The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1950-04-13
THE POWDER KEG

Noble countians are still amazed today that they have
been sitting on top a powder key and the darn thing hasn't
exploded yet.
This seems to be the feeling of one and all, following
published at Cambridge, in their Saturday, April 8 issue.
The slot machine story, written by a member of the
cation and a protest by the Noble County Ministerial Asso-
citation.
amazed by some of the disclosures in the story but were
incensed in the matter in which it was written.
Cambridge would have you believe that Caldwell and
Noble county was on the verge of a gun-fight or warfare
that would rival anything in Chicago or New York. Many
prominent citizens spent Easter Sunday oilng up their ps-
tolls and shotguns, just in case.
"The cold war with gun drawings, ~hijackings, muscling
in of rival. syndicates and threats of even death in retaliation
is in grave danger of developing into a shooting war at any
moment, SO explosive has the situation in Noble county be-
"A fast moving automobile with hidden license plates
bearing several men resounds with the crack of machine
gun lire and a defiant operator OF ambitious competition
blood-spattered body is found in a gutter of a secluded sec
ton, tossed from an automobile. He has paid for his de-
fiance to the slot machine ring"
Dear reader, you are mistaken. That paragraph did
not come from a ten cent detective magazine, which may
be purchased from any drugstore but from the columns of
The Jeffersonlan, in their famous slot machine story of
innocent, law-abding citizens of Noble county have
been caught in a wicked circle. Confronted with officials
who will not enforce the laws, they realize the county is
cuss the gravity of the situation and what has precipitated
it. Many are asking: What can we do?' They want the con-
far have faced a stone wall" The Jeffersonian continue.
"The cancerous growth of the slot machine racket in
NoOiS SOulIy lid WltllH IGCGIL weeks anQ Us
evils are spreading their degrading tentaces over the entire
county, the Investigation discloses," the Cambridge other
wise so very conservative paper says.
mo holds are barred in operation of the slot machines,
it is charged and their use is not denied to juveniles, both
girls and boys. The gamblers want the nickels, dimes and
quarters that are squandered away in these illegal devices
fnd they apparently have no scruppies about from what
Source they come. Even small wage earners with large
families are depriving their families of many of the neces-
sites of life by gambling away their earnings in the mechan-
lcal bandits, it is charged, writes the JefferSonian.
ut was revealed that strong armed gangs have been
giving orders to get out of business and to use our slots and
not others. When demands have not been met, it is claimed,
the slot machines are hijacked as a warning. Then comes
the stern command to set our machines in. That is the stu
alton today. Just when the next move of the more power
full syndicate or its rival competitor will be is conjecture
but if it follows the usual pattern there will be killings, "
warns The JefferSonian.
There is recourse for Noble countians if public indigna-
ton becomes a great enough power. They have the laws
of the state and nation on their side. If the duly elected
officials do not perform their sworn duty, removal proceed
ings may be instituted and an appeal made to the state for
law enforcement. Whether action is taken depends upon
law abiding residents of the county joining together in a
mighty force that will prove irresistible despite spineless
enforcement. They must be aroused from their lethargy and
willing to wage a relentless crusade to uphold law and
order" The Jeffersonian concludes.
Needless to say, all slot machines disappeared as if by
MAGIC from the county Sunday rnornip0 ond oftorpoop