The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-11-08

Three men, Amos Tweeden, Art Rust
and Joseph Carter have made affi-
davits to the effect that they paid
money to third party, who they
claim alleged that he paid the money
TO Con Keefe, chief of police of the
city OF Fargo, with the understanding
ihat they were to receive police pro-
lection from prosecution on, the part
OF the police for gambling or running
gambling houses or rooms.
Mayor Sweet claims that he will call
ior an investigation of the charges
which the three men have preferred.
Started from HoIdup.
1t will be remembered that a few
weeks ago holdup was reported to
have taken place in the city in an
alleged gambling room on Front street
il was alleged that a man entered the
rooms of Joe Carter and at the point
OF revolver. while he was wearing n
mask demanded money, or in other
words that the gamblers shell out"
and this they were not slow to do.
In fact, it is stated that the holdup
z man received about SIS for mis- nights
work.
Complaints Were Made.
A day or two after this the alleged
gambling houses of Tweeden, Rust,
Carter and Armstrong were raided and
the men We're charged with gambling.
: They gave bail for their appearance
before the police magistrate. il was
then that the affidaviss were sprung.
These affidavits were signed by Twee-
den, Rust and Carter. They allGge
that about seven or eight weeks ago
Chief Keefe called on them and others
and virtually ordered them to leave
the city, Instead of doing this they
say they held a meeting 9nd decided
TO try the donation" plan.
Carter Collector.
Carter was appointed collector, so
the stories run, and during the next
five or six weeks he collected so he
claims the sum of 1870 which he al
leges he turned over to a third party,
who is well known, and that he vas
told by this third party that he had
turned this money over to Mr. keefe.
He alleges that he collected once from
some of the parties, twice from others
and three times from still others and
that the regular" sums were sic and
SEQ each time. 1t is claimed that from
that time none Of the parties were
nolested by the police. There were in
all seven whom it is claimed paid this
tribute" money. OF these, all but
Tweeden were on Front street, the
former being on N. p. avenue. One
of the parties alleges there were in all
eighteen houses running.
Shown to City Attorney.
These affidavits, 1t is stated were
all shown to City Attorney Emmerson
H. Smith, and he was exceedingly
wrathy over the matter and said that
in case the mayor did not thoroughly
investigate the charges he himself
would ask the court for complaint.
1t is stated that Mr.. Smith informed
Mayor Sweet what he had learned and
that Chief Keefe was sent for and THAI
he stated in the most emphatic man
ner that there was absolutely no truth
TO the charges; that he had been in
formed that there was an effort on
foot ito get him." and that he sup
posed this was the result of that efforE.
Stories of Gambling.
Mayor Sweet states that there have
4 been stories coming to him from time
to time of wholesale gambling in the
city and he has decided to investigate
these stories and that he proposes to
call business men before him, who
have been making the statements and
that the Investigations that will follow
will be rigorous and to the end. He
claims to have the utmost confidence
in Chief Keefe and says that his ac-
cusers win have the most ample op-
portunity of proving their charges, and
the official will also have the oppor-
tunity Of proving his side of the case.
Drawn by an Attorney.
It is stated that the aff1davits which
are alluded to above were drawn by
one OF the best known attorneys in the
city and that they are in the posses
sion of one of the city officials, and that
they can be had when desired by the
proper authorities. After the hearings
OF the three men yesterday afternoon
they made statements to the effect
that they intended going before States
Attorney Fowler and placing their
stories before him, and letting the
state take what action 1t might see
proper, and this 1t is stated may yet
be done. for some are OF the opinion
that the investigation win be brought
about more rapidly in the hands of the
state than otherwise.