Evening journal., 1910-08-06
CONTROVERSY OVER
THE SLOT MACHINES

On Wednesday evening, without
warning, a spectacular raid was
made on the carnival, the machines
were confiscated, and several other
attractions We're closed summarily
by order of the Chief of Police, who
had previously approved the use of
the machines which he later confis-
, Gated and other representatives of
the Police Department had previous
ly approved the other features which
were ordered closed. We are at an
utter loss to know why this action
was taken, in the fact of previous Of
fetal approval. Had the committee
been given the slightest intimation
that there was anything In their pro-
gram which was not absolutely with
in the limit of the letter and spirit
of the law, it would not have been
considered at all. The committee af-
ter having been so careful to secure
official sanction of its proposed
amusement features, and after having
received the spectacular treatment of
Wednesday evening, is we'll content
to leave the matter of Judgment to
the public, who now have both sides
of the affair.
Very respectfully,
Ferris Giles.
For Carnival Committee
Wilmington, Del. August 8. 1910.
Chief Blacks Statement.
In referring to the above letter
Chief Of Police George Black made
! the following statement to-day:
When Mr.. Giles, who arranged for
the amusements at Eighth Street Park
came to me and spoke of the ma
/ chimes which / afterward found were
regular Owl machines. gambling de-
vices, it led me to believe that they
wrere chewing gun machines such as
are seen on any street corner The
| paddle business, he explained. was
the same as allowed in churches and
far charitables benefits. but | felt
that / should not give him permis-
sion to 60 ahead with them without
first seeing the attorney general. He
left my office and later returned say
ing that he had not seen Mr.. GRAY
because Of the latter's absence from
the city, but had talked to Deputy
attorney General Wolcott. He said
the latter had no objection to offer
and with the understanding that no
gambling was to be allowed on the
machines, and If necessary TO post
notices to this effect, told him to go
ahead.
Il have never seen any member of
the committee of physicians connected
with the Physicians and Surgeons
Hospital and in fact don't know who
they are. One physician connected
with that institution, however. has
since called me over the telephon,
and told me / did perfectly right 1,
do as ] did, and he made the remarl
that the whole AFFAIR should have beer
stopped, as It was a disgrace to th'
community.
Neither the physicians OF that hos
pital nor anybody else could get per
mission from me to conduct such de
vices. The supposed chewing gun
machines l found were nothing but
the Owl gambling devices and | re
moved them from the park, as would
remove them from any other place
I found that those who We're losing
their money on these machines were
mostly boys.
THE statement made that two
officers had inspected the machines
and found them to be all right l car
hardly believe. If they did I dom
know who they are and have so far
received no report from them.
Referring to the statement that
allowed the Temple of Mystery Il
open last night after ordering II
closed the night before. j wish tc
say that there is an entirely different
performance going on there than II
= the first part of the week. The man.
/ ager of this particular amusement
came to me and requested that he b'
) allowed to put on a black-face Minis
l trel show and vaudeville and l told
3 him he could. To make sure tha
, everything was right had Police Ser
= geant Massey personally to witness
3 the performance and he reported e
S me last night that il was all right
: Il want to say in conclusion tha
had Mr.. Giles done as he said there
/ would have been no trouble and NJ
4 spectacular raid. as some wish &
1 term the police interference of las
- Wednesday night After receiving
= many complaints and seeing what
4 did there was no alternative but d,
s what we did. The whole thing a
= Eighth Street Park to my mind 4
e a disgraceful affair. | owe no apol
ogy to anybody and have none Il
make"
e Chief Black last night stopped an
= other game OF chance. which tn
p owner termed a game of skill.