The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-05-01
IS 1T TRUE?


The commonly advanced by law enforcement officers
that there no trying to enforce the law against gambling
is that impossible get convictions the courts charges
of that kind that jures prone
to find innocent those charged oenses against the anti
gambling laws regardless of evidence presented because pub
lie opinion is opposed to the laws.
Today in Helena this officers seek
ing for their failure discharge their appeared
borne out by the findings of jury selected charges
gambling preferred against three Observers the trial
astounded at the verdict of innocence found by the jury
In the trial. the testimony of complaining
cooborated by two credible witnesses of good reputation
IN what seemed to be every material point and the defense
placed only witness the stand to refue the testimony
offered in of the charges against the AND THIS
SOLE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE WAS ONE OF THE DE-
PENDANTS Under possible of imagination
could appear that this solitary witness might expected to
testimony require confederation from some
dsnterested Yet the apparently accepted
denals of doing of this charged with the
Tense worthy of belief than the testimony
planning Witness corroborated by reputable witnesses
found the defendants innocent
The jury composed of six and women com
ments of prominent in Helena who had compagned
the legislature for the passage of legislation making
egbe for jury service expressed keen disappointment
the findings of this jury with equal
bers Many OF them were wondering it, after ALL be-
of their lesser contact with the seamy side of e
instinct of protection and because of expeence being
more sensitive to crafty appeals of lawyers would be too
to let their creduty be imposed upon.
The attorney for the Defense Sherman Smith, who from
recent appears "have representa-
ton in court for the gambling and other rackeeerng
mens made effort and apparently successful
painting the complaining witness as drunkard and an ir
responsible person. In his appeal jury he presented
his clients charged with the crime responsible men,
property and taxpayers while the complain
ing witness WPA and inferred that therefore
not good citizen those charged with the ofense
apparently the jury believed that those who possessed
of property could do wrong
The hickey gambling law amendment into this
and is time the people of the cognzance of
the fact that is suberfuge unless they willing to
take down all of the bars against gambling they should
mand of their representatives this year, the repeal
amendment
While the defendants innocent by the jury
nevertheless the of the place. pub
lie opinion because of knowledge that gambling
have been conducted there past long time
There hardly be law enforcement has not
past they could have been caught at
Since the ministerial association took up the cudge law
mated that there nearly $50 formerly employed
tent of the design to muc the public $50 which does
include of the Irresponsible and reputable taxpayers
who operate the dives
What the condition in YOUR city town? you think
that violation of existing laws is healthy civic
ton? The city of Helena is developing into proving
ground rackeeering socaed responsible rep
tabe business men, get with fragrant
the law. Two battles have been lost But the will be
because the majority of the people here YOUR
city or town. stand for decent observance of law.
To the that countenance violations of the
passed to orderly society," do we
countenance anarchy Is that safe attitude
good citizen to assume?