The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-10

machines disappeared from county
spots Yesterday afternoon caused
some comment in official circles to-
day
Within thlrty-fve minutes of the
time Prosecutor Wilson asked Sher-
If Charles (Buck) Summers Office
to determine the extent Of slot
machine operations in the county
yesterday afternoon, the illegal
gambling devices had begun to come
out of roadside beer taverns.
Last night, Times reporters visited
f1fty-six of these tavernS, dance
places and even filling stations out
side of the city limits Not one
machine was in evidence, though
some of the places visited had eX-
hibited several within the last two
weeks.
Most proprietors we're extremely
loath to discuss the absence of the
machines. One insisted that his
machines we're being repaired"
But, those who would talk
agreed that the machines had been
removed from action between 4
and p. m. yesterday.
Given the Word"
Most explicit was a lunchroom
proprietor on Road SO, who de-
scribed the situation in detail to
the young and pretty wife Of a
Times investigator
She asked him why he had no slot
machines.
Oh" he replied, I'VE have one,
but we were given the word this aft
ernoon to put it away for a few
days. Didn't hear direct, you un-
derstand, cause I haven't a phone,
but they come down from the tav-
ern "a nearby, larger beer spot).
They got several machines up there. !
They says A. passed the order
to hide the machines for a few days.
Ours was in this room until 4"
rs it against the state law to
have them?" the proprietor was
asked.
Well" he answered, some of
them don't like it, but the sheriff,
he's all right. He don't bother us
none. I guess there's some trouble
with this Louisville crowd. They'H
supposed to have brought a lot
machines up here and guess they-
trying to clean EN- out.
IF They Know You"
Cant very well clean them out
and not touch ours, so they must
have given us the word for that rea-
son. I got mine back in the bed
room. Down to the tavern, they got
EN- in back room. I guess, if they
know you, you can play them down
there"
The proprietors reference to this
Louisville crowd" along with the
arrest made known today, verified
an exclusive story in The Times two
days ago, in which it was revealed
that flfty-siX machines had been
moved into indianapolis and its en-
virons from the Kentucky city
within the last few days.
It was this and two other stories
carried by The Times in the last
week which led Prosecutor Wilson
to request information from Sheriff
Sumner.
Sheriff Sumner was in French
Lick at the Democratic Editorial
Association convention today, but
Ralph Hitch, his chief deputy, said
deputies had searched the county
yainly last night for machines.
apparently they got the tip from
your paper-or some place." Mr..
Hitch told Times reporter today.
Prosecutor Wilson called Sheriff
Summers office at 1925 p m The
machines were going out Of their
accustomed places by 4 p. m. The
edition of The Times giving In
dianapolis its first news of Prosecu-
tor Wilson's request did not go on
sale downtown until 426 p. m.
At one dance place on Road 81,
raided recently by the three hi
jackers, y Of whom the arrested man
is one, bandits who have been nj
jacking" machines, there were no
machines last night
Most Are Reticent
A Times reporter overheard a girl
ask the proprietor'S assistant where
the machines were
Oh" he answered, we've taken
them out for a couple Of days un-
til things cool down"
East, on U. S. Road 40, one pro-
prietor said he had removed the
machines from his establishment
because Of all this racketeering."
He did not amplify mis- remark.
Proprietors Of twenty-five places
in the south and southwestern parts
Of the county were reticent for the
most part. II was here, on Road
81, that one man volunteered the
information his machines were out
temporarily for repairs"
In some places. where Times rep
resentatives we're recognized, there
we're joyial questions as to when
the proprietors pictures were to be
published.