The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-12-04
MARTIAL LAW IN JEFFERSON.

w
Governor Hall has taken strenuous
measures to put an end to the dis
graceful conditions existing in the
parish Of Jefferson with relation to
the disregard of the laws of the state
regulating the conduct of liquor sa-
looms and prohibiting gambling.
1t was presumed that the recent
sensational night raid on the notori-
Gus Hyland gambling house at South
port-when the Washington Ar
tillery captured the paraphernalia
used for various kinds of games of
chance, arrested number of the men
who manipulated the devices and took
the names and addresses of about $50
others who had been playing the
games-would have been sufficient
warning to the law violators that
their misconduct would be no longer
immune from government cognlzance
or restraint, but such was not the
case.
Another Washington Artillery raid
was made last Saturday, with the
result that a full-fedged lottery shop
was found in operation in the vicin-
ity of the Hyland premises, and sew
eral scores of players, including five
white men and lot Of male and fe-
male negroes, were taken into Gus
tody. The women were released and
the men delivered next morning to
the Jefferson parochial authorities.
Meanwhile the Hyland gamblers
had been in the district court permit
ted to go scott free because the "tip"
which they had received of the APP
proach af the military enabl@l them
to suspend the games before the
soldiers arrived. Although the
banker" was busily engaged in
"cashing chips" when the troops APP
peared upon the scene, the games
were not actually in operation, and
as none of the players volunteered
to turn states evidence, the positive
proof necessary to establish the in
disputable fact of the laws violation
was lacking.
This miscarriage of justice was ac-
centuated by report from the JEFF
ferson grand jury besmirching the
characters of leaders of the reform
element in Jefferson who were coop
Grating with the state authorities in
the attempt to end the reign of law
lessness in the parish. This inquisi-
torial body, though professedly I'M
able to secure sufficient evidence to
warrant the indictment of notorious
violators of the law, displayed great
readiness and facility in gathering
and giving currency to an array of
statements, unaccompanied by indict-
ments, derogatory to the regulations
r Il +~>i
abate the conditions that disgrace not
only the parish and people of Jeffer
son, but in measure reflect upon the
entire state as well.
Feeling that further forbearance
and milder corrective measures in
dealing with the intolerable situation
would be useless, Gov. Hall directed |
that the Bogalusa company of the |
state militia be ordered to Gretna and
that Jefferson parish be placed un-
proper enforcement of Nv and order
could be assured by the civil author
tiles. These orders have been carried
into effect. The Bogalusa troops are
encamped at Gretna; several law
breaking saloons have been despoiled |
of illegal slot machines and the
gambling devices burned; compart-
ments of other saloons where negroes
were served in violation of the Gay
Shattuck law have been closed, and
it is probable that steps will be taken
to GUST such local officials as have
failed to perform slaeir duty in con-
nection with the maintenance Of pub
lie order and the suppression of vice
and crime.
Gov. Hall is quoted as having de-
clared that there shall be respect and
enforcement of law in Jefferson par
ish at least for the remainder of his
term, and the decent public sentiment
of the entire state, without regard to
party or fractional lines, should be
behind the chief executive in this de-
termination.
FI&, THE CAB