The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-05-17
William ]. Riley Would
Legalize Use of Scum Slot
Machines in Local Sa-
looms and Drug Stores.
WANTS To Be ARRESTED NOW
Owner of Devices Charges Police Chief
Has Inundated People from Using
the Machines and That He Has Lost
Large Profits as Result.

With the intent of legalizing the use
OF that certain sort Of slot machines
known as 'sgum machines" William
j. Riley, through his attorney, Robert
Verne Baker, instituted an action in
the Municipal Court this morning in
which Chief of Police Owen O'Hare is
named as the defendant. While the
complaint of Riley asserts that he has
been damaged to large amount in
the earnings of his business on account
of the unfriendliness Of the chief to
the machines in question he does not
ask for money damages, but demands
that the court render a decision fixing
the status under the Wisconsin laws Of
the machines in question. 1t is held
that the decision will be most import
ant to the makers and owners of the
devices in question and it is expected
that it will pave the way for the
resumption of the use Of these devices
in many places in Wisconsin.
Riley asserts that for more than
two years he has been placing these
machines in saloons and drug stores in
Kenosha, but that they did not stay
placed. The complaint asserts that just
as soon as the merry dropping of the
nickles had started into the strong
boxes Of the machine that the chief
assumed the role of original joy-killer
and that he made it his business to
visit the places and intimidate the
proprietors into refusing to continue
the devices in operation. The COM
plant admits that the machines were
not seized by the chief of police; that
no arrests were made of men who had
permitted the installation Of them in
their places Of business, but it de-
clares that instead of arresting the
proprietors Of places where the ma
chimes were in operation that the men
were given the tip that if they con-
tinued the machines that they would
find it difficult to secure a license when
the license committee acted on saloon
licenses. Riley insists that this sug-
gestion from the chief to the saloon
men was sufficient to force them to
put the machines under the bar and
stop the operation Of them.
The plaintiff asserts that he has re-
peatedly asked the chief of police to
cause his arrest for maintaining gamb-
ling devices in order that he might
make his defense to the court, but that
the chief had just as repeatedly de-
clined to swear out a warrant, holding
that he cared little whether there was
ever a test of the legality of the ma
chimes. The complaint states that the
machine is not a gambling device and
Attorney Baker in discussing the case
indicated that the machinces would
properly be classed as stimulator of
business.
None Of the men who have operated
the machines have joined Riley in the
demand for decision as to the use of
the machines in Wisconsin and he is
fighting the battle out on his own
lines. Similar actions have been
brought by owners of these machines
in other states, but pretty careful
search of the reports IF the Wisconsin
Supreme Court fail to show that the
court has ever put its sanction on the
machines. Attorney Baker declared
that he had secured several decisions
Of Tower court in favor of the
machines, but that he knew of
no high court decision.
Riley has been rather persistent in
his offer to have the machines stand
legal examination in Kenosha. 1t is
recalled that at one time one of the
machines was sent to the Municipal
Court and Riley appeared and declar-
ed that he was ready to submit to arrest
for operating it. He was not arrested
and after the machine had Uttered up
the vanlt Of the court for several
weeks it was taken out and placed in
storage again. 1t is claimed that prac-
tically all Of the saloons in Kenosha
would be willing TO operate the ma
chimes if an opinion declaring such
action legal was rendered.
In issuing warnings against the ma
chimes the chief Of police acted on the
order of the Police and Fire Commits
sion in eliminating al e slot machines
from Kenosha. The suit demands an
injunction against the chief of police
further interfering with the operation
of the machines.