Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-06-25

determined TO stamp out organ
lied gambling from this state.
which has recently gained oonsid-
cradle foot hold. and especially
in the larger cities as well a.
most of the western part of the
State. He has written 10 every
sheriff, county attorney and To
the city mayors in Montana. re-
guessing their cooperation 10
check this. We publish a copy of
the letter TO the sheriff's and
county attorneys The letter to
city authorities are very similar:
To All County Attorneys and
Sheriffs:
Gentlemen:
Recent information has come TO
this Department which indicates that
organized gambling is gaining a foot
hold in Montana. In some Of the lar
ger cities it appears to be reaching
the magnitude 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 he
part of peace and law enforcement
officials Of counties and cities can md
will stamp It out.
We have on our statute books all
the necessary laws to control the sit
u~ation, and | wish 10 direct your Il
tention to Sections 1880 to Hiss,
R. c. NJ, 1921, and especially Sections
1859, 11166-67- Is : SO and II.
You will note from reading the
above sections that IT is the duty Of
the sheriff to seize all gambling de-
plements and apparatus and arrest
operators or persons actually or ap-
parently in possession or control
thereof, or of the premises where the
same may be found. and take them
before a committing magistrate. The
magistrate must t%hereupon, if he shall
hold any prisoners. cause the gambl-
ing implement and apparatus to be
delivered to the county attorney to
be used as evidence at the trial. If
there be no prisoners or the magis-
trate does not hold him for trial. he
must cause the immediate deStruc-
ton of the gambling implements and
apparatus in his presence. If the ac-
cused 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 circumstances are
such implements and apparatus to be
returned to the accused or any other
person.
Every county attorney. sheriff.
constable. chief of police. marshal or
police officer must inform against and
diligently prosecute persons whom
they know or concerning whom they
may be pformed. or whom they may
have reasonable cause to believe TO be
offenders against the gambling laws
of this state, and failure to SO act is
sufficient cause for removal from of
office.
, The sheriff should Immediately or
der his force to make the rounds and
seize every slot machine, punch board
or other gambling implement or appar-
atus to be found, arrest such persons
as above referred to and take them
before. a. committing. magistrate,
whereupon the county attorney should
file complaints. and. prosecute. the
cases. ---~ -
1t may be that your county is free
from this evil, if so, | congratulate
you. But you will need to be on guard
that gamblers driven on from other
counties and cities do not establish
themselves in your county.
| am also writing to the mayors
of the cities of the state, calling at
tention to the duties Of mayors and
police officers.
| trust that you will give this your
usual prompt attention and see that
the law is fully enforced in your coun-
ty, that we may rid the state of the
class of people who prey upon the
weakness of others and the innocence
of our youth.
Very truly yours,
L. A. FOOT,