Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-03-22
city PUTS TABOO
ON CARD TABLES
ordinance Adopted in 1902 Said to
Make Unlawful Operation of
Amusements In NJ. Ii.
Henry's Cigar Store

citing city ordinance No. Is,
nossed in 1902, as its authority, the
citv council Tuesday evening in
otructed City Attorney ID. c. Dow to
inform NJ d. Henry that he is in
fringing on the city gambling laws
IN conducting card tables in his cigar
otore on Main street. Upon receiving
information previous to the meeting
of the city fathers that citizens had
nrotested against the card tables, Mr.
Henry prepared statement which
he presented to the council, stating
that to the best of his knowledge he
was violating no city or state laws in
conducting the tables. He stated
that he opened the cigar store and
card room only to keep his building
occupied, intending to close his own
business as soon as he could find d
tenant Mr. Henry stated that gam
bling would not be tolerated by him
and offered to devote every cent of
profit from his business to the Red
Cross and the purchase of Liberty
Bonds.
The ordinance on which the coun-
Gil and city attorney base the opinion
was adopted in 1902, when Theo. T.
Davis was mayor and j. S. Clark was
city clerk. 1t reads, in part, as fol-
lows:
ANY person who shall deal, play,
carry on or open, or cause to be
opened, or who shall conduct, wheth-
er as owner, proprietor, employer or
otherwise whether for hire or not,
rough-et-noir, twenty-One, poker,
draw poker, stud poker, bragg, bluff,
thaw, tan. craps Or any banking or
any other game, played with cards,
dice or other device, whether for
money, checks, credits, or any other
representative of value, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished
by fine Of not less than $40 nor
more than 500, besides the costs OF
prosecuting the charge, or not to ex-
coed three months in the county Jail,
or both"
Mr. Henry states that he is en-
tlrely within the law in that he
makes absolutely no charge for the
use OF the tables, it being custom
airy, but not obligatory, for the losers
to buy treat of cigars or other mer-
chandise for the winners. In some
instances trade checks are requested
IN lieu of the merchandise and these
are given as matter of accommodate
uon' The tables, he says, are for the
accommodation of his customers who
ueSlre to play a friendly game of
CARDS and have no other place to go,
and, while they are expected to draw
trade for his cigar store, are not in
tended for profit in them selves.
Sentiment on the question of legal
ny Is divided, many believing that
Mr. Henry is entirely within the law
ana the outcome of the case is being
watched with much interest
Inc communication presented to
'ne council by Mr.. Henry and read
Oeiore the members of the city body
was as follows:
Pullman Wash,
March 10, 1918.
~ me Honorable Mayor and City
council of the City of Pullman.
Gentlemen:
having come to my hearing that
mere Is some sentiment among the
'ouhcll against the particular class
business that / am conducting, |
ant TO explain why and how / en-
'''eu INTO said business.
MY building was vacant, the pre-
'ous tenant having failed. The
'Niiuihg needed repairs to make it
1'ouern When | began remodeling
Ho luea or entering into bust
S spent considerable time re-
~ ne' at large expense, expecting
get another tenant, but had nc
pp''caht' so | finally decided to oc-
ps IL myself until such a time as
"isht secure a tenant. Under the
eht conditions, on account of the
%" price OF food and labor could
O' see my way clear to continue the
.'urant business, for which I have
- equipment, and by consulting
a. 'ecoros and portion of the city
ri'ies | found that there was
.nlhg against the class of business
,aa. chose. BY using part of my
'aurant equipment l could fit IN