Arizona republican., 1915-06-18
CLAMPS LID
 ON GAMBLING
Chief of Police Rrisbois Establishes System of Surveillance So Drastic Two Notorious Resorts Quit and Others Waver

! Two of the most notorious gam bling houses known to exist in Phoe- nix closed their doors with a bang yesterday. Other smaller resorts where II has been generally believed 1 that gambling was being permitted. { even encouraged to the advantage of the house, have either quit or have 1 Just about decided that things are becoming too uncomfortable to con- tlnue. All because Chief of Police George Q. Brisbois, determined that gambling shall cease in Phoenix. so far as his department is able to bring about that end, has put into opera ton plan that has worked to per lection.
 For several weeks it has been an open secret that several games have been going on in the down town dis trlct. In one or two instances these games have been conducted in a manner that amounted next thing to open violation of the anti gambling ordinances Chief Brisbois knew of the existence of these games and inn 1 medlately took steps to clamp on the lid Conferring with City Manager Craig on the subject. Brisbois out lined plan of procedure that met with instant favor from the man ager.
 First of all Brisbois made personal rounds of the suspected places and notified the proprietors that gambling would not be permitted. Then he se- cured keys to the various establish ments and gave these into the hands of officers detailed to make half hourly visits These same officers were instructed to take the names of all persons visiting the rooms where card games were being per mitted. The officer was even in structed to inquire the purpose of these visits Reports were made to the police station not only of the persons found in the card rooms. but of the apparent nature of the games being conducted and even a record of the replies of the visitors to the ques- tionings of the officers.
 Result Few persons cared to visit these places and go on record as ire quenting them. Few cared to have il appear on an official report at the police station that they sat in" game at such and such" a place on such and such" a night. Then too, none knew just when the very facts being collected might be used as eNi- dence in the prosecution of the pro- prietor of the establishment
 In inaugurating this movemenet looKing to as complete an elmina tion of gambling in Phoenix as pos sIble. Chief Brisbois has been no respecter of persons. Every place that has come to his notice. and there are many. has been subjected to this surveillance. He announces that there is nothing spasmodic in this movement. IL is to be continued just as long as necessary and if dis continued will be resumed at the first indication that an attempt is being made to reopen any Of the old establishments or to start busi- ness in new locations.
 With the new law now in effect giving the city magistrate concur rent jurisdiction with justices of the peace. the police will be in a better position to secure prosecutions for gambling in this city and it was be- cause of the fact that the new law did not go into effect until June 10 that drastic steps looking to the elimination of gambling were not taken previously.