The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-06-19

llCl III NOh1 0ifg A& 1OullLl ia
Gals will quickly rid the city and
county of the class of people who
prey upon the weakness of others,
and contaminate the youth of the
state.
1t may be that your city is free
from this plague. if so, vigilance
on your part and the part of yonr
officers will prevent members of
the gambling fraternity. who may
be driven from cities not so for
tunate from establishing them
selves in your city.
Very truly yours.
Attorney General
To All County Attorneys And
Sheriffs:
Gentlemen:
Recent information has come to
this department which Indicates
that organized gambling is gain
ing a foothold in Montana, In
some. of the larger cities it ap
pears to be reaching. the magni-
tude of a racket such as we have
heard of in other states, but up
to this time have not experienced
in our state.
Prompt and vigorous action on
the part of peace and law enforce
ment officials of counties and
cities can ad will stamp it out.
We have on u statute books
all the necessary laws to control
the situation, and | wish to direct
your attention to sections 11159,
to 1888. R. C. NJ. 1921, and es-
pecially Sections 11159, 11166,
11167. 1116S, 11169 and 11171.
Apparatus to be Destroyed
You will note from reading the
above sections that it is the duty
of the sheriff to seize all gambling
implements and apparatus and ar
rest operators or persons actual
ly or apparently in possession or
control thereof, or Of the premises
where the same may be found,
and take them before a commit
ting magistrate. The magistrate
must thereupon, if he shall hold
any prisoner, cause the gambling
implements and apparatus to be
delivered to the county attorney
to be used as evidence at the trial.
If there be no prisoner or the
magistrate does not hold him for
trial. he must cause the immedi-
ate destruction of the gambling
implements and apparatus in his
presence. If the accused stands
trial, and whether he be convicted
or acquitted the implements and
apparatus must be Immediately
and publicly destroyed by the
sheriff or other officer appointed
by the court. Under no circum-
stances are such implements and
apparatus to be returned to the
accused or any other person.
Every county attorney, sheriff,
constable, chief of oolice, marshal
or police officer must inform
against and diligently prosecute
persons whom they know or con-
corning whom they may be in
formed or whom they may have
reasonable cause to believe to be
offenders against the gambling
Of this state and failure to
so act is sufficient cause for re-
moval from office.
The sheriff should Immediately
order his force to make the rounds
and seize every slot machine,
punch board, or other gambling
implement or apparatus to be
arrest such persons as
above referred to and take them
before a committing magistrate,
whereupon the county attorney
should file complaints and prose
cute the cases.
1t may be that your county is
rec from this evil, II so, l con-
sratulate you. But you will need
o be on guard that gamblers
lriven from other counties and
do not establish themselves
n your county.
L am also writing to the mayors
# the cities Of the state, calling
.ttention to the duties of mayors
nd police officers.
| trust that you will give this
our usual prompt attention and
ee that the law is fully enforced
i your county, that we may rid
he state of the class of people
Tho prey upon the weakness of
theirs and the Innocence Of our