Imperial Valley press., 1928-08-24
JOHANNA Smith
TAKEN PRISONER
BY GOVERNMENT
Ancient Law Invoked to
Halt Career of Gambling
Schooner.
BY GEORGE H. BEALE
CUnited Press Staff Correspondent

(UHited Press Staff Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Aug. IL The
COED ship johanna Smith was a
prisoner Of the United States gov
crnmcnt today.
But, though her gambling devices
were spiked, she still remained a
problem to the officials who had
sought her capture for almost two
months.
The Johanna Smith was resting
today in her accustomed place ON
the Pacific while her captors spoke
with vchemcncc about the persons
who broke her winchcs.
Until 5he winches are repaired,
her anchors can not be lifted and
the johanna Smith can not be
brought to port.
Her career as Southern Callfor-
mia 5 famous gambling boat ended
late yesterday when She struck her
flag on the high seas Of the Long
Beach coastine.
Even in. defeat she maintained a
certain dignity since she refused to
surrender until the United States
navy took a hand in the game.
Her capture by coast guard cut
tcrs ended almost two months Of
open and profitable defiance of all
law.
On July l, the Johanna Smith,
boasting 13 gambling tables, 3S slot
machines, a dining and dancing hall,
opened for business seven miles out
to sea.
Immediately she struck public
fancy and. thousands flocked over
her gangplank@ to play hundreds of
thousands across the tables ON her
main deck forward.
The weekend hauls of the one
time lumber schooner were eStimat'
ed in excess Of 100000. Week
nights were profitable also. 1t
operated on a 81 hour basis and APP
parently without an official head,
Every convenience was offered to
patrons.
From the time the Johanna Smith
first opened city, county, state ana
/ fcneral 5officials sought Il legal rea-
son to seize the ship. No liquor
was permitted aboard and the .Johan-
ma Smith 5 gambling trade appar-
emily was fool proof.
Bat yesterday United States at
torneys found statut" passed ils
1893 under which the boat might
be libelled and seized.
The Johanna Smith was licensed
for coastwise trade but was en-
gagged rather in stationary gambling
The law of 1893 held that any
ship engaging in any other busi
ness than that for which it was lie
cnsed might be seized by the Unit
ed States government.
Shipper Defies Marshal
With a court libel action against
the boat, Deputy United States
Marshal Vincent Mangerina took
out to effect the capture.
He was backed by two other dep.
uty marshals and a score of news
paper photographers.
To the master of the ship he pre-
sented his papers for seizure.
The master of the Johanna Smith
WASH t impressed and consigned the
papers, Mangerina and the courts
to good locker with Davey Jones.
He consigned newspaper men to an
even warmer reward.
Mangerina looked at the Johan-
ma Smith : lusty crew and decided
ne might better have brought more
law aud fewer newspaper photogra-
piers.
Mangerina rctrcated to his tug
and radioed for help.
The coast guard cutter Arrow re.
Spondcd and - armed members of
It's crew boarded the gambling
craft The Johanna Smith struck
it's flag.
The tug and the coast guard cut
ter took the captive i'll tow, Thirty
members OF the Johanna Smith per-
sonnel were placed ashore at San
Pedro. The master. Albert Howard
was held temporarily as was some
Sll 900 found in the strong box of
the Johanna Smith.
'.There'n be no more gambling
aboard this craft Mangerina said.
" Let her rot ON the beach, we
made our haul, answered Il poker