Year: 1875

rgE GAMBLERS AND THEIR PROTECTORS.


Thore is wen-grounded suspicion in this


community that the gamblers enjoy the pro-


tection Of some person OF persons connected
9Th the police force. If there were no other


foundation for it, the simple fact would JUS
tay it that, in spite Of rigid laws making


nrofessiona gambling Penitentiary otfense,


and the leasing Of houses for gaming pur-


noses punishable in like manner, the


eambling-p1ac were never so numerous,


open, and aggressive as they are to-day.


Certainly this could not be so if the police


did their duty We could scarcely conceive
Of its being so if the gamblers were not


actually protected by the police or some one
tiph in authority. We, therefore, commend
this suspicious re1ation between the police
sud the gamblers to the earnest attention Of


tie Grand Jury now in session


The Grand Jury might begin with an in
yestigation into the case in which Sergt.
OCossoE, Of the South Side police, cuts SO
had 3 figure. An arrest Of five gamblers was
made shout the middle Of December, at the
corner Of Clark and Monroe streets, q locality
which has become SO disreputab1e that no
lady can pass without subjecting herself to
the danger Of insult, and no man without
running the risk Of being robbed The five
ca,uhlers {among the most notorious aud VII
1ainous in the city, were brought be-
fore Justice BorpES, and secured
continuance till Dec. 81. Before that
time there was q mysterious disappear
1f In !, NJ
OCosson says that, having had converse
ton with Capt. BUCKLEY about Supreme
Court opinion, they had both come to the
conclusion that the arrest had been made il
legally, and TINT he thereupon went into
Court and had the cnse dismissed. Justice
Bo4DES, on the other hand, has no reco11ec-
ton Of such dismissal, though he reneu,-
bered the case perfectly well We prefer to
rely upon Justice BorDES's memory in SO un-
usual q proceeding. Besides this, the arrest
was not made by O'CoSSon, and it was not his
business to dismiss the suit; ard, if it had
been, We do not know that Polio Sergeant is
the proper person to decide &C caz1edra upon
prene Court The case is 3 suspicious one,
and it should be used as the basis:for the gen
asl investigation of the alleged reciprocity
betVeen the gamblers and police. Perhaps
The Grand Jury cen arrive Mt some less
damaging explanation Of the immunity
which the gamblers enjoy from arrest end
prosecution On account Of their nefarious
business.


There is another feature of this gambling
business which the Grand Jury ought to take
up They should take proper evidence, and
indict the owners Of all the buildings which
ere rented, in part OF the whole, for gam
bling purposes We do not believe there is
one among them who does 1lot know the
purpose for which the rooms are rented,
especially since TIE TRIBUNE gave list Of
these gambling houses not 1ozg since, and
the names Of the owners Of the buildings at
tacaed The law is perfectly clear, and ths
indictment Of dozen or two Of our @'frst
citizens who derive their income from the
feecing Of dupes in the hands of gamblers
might help to break down the evil We are
in favor Of every lawful means by which
gambling can be suppressed and, as it is
evident that We cannot hope for it from the
police, the citizens should take the matter
in hand themselves by and through the Grand
Jury.