The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-12
0gden's Betterment League As
sociation Relied on Mayor
GIasmann, but in Vain.
SPECTACULAR RAID ON
GAMBLING HOUSES A FARCE
City Is Heavy Loser Financially
and Gambling Proceeds With
out Interference.
Snnrial 10 Tho Tribune

Special 10 Tho Tribune
OGDEN. Sept. 1t.-Nor' that the cx-
oitement incident 10 the spectacular raid
on the gambling houses Of Ogden several
weeks ago is about ended. and there are
only two more cases TO be tried, mem
hers OF the Bettermsut league are be-
ginning 10 awake 10 the realization that
they have been badly bunkoed BY no less
a person than Mayor William Glasmann'
and that the slittering prospect of re-
form which the league has entertained
has entirely faded.
1t will be recalled that tho mayor. nft-
er many opportunities from members
of the league, agreed 10 accompany a
committee on tour Of inspection 10 see
II there were really any police protected
made and the gambling houses where
their entry was not barred were found
running In fun blast The mayor prompt
ly announced in his newspapers, that he
had been Shown" and that his duty
compelled him 10 swear 10 complaints
against the gamblers.
A week elapsed and. following A meet,
ing Of the league, an army OF Speciai
policemen chosen from the membership
OF the league. with the regular officers
sVooped down on three gambling houses
and in the raid which followed some
thing like 500 gambling house proprictors,
dealers and spectators were herd"d to-
gether and marched 10 the police sta
ton. Tho warrants Of arrest were signed
bv the nayor. After Tho required bonds
had been furnished tho mon were re,
leased. The houses raidcd were the Turf.
proprietor Of The White Elephant hav-
Ing "snelt rat" closed bis place i'm,
mediatcly. after. the personally conducted
tour week before the raid.
Process of Elimination.
BY process of elimination never yet
explained all who were arrested were
discharged. With the exception of the
proprietors OF the houses,
After some delay. the cases We're fina'-
" called up for trial, The Turi cases
were taken VI. with the result that the
court dismissed the charges against one
OF the alleged proprietors and iound
Richard Tyree. the olhcr guilty. line
ri S1o5 was imposed The next cases
heard were those against John II, smith
and H.. A. Smith. tho proprietors Of the
Elephant; The court held that the eyi-
Smith with running gambling house
but held T.. A. Smith 10 be guilty.
fine similar To that imposed on the Turf
proprietor WAS levied on him
Before any Of the cases had been called
for trial and. in fact tho night follow
ing the raid, The monotonous drone of
dice and the spinning OF the roulette
wheel could be heard In all of the three
houses. and has continued every day
and night without interference.
a the trial Of the cases now disposed
Of the city attorney had the utmost diff
hrulty in procuring any damaging evil
dcnce against tho defendants. Mayor
G)asmaDn. although he accompanied the
Betternent league conmittec on its tour. |
was apparently the most unwilling wit |
ness Of the lot. His testimony was value
less i'm so far rs IL tended to prove Ihnt
actual gambling had been going on in The !
houses visited and the mayor even went
so far az 10 deny knowledge OF some %
the gambling devices used exhibits
from the others The whole proceedings
from the time the arrests we're made
have been absolutely farcical,
Policemen Have Excuses.
Police officers and patrolrncn have been
questioned by members of the league and |
asked why they do not close up the |
houses. The reply In all cases is the |
same: I'VE have not been given instruc- |
tions To do so. II we receive such in
structions every house will be closed and
remain closed.
The Betterment league then directed a
petition to the city council. requesting
that the chief OF police be directed TO
close the gambling houses. The city |
council passed such a resolution and dl- |
rected Chief OF Police Browning to carry |
out the wishes OF the league This was |
houses are still running, Whether Chief |
Browning is waiting for orders from the |
mayor. or whether on his own initiative |
ne remains inactive. is matter which
the league Is still waiting To learn.
Ogden CITY is loser in dollars and cents
by the spectacular raid the past month.
exactly $3.50, Heretofore the proprietors
OF the gambling houses have been called
upon 10 deposit s4e0 with the desk SER
Gesnt each month. The net income,
with the White Elephant out OF bust
ness, was $1,000 each month, Thus far /
only $3.50 has been realized from the fra
ternlty. and this In fines imposed by the
municipal Judge when the two proprietorg
were found guilty. And In the mcantine
The members OF the Retterment league
are s;ill rubbing their eyes