The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-09-27
District Attorney Orders Paddle Wheels to Shut
up Shop, Following Inspection Tour
on Monday Evening.
ALL ROULETTE WHEELS PULLED OUT
Official Action Comes After Delegation Complains to
District Attorney That Gambling Law is
Being Openly Violated.

ne 1eIC JnaC ne nau a. rlgnC TO 1Ooh
to the merchants of the city to pro-
tect the reputation of the city, rather
than to enter another wedge for
gambling, which caused so much trou-
! bic just before the grand jury inves-
tigation two years ago.
"a delegation of six persons came
to my Office yesterday and complained
that the gaming laws were being
openly defed, and that paddle wheels
and other chance games were running
wide open on the downtown streets, y
Mr.. Symmonds said. "At the earliest
possible moment called in some of
the other officials and asked them to
accompany me on an inspection trip.
eve found number of booths
where gambling was being permitted,
thing to do, and that was to ask them
to close up immediately. This they did.
Gave Benefit of Doubt.
"In places where games were being
operated which required any skill, we
gave them the benefit of the doubt.
We as officials don't want to be radical
but at the same time we are here to
see to it that the laws are enforced.
Now if there are any complaints that
people are being fleeced out of their
money in the games of skill, they are
requested to come Immediately to this
Office where they may swear out war
rants if they wish. We are here 20
protect the public and uphold the laws
81 have discovered that there is
only a small faction of the downtown
/ -
gambling devices in order to help pay
their expenses. In some places people
were being feeced in order that these
merchants might get back money which
they had laid out for the decoration
of the city. This the law will not
stand for.
II am surprised that some of these
merchants want to enter wedge for
gambling, particularly after the grand
jury shakeup that the town went
through two years ago. Almost all
the trouble at that time conferred
around gambling and booze.
"We who are appointed to uphold
and enforce the law should have the
right to look to these merchants to
uphold these laws. There are only a
few of them who favor the wheels
! If these few want to make the streets
of Kenosha Monte Carlo, they will
find that they are going to run into
a serious snag. What reputation
would the city get from those pass
ing through here if it was discovered
that we were openly allowing the
operation of these games of chance
No Complaints Before.
"Since the action taken last night
| have heard considerable criticism of
our having allowed the carnivals and
various clubs to operate these chance
games. As a matter of fact if these
things have gone on they have been
without my knowledge. There were
never any complaints made to me re-
! garding it. | do know that on several
occasions the police department has
made arrests at the carnivals, but
there were no complaints made at
this office.
"Kenosha would rather donate to
support the churches, than to have
them rattle off merchandise to get
funds to carry on their work There
have been several occasions when
women of various churches have come
to me to ask permission to rattle
quilts. | have on these occasions dug
down into my own pocket and given
them donations, meanwhile telling
them that it would be impossible
for them to do the things they
wished to do.
ut surprises and pains me to
think that the merchants want me to
wink at the law.
Automobile Tickets Not Good.
"There have been a large number
of chances on an automobile rattle
put out, l am told. This is strict
ly against the law, and of course
these tickets are no good"
Several booths were being run by
fraternal and patriotic organizations,
where there were wheels and other
devices of chance, as had been the
custom at festivals in years past.
Among these, was a rattle wheel run
by the American Legion, where the
prizes were the best grade of silk
stockings, which had been purchased
from local firm at reduced prices.
Capt. John Alexander of the Ameri-
can Legion, said that plans are being
made to in some way comply with the
law so that the concession can be
opened up tonight. He said that a
good many of the Legion boys felt
! that they should have been informed
that the paddle wheel was under the
4 legal ban before they were allowed to
go ahead and purchase their supplies.
Every thing, goes when the Legion
in Racine want anything, but when
the local organization goes after
funds there always seems to be a
catch in it."
Rudolph Beck. who was in charge
of the Legion booth, said that he had
called meeting to discuss some plan
of action. The Legion made $40 on
Saturday night, -he said, and 81 last
night before they were ordered 60
close up.
Chief of Police Logan notified those
in charge of the boxing exhibitions
between Pete Johnson and frankie
Conley that these could not be con-
tinued in keeping with the boxing
laws of the state. This action was
taken because of numerous complaints
filed with the chief that the boxing
shows were not in keeping with the
lboxing laws