The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-17
slot MACHINE
WAR DECLARED
BY CITY COPS
Times Reporter Exposes
Sensational Increase in
Mint Vending Boxes.
$50 LICENSES ISSUED
Seventeen Arrests Made on
Charges of Operating
Gambling Devices.

GdmDllng DEVICES.
Within few hours after Times
reporter went through the city con-
trollers records and found that $50
licenses for mint vending slot ma
chimes have been issued this year,
police late Tuesday started raids on
drug stores and other business
places displaying the machines.
Seventeen persons, including two
women, we're arrested on charges of
keeping gambling devices and
eighteen slot machines we're con-
fiscated and taken to police head
quarters.
The machines seized were all of
the variety dispensing a package Of
cheap mints when cents is placed
in the slot and a lever pulled. To
lucky ones on some turns, slugs are
given which may be played in the
machine or are good for cents in
trade.
Discs Show Result
Pulling Of the lever whirls three
discs with pictures of apples, peaches
and other fruits visible on the edges.
If the machine stops with certain
combinations of fruits visible the
mao.,-ne "pays" from 2 to 20 of the
scent trade slugs.
Dozens of the machines have ap-
peared in drug stores and soft drink
parlors over the city within the last
few weeks.
One north side druggist said
profits on the machine in his store
ran as high as $28 day, half of
which, he said, went to the company
installing the device.
The Times reporter obtained the
information that $50 permits for the
mint vending machines have been is
sued this year. compared to only 1873
permits for all varieties of vending
machines last year, at $3.50 p. m.
Tuesday.
The first person arrested by the
raiding squads led by Sergeant Pope
and Chitwood was slated at police
headquarters at $50 p. m.
Many of the machines also were
taken to back rooms by proprietors
within an hour after The Times re-
porter began the investigation.
One Owner Warned
One proprietor said he received
a telephone call from the company
owning the machine in Ills place
warning him that somebody was
raising fuss" and instructing him
to lock up the machine.
Police Chief Claude F johnson
said he ordered the raids because
of complaints that many places
we're accepting the machine slugs
in trade.
Last fall, when police arrested six
machine operators, cases were dis
missed by Municipal Judge Fred
McCallister when the operators con-
tended the machines were not
gambling devices because the slugs
were not accepted in trade.
Complaints have been received
that all those arrested, have been
giving trade for the slugs, Johnson
said. He said he would order de-
tectives to watch all machines in
operation and arrest proprietors of
places where the slugs are accepted
in trade.
A typewriter decision of Judge
McCallister's decision in the case
of Sally Epstein, venued to Mccall
listers court June from municipal
courts one and two which ordinaril-
ly hear criminal cases, was pasted
on one Of the machines seized Tues
day.
All Of the machines also bore the
names of the Coin Operating and
Supply Company and the Silver
King Novelty Company, and the
slogan, agents Wanted"
The city has been doing such a
rushing business licensing persons
buying or leasing the machines for
their business places that Deputy
Controller Claude Wilson said a
book of $50 blank permits has been
used up and supply of miscel-
laneous permit blanks has been ex-
hausted.
How 1t Happens
Inc clJy is under no ObllgaClon
whatever to investigate the nature
of the machine" Wilson said. 1--WE
issue the permit and the person is
responsible. If any complaints are
made, it Is up to the police depart
ment to investigate and not us"
Those arrested, released on 500
bond, gave names as:
Herman Roesch, 35, of 1880 Sta
ton ST.; James Gordon, 46, of lit
N. Alabama St.; Elmer Stann, "A,
Of $40 Virginia Ave.; w. L. Coons,
449 N. Illinois ST., also charged with
having machine at Ohio and Me-
ridian ST.; Wilbur Patrick, A, of
1542 N. Illinois ST.; Mrs. Myrtle
Crickbaum, 27, of 1862 w. Washing
ton St.; Mrs. Iva Dixon, 2708 e.
Washington St.; Louis Smith, 38, of
1853 w. Washington St.; Herschell
Davis, ~, of 3002 Sherman Dr.; w.
G. Stokes, "a, Of 765 Virginia Ave. !;
John Shaughnessey, 38, of 1402 E.
Washington ST.; A. B, Yerkes, "a,
of 602 s, Illinois St.; Henry Miller,
$50 s. Illinois St.: A. Fowler, "a, of
1924 e. washington St.; Charles
Stoltz. 80, Of 1925 E. New York ST.;
and Henry Ewing, 81. OF 1885 Oliver
Ave, and Oliver Withers, 40, of 1243
Oliver Ave.