The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-11-04

lCont1nued from Page One.)
ment of the bond, and Johnson was
at liberty conducting his gambling
house. On October 30th, this intol-
cradle situation came to the atten-
ton of his body, and, Sheriff Ellis was
summoned and directed to collect
the fine or put Johnson in Jail. Later
in the evening the sheriff reported
that the fine had been paid.
We further find that during this
period two police officers of the city
summoned Marshal Sanders to assist
them in raiding gambling house.
Accompanied by two other city of
ficers, Marshal Sanders joined the first
two policemen mentioned. When in
formed that his assistance was de-
sired in making contemplated raid
upon Johnson's gambling house, Mar
shall Sanders advised the policemen
that the time was not right for the
raid and that he would advise them
in few days when the raid would
be made; although many months have
elapsed since this occurrence, john
sons gambling house was never raid
ed by the police dc rtment.
The two policemen first referred to
preferred charges of neglect of duty
against Marshal Sanders, but the
city commissioners ignored the
charge.
These public gambling houses
cannot exist for months without
the consent Of the county solicit
tor, sheriff, police commissioner
and city marshal. Any one of
these officers can break up these
menaces to the youth and un-
wary, whenever they desire to do
so. 1t requires the consent of
everyone of these officials to con-
duct public gambling house in
defiance of law.
The attention of the county solicit
tor, sheriff, police commissioner, and
city marshal, is called tothis situa-
ton, and they are urged to break UP
these places, and this body condemns
| the favoritism that has been shown
Johnson and his allies in the violation
| of the laws of the state and ordi-
nances of the city.
We have not returned indictments
against Johnson and s allies for the
reason that we believe to do so would
relieve these officers of the response
bility of failing to break up these
places. If they are relieved of this
responsibility by this body, they will
leave to succeeding grand juries what
they have been elected, and paid to
do. The responsibility is theirs and
we insist upon them assuming it.
In recent years every person that
has been indicted by the grand jury
and sent to the court of record for
| trial has been exonerated.
| TheCity Administration.
| The many rumors current and re-
ports circulated concerning the adj
ministration of the city's affairs led
this body to an investigation of the
administration of the city's business.
The Police Department.
| We find that there is considerable
friction in this department between
| Commissioner Pou and Marshal San
ders, and that the police department.
is divided into two factions, the fol-
lowers Of Sanders and the followers
of Pou. This condition has democrat
lied the police force, and it is with
difficulty that the city marshal en-
forces discipline among his subordi-
Mates
This situation is brought about by
a feeling among certain policemen
that Commissioner Pou will uphold
them in antagonizing the city mar
shall, and the commissioner has fos-
tered this opinion. We believe that
the city marshal will enforce discip-
line in his department if he is sup
ported by the police commissioner
and we urge these two officials to CO.