The Sentinel=record., 1913-03-25
Judge Gotham Reviews Operations of Swindlers and Confidence Men in De- tail--Special Charge as to Perjury.
Particular Attention Is Given by the Court to Such Officers as Refuse to Aid in Law En- forcement Following Exposures.

our uenSntiul climate, and the beauty and grandeur of our scenery, not the provision we have made tor the pleas ure. comfort and entertainment of our visitors-our only asset. and the only basis of our prosperity.
 No, these are not the reports we read. Would that it had been so. In. stead of such wholesome and profta- ble advertising as this. what did Hot Springs actually get fear a few few off off the headlines in our metropolitan press
 One visitor lost $2o,0oo.oo.
 Charles H. Mack says sum of S2.- 100000 and $95o.o0 were stolen from him.
 John Humping, Montana miner, swindled out of S3,6e5.0o in this city.
 Lost $10,o0oo0 in a swindle. Ferdi- hand Piper paid dearly for stopping of here on his Southern trip, etc.
 Do you not think that it was high time for onr citizens to get aroused and most of all for our officers to get busy, and in accordance with their oaths of office to enforce the law, and rid Hot Springs of the worst gang of thieves, thugs. and confidence men that ever infested community :
 But we are told that the present officers were elected on a liberal plat form. whatever that may mean, and that the people of Hot Springs voted for wide open town. and that there fore they were entitled to have what they voted for. In other words the question of whether the law shall be enforced or not is matter to be de- termined by popular vote.
 If majority of our citizens vote that the Hid" shall be taken off In so far as it applies to murder, larceny, and robbery, let whosoever will go forth and dip his hands in his neigh bor's blood, let the thief help himself to his neighbours purse, and let the robbe- ply his nefarious trade at will. To such a ridiculous conclusion does this argument lead.
 But no We are told that what Hot Springs needs Is few high class club houses, under strict police regulation, where only the rich and well-to-do visitor may sport with the god of chance, and drive dull care away, and thereby bring many shekels, and much prosperity to our City. and that the low dives and cheaper grade of gam bling houses are to be suppressed.
 I really believe that this is what a majority of those who favor so- called liberal policy for Hot Springs believed that they were going to re- ceive under the present officials.
 What was the result? We're their hopes realized? Was there any class to the gambling houses conducted here until reecns
 Were the low dives and the cheaper grade of gambling houses, which with their drummers, ropers and steerers. drew into their nets the poor devils who came here from all parts of the earth with q small pittance to pay for their baths. and the necessary treat ment, and stripped them and left them, like the man Of Christ's para ble. who fell among thieves. to go away cursing and abusing Hot Springs. say were these low dives and cheap CT gambling houses suppressed by our officials? No.
 lueH, WHY uolt ottduSt III tttc fet3 nature of things the task was one ini- possible of fullhllment The low dive and the high one. the big gambling house and the little gambling house, were and are alike under the ban of the law.
 Regulated lawIessness, always and everywhere is and must necessarily be failure Who gave one man the right to run gambling house, and denied the same nrivilege to anothery It was not the law.
 So far as the law is concerned, and that is what we are concerned with as Court and grand jury, the Mayor, the Sheriff and the Constable have just as much right 10 give permit or license to commit larceny or any other crime at stated places. as they have to license gambling house and they have Just as much right to col. feet fines 4t stated intervals under the expres For implied permission of the City or County that they shall not he further molested for the per ..afraf{nu nf anr nfhqr .stfetQu n4r