Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-18
EXPOSES CONDITIONS IN DEPOT
DISTRICT AT COURT
HEARING.
SUPPLIES INFORMATION
POLICE FAit TO SECURE
Officers Called to Make Raid Dis
agree A. TO Conditions Found In
Alleged Gambling Roem-Inform-
ant Tells Of Being Offered Job to
Operate Poker Layout.

| Deslred inrormation relatiVe TO Al
legged gambling In the depot district
sought by The police with unsatis-
factory results. was obtained Wed.
nesday afternoon from an unexpect.
ed quarter, when Aaron Tilson, ar
rested on a charge OF vagrancy
Spilled the beans" in the municipa
court. Members of the police force
disagree as to the existence Of gamb-
ling on the ''levee" but Tilson, a
habitue Of the district, seemed POSI-
tive In his assertions, which were
made Voluntarily and possibly
thoughtlessly.
Tilson was arrested a few nights
ago. when the police laid dragnet
for Migrants, following the robbery
of the Urbine meat market, South
Third avenue, and the continuous
rumors of gambling and failurt of
the police to make arrests. He de-
posted a cash bond OF $50 for his
appearance Wednesday afternoon
and when given hearing made an
impression on the court with his re-
cital Of ten months services in the
trenches In France. Had he stopped
with this recital he might have
walked out of the court free man,
but he had other things to say. He
was to appear this afternoon for SEN
tsncs.
Give Authorities Desired Tip.
Tilson gave the authorities the In
formation they have been seeking.
a week ago or more d report was
made to Officer Quimby that gamb-
ling was going on in a South Third
avenue restaurant. Quimby called
the police station asking that as
sistance be sent to conduct q raid.
officer Charles Breckel responded
and the two officers went to the res
taurants. What was discovered there
seems indistinct. the stories Of the
officers being at variance.
Quimby, who stood behind Breckef
at the doorway. claims to have seen
money exposed on the table. Breckel
says there was Aone. No arrests
were made and altho reports were
made by the two officers at police
station nothing was done.
TiIson Said They Gambied.
Tilson, however. declared gambling
is going on In the depot district. He
had to account for his id1eness sire
his return to this city early in jan
uary, and to do 50 claimed illness.
yrt. xsoA~ ho .oEd MOS that - Doo1
and waiter. but having been gassed
while In Franct ne had not fully re-
covered his strength and Is unable to
do manual labor. He had worked
one day. he said. since his return.
Explaining how he lived. Tilson
said he came back from the army
with a goodly sum Of cash, having
been saving while in the service and
having made considerable gambling.
He said that he had wagered on
pool games since his return but had
not played cards for money. Card
games are in progress in the depot
district. however. he declared. and
he had an offer to operate poker
layout in a South Third avenne
restaurant. he declared.
\ Tiison's Record Exposed.
Tilson exposed his own past re-
cord, when he told Of having been
in court during his residence here
some years ago, on charges Of gamb-
ling and highway robbery. He was
acquitted on both charges he said.
Police appearing as witnesses said
e<,. xo No
'1evee" district during his periods of
residence here and that he seldom
was seen to work. In fact the Off
GERS had seen him employed but
rarely.
..a claimed to have been once en-
pioyed as a waiter At Stones restau
rant, and later managed for a time
Stones pool hall.
Rsstsuranteur Feed Police.
During the police Investigation of
the alleged gambling the proprietor
OF the restaurant where the gambling
was alleged to have gone on; declar-
ed he had fed the, police for years
and had never demanded any pay for
the service
he declared, was not with any intent
OF buying immunity but had been
done under his own and previous
management to insure protection
should occasion arise. He feft that
IN giving the police free feeds" he
would have a policeman about the
place much OF the time and would
not be compelled to look for a cops
per" should he need ones service.
The police admit that the free
feeding system has been in vogue for
upwards OF twenty years and was
looked upon as a favor TO the mem
bers OF the force for their efforts to
preserve order In the district. Off,.
Ger Quimby. who Is young member
OF the department, said he had Offer
ed to pay for what he ate at the res
taurant, but that his money was not
accepted. He declared the feeding
system had not caused him to swerve
from his duty and ne wished to make
arrests when called TO the restaurant
but OFFICER Breckel, told him there
was no evidence Of gambling on
which to base case In view OF the
uncertainty Of the police as to the
existence Of gambling the depart
sment took no further action at the
1: :s.,;,. ..Ha aSsc...~eant Tilsnu who II
supposed to be familiar with all the
day and night life OF the depot dis
trict reopens the case and may lead
to further Investigation.
Bad charaetsrs OriftinS Hsrs.
a Officer Maurice Cummings. also Of
the depot district force, IL authority
for the statement that bad charac-
tsr1 from other cities. whore clean