The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-11-26
A BLOT ON THE FAIR

The people of Marion county have
been told that the fair was their far
their property.
Unless the Star greatly mistakes
the people of Marion county, they do
not approve of gambling, especially
when it is accompanied by swindling.
The laws of Florida forbid games
of chance, lotteries and gambling IN
every form.
IL has been customary whenever
carnival came here to allow lotteries,
ETC., by which the people could take
chances to win dolls, candy, blankets
and bric-a-brac of various kinds. 1t
was contrary to law, but it was no
very great infraction of it. if kept
within bounds and was generally al
lowed to pass unnoticed.
This year it is out of bounds and as
crooked as blacksnake.
The carnival is half shows and half
swindles.
A Star reporter was at the carnival
for while yesterday evening. He saw
scores of people put their money up
against prizes of little or no worth,
and receive nothing in return. Once
in a while a person was allowed to
win something to keep the crowd en-
couraged.
At some of these games money is
given as prizes. At one stand the
proprietor told the reporter that a
certain number of hits on target
won the lucky thrower dollar, and a
larger number two dollars. The tar
gets were manipulated with cord
from the front. They look easy to hit.
They are not. 1t is safe to say no
dollar is handed over at that game
until two or three are won.
There are regular roulette wheels,
run in the fashion of roulette wheels,
and most likely with concealed attach
ments that prevent the patrons from
heing too lucky.
People won things of course nobody
would play if nobody won. Sometimes
the winners are home people; some
times, probably. they are "come-ons, .
end what they win stays in the FAM
lily.
Deputy Sheriff Gordon stood by one
stand yesterday and saw the proprie-
tor deliberately swindle two little
boys out of dime apiece. He col
Jared the man, made him give the
boys back their money and broke the
stand up; but the reporter saw man
running similar game last night,
and acting as Mr.. Gordon says the
cheat acted.
We have been told that the theory
ON which the fair management
and the police act, and it is the view
also taken. we regret to say, by some
Of our citizens, that if people go into
these games and put their money up,
they are suckers and deserve to lose.
Assisted by the city attorney, the
reporter this morning went over that
part of the laws of Florida relating
TO games of chance and found no ref
erence to suckers therein. He found
what the city attorney told him was
law declaring every game of chance
on the fair grounds crime, punish
able with a heavy penalty.
We understand that in consequence
Of the concessions to these swindles
several hundred dollars viii go into
the Golfers of the fair association.
It will be tanned money sure enough
1t is the Stars opinion that when
preparations for the next fair are be
;ng made, the commissioners of Mar
IN will refuse to make any appro-
priation unless they have security that
no more swindles be allowed on the
fair grounds.
The men and women running thc
games are all able-bodied and intelli.
gent. They should be doing honest
work.
IL any more of such come here they