The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-06-16
DRAC-NET GETS
MANY GAMBLERS.
RESORT ACROSS RIVER
RAIDED EARLY SUN
DAY MORNING.
FORTY ARRESTED
Officers Say Fully Seventy-Five
Were Engaged In Games
When Raid Was Pulled
OFF. Tried Monday.


A resort on the west bank of the
river opposite the city was raided by
officers at an early hour Sunday
morning and between thirty and forty
white men we're arrested on charge
of gambling.
Officers say at least seventy-five
men were engaged in gambling when
the raid was pulled off at ! o'clock
Sunday morning, but that most Of
them escaped before the constables
got control of the situation.
Constables Foreman and Sesson
made the raid without assistance, and
when they entered the rooms the men
stampeded and there was mad rush
for the doors and windows. A large
portion of them escaped. In the
scramble for the door the officers were
brushed aside and momentarily were
powerless
They soon got control of the situa-
ton and took in all who failed to
make their getaway.
Two men jumped into the river in
their eagerncss to elude the officers,
but managed to get out and get to a
place of safety. The men the officers
rounded up were placed under war
rant and released on their own re-
cognizance to appear in justice court
Monday morning.
In commenting on the raid one of
the officers said, "We only got forty
of them and the balance escaped"
While most Of those in the party
were Columbians it was not made up
altogether of Columbians by any
means. Men from West Point, Aber-
deem, Artesia, Mayhem and other
towns were among those present.
They came from all over this section,
and the enterprise has been growing
and developing for many months, it is
said. It was attracting men from all
over this territory and it was open
and fragrant. 1t is said that officers
themselves in recent weeks had been
invited to visit the resort in jok-
ing way.
Saturday night the resort seemed
to have reached the hightide of its
career; there was revelry, loud tlak-
ing, and a general good time in pro-
gross when the officers reached the
scene. Voices of the participants
could be heard as far away as the
county bridge, many automobiles were
parked near the resort and the lights
of many of these were shining bright
ly. The resort is located a few
hundred yards above the bridge inn
mediately on the banks of the river,
just outside the city limits and over
in Dist. 5.
Twenty-one of those who were ar
rested appeared for trial Monday
morning, court having been convened
at the store of Mr.. Wesley Sessums
on the west side of the bridge. Justice
J. d. Roberts of Artesia, in whose
district the men were arrested, presid-
ed over the court. Pleas of guilty
were entered and fine of 81 anC
costs was imposed in each case. Of.
hcers and officials in the city were al
loss to figure out how the justice
could justify the fines he imposed
with the law which provides clearly
that fines for offences of this nature
shall be not less than $5.
Officers who made the raid statt
that they have the names of many o.
those who were present at the resor
Saturday night when the raid wa!
made and who made their escape, ant
that these men will be arrested ant
brought into court to answer th'
charge of gambling.