Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-12
|CQURT RULES FORTUNE
WHEELS MAY OPERATE
Justice Crutchficld Gives Decision
Based Upon Opinion by Assist
ant Attorncy-Gcncral.
PERMITS OPENING OF BOOTHS
Case Was Test Following Action OF
COmmonwcalth's Attorney Wise i'll
Closing Stands Here for Arnisticc
Week Celebration.

Spinning wheels OF fortune may con-
tinue as part OF the entertainment
according to decision rendered by
Justice Crutchticld last night when he
dismissed sam Prell, charged with
operating and promoting a certain lot
terry and game OF chance. 1t was at
the instance of commemorative At
torncy Wise that Prcll WAS arrested on
Monday night. and the case was pre-
scented yesterday morning as II test
The long trial WAS concluded when the
court based its decision on an opinion
Hank ~ assistant ACKNOWLEDGEMENT j. D.
Prell operates one of the many booths
the entertainment Testimony was
heard to the effect that pencils and
the alleged lottery. with additional in
ducemcnts. according to the spinning
of the wheels. Which include live tur-
keys blankets, sweaters and hams.
Gave Opinion Inst Spring.
AS early as March is. when it first
became known that this form of amusc-
ment would be included in the enter
tainmen1 for the soldiers. chief of
Police Sherry requested IF the Assist
ant Attorney General an opinion which
would serve rs guide. The specific
facts involved in the particular case
department.. and tho reply of Attor-
ney- General Hank was to the effect
that The statute relating TO lottery
10 the case involved. Consequently
these features were included in the
entertainment provided.
When the case came to the attention
of the court yesterday morning it
was pointed. out that the case rested
on the opinion OF Mr.. Hank as sulli-
cient judicial authority in the absence
of specific laws to cover such eases
as the one involved The case was
when Assistant Attorney General Hank
appeared. and the proceedings were rc-
sumcd about O'Clock.
According TO the prosecution the sale
Of lead pencils and postcards for %
cents was a violation OF the law in
that the commodities were not worth
the price paid. and the additional offer
OF prizes 1t the same time. in the judE-
ment OF the. Commemorative Attorney.
was gambling. and therefore within
cases.
Scores Spinning wheels.
In ; addressing the court Common
presence of spinning wheels and other
such contrivances at the Virginia state
and county fairs. and in this particular
case case, within The very threshold of the
Members of the executive committee
OF the carnival were present in the
bored the as e Of the w eeebrs
ton. Many officials OF the city were
also present, and. standing. conspicu-
interest in me the proeced dIIaP.aSed keen
them were Chief of Police Charles 4
Sherry and Colonel William NJ Myers.
! Director Of Public Safety. Rev. RI. d.
/ G. Macla chlan was present in the In
terests of the churches.
! In giving his decision Justice crutcb-
! field said:
( Il can be guided by no other author
~ ihan the decision of the Assistant
In question and verified by Mr.. Hank
at the trial. l therefore dismiss this
Commonwealth's ATTORNEY Wise
stated last night that he would take
the ruling OF the police judge to higher
authority. -''