Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-27
EVIDENCE IN ELEPHANT
GAMBLING CASE
Mayor Glasmann an Unwilling Witness
Strong Evidence Against Smiths
Given nv Rev. ElderlSin.

OGDEN, Aug. 27.-The case of the
city Of ogden against J. r Smith and
r A. Smith. alleged to be the pro-
nrietors of the Elephant club rooms
commonly known as the Elephant
rambling house, was called before
Judge Murphy IN the municipal court
on Friday. Heber Scowcroft was the
drst witness and testified to havIns
visited the house on the night of Aug.
& In company with Mayor Glasmann.
Rev. Noble Strong Elderkin, David O.
Mckay and II. l., Griffin for the pur-
nose Of showing the mayor that gam
bling was run wide open in ogden, a
fact which that executive feigned ig-
norance OF. Mr.. Scowcroft told OF
seeing gambling being conducted in
the house and of money changing
hands. on cross-examination. Atty.
Horn for the defense asked Mr. Scow-
croft n he had endeavored to suppress
gambling In the Weber club. OF which
ne In member.
Mayor william Glasmann was next
called TO the stand and again proved
N fact which was accentuated when the
witness was not subjected to oross-ex-
animation. Mr.. Glasmann was very
evasive In his direct testimony AMI
try as he would. City Atty DeVine was
unable to get a positive answer from
the witness. i'm regard to what trans
rired at the Smith house. The fact that
Of the Utah state Journal, was I'm the
room and engaged the mayor In con-
versation and later invited the party
10 go down stairs and have drink of
lemonade, was brought out.
The mayor admitted that he was
partially hypnotized during his stay.
Aside from the fact that there were
more than a hundred people In the
room, very little could be learned, lle
mayor explaining that he had not in
tended to be "a witness in the case else
he should have provided himself with
paper and pencil. The mayor was not
positive that these people were not en-
gagged In eating lunch or whether "A
pink tea was I'm progress; he could not
even risk a guess on the matter, and
was not sure that he saw card, dice,
faro bank, roulette wheel, chips. money
or any other device or sign which
most notorious gambling dive i'm the
state. This testimony was given only
under considerable pressure from the
city attorney. Mr.. Glasmann was GER
tain that he saw j. r. Smith going up
the stairs as the party was going down
after their visit. When j. +. Smith
had called on him at his office the
mayor stated that within IS hours
afterward, Mr.. Smith did call and ask
ed what was meant by the visit and
was informed that II meant business,
though what business could not be
dchnItely learned The witness was
not positive that the word gambling
was used in his conversation with
Smith and no details OF the conversa-
ton was brought out, aside from the
statement of the mayor that he re-
fused TO discuss the matter at any
length with Smith because Of his Of
fetal position.
The Rev. Noble Strong Elderkin fol-
lowed the mayor and again proved TO
be the star witness for the city, DIS
playing a keen and accurate knowledge
ut all points of the hearing. Mr.. Ed
trkln was positive that the party en-
tered the gambling house from the
balloon entrance AT the top Of the
stairs a small peep hole slightly larger
than a dollar was seen. After gaining
ndmttance, the witness was positive
ne saw faro banks. roulette wheels,
crap games and other intricate de-
vices in operation and doing large
business under the active management
Of Brigham A. Bowman. who the
witness stated was a good friend OF
his, although he refused to tell witness
the name of certain new wheel con-
trlvances which he had not seen on any
~ his previous visits. Mr.. Elderkin
was positive that Mayor Glasmann
kept urging him to play dollar on a
roulette wheel or some other game of
chance, Notwithstanding the fact that
the mayor denied having seen any
thing OF this nature in the building
Mr. Elderl<in refused to play for two
reasons-he had no money and besides
he knew he would have been sent TO
the penitentiary II he hs< done 80. He
saw "A peculiar Chinese game with
Chinaman as tho dealer and other
celestials losing and winning money.
The witness also testified to having
Seen great stacks of gold and silver
and Chips--a regular Monte Carlo, al
though the mayor said he saw none or
these Rev Elderkin further testified
regarding the plan of the Betterment
league to make the raid on Aug. IL and
stated that the chief of police wanted
u do the thing without the assistance
Of any special officers while the mayor
Insisted on at least 80 men. The officers
NJ the league offered TO get the serv-
Ices of $50 men II necessary and nm
ally the matter was compromised at
20 After the raid, Mr.. Elderkln. hav-
ing the authority OF spccial officer
and under the direction OF the mayor.
accompanied by other officers. went
to the gambling house and carried
away the wheels. tables, boxes. chips
and some cash which was taken To the
police station. He told of encounter
ng Bowman and the two Smiths in
ne house with a large pile of gold and
tiNer on "A table before them and OF
a conversation i'm which Bowman told
MIN he could not reform gamblers. Y.