance sometimes two and
three times a week because 1t was not
practicable to arrest and fine on the
charge Of gambling The same pre-
vailed with prostitution cases, as the
evidence was not always forthcoming
He stated that he had nothing to 40
with the fixing Of fines, as the police
Judge did that. The custom OF so hand-
ling the gambling house operators
was broken up in January 1903, SAID
the witness, but few OF the other
places, meaning houses of prostitu-
ton were existing until February.
eve" followed the custom prevail
ing in the Picker administration"
said Chief Gallagher when John Gray
was chief of police and they boosted
of collecting over $14,G00 In fines from
these sources, and later faced grand
Jury investigation. During that adj
ministration was night captain and
GRAY collected the fines, not the police
iudge. For two months while Gray
was sick with rheumatism, collected
the fines and turned the money over
to the then police Judge, =. G. Moon.
/ After the trouble with the grand jury,
whenever Gray asked me to coolest
the fines, refused to do so, and while
chief if anyone wanted to pay me their
fine turned him over to the police
Judge, and the fine was paid to him.
Assisted County Attorney.
+; The witness then told how he as.
| sisted the county attorney in the pro-
secution and getting evidence against
| gamblers and inmates or persons con-
! Quoting bawdy houses. Since January
1908. he said he had instructed the
policemen under his charge to investi-
gate any place that looks suspicious
and if need he to kick down the door
to get into the place. Ten or twelve
raids, he said, were made by him or
at his direction and several others
when nothing was secured, and no
record is shown because OF no arrests
being made
He stated that since January, 1908,
the mayor had never spoken to him rs
to whether he should arrest the gam
blers or not and had not interfered
with him in that particular. He ar
rested Rem Lane because he was one
of those who would not pay and he
said he put him in Jail. He stated that
Lane stood trial and appealed to the
district court.
Tells Of Gambling Raids.
Chief Gallagher told the court that
he had no power to discharge an Off
GER. but filed charges when they failed
in their duty, and also that he selected