March 30, 1909

Quiet poker game rudely disturbed

Police raid hotel and find men around table with money and cards. Jackpot seized.

For some time Chief of Police Crawford has suspected that a certain hotel was a resort for a number of citizens where a quiet poker game was indulged in, and last Sunday evening the police raided the place and captured six men about a table, a jackpot and a deck of cards.

The jackpot had $15.75 in it, and each player had money on the table beside him, but most of this was removed. One gentleman and the Chief made a grab for a bunch of bills and in the scrabble each got half of the bunch, the bills being torn in two. The players contained a number of prominent citizens and the raid has created quite a flurry in sporting circles.

The men were placed under arrest and appeared before acting police magistrate Murray Monday.

The proprietor of the hotel was charged with keeping a gambling house to which he pleaded guilty and was fined $10 and costs.

The other cases were adjourned until April 5th.

Now that the Chief has made a start the Graphic trusts the good work will be continued and as a tip we may say that not only are hotels guilty of allowing a quiet game to take place under their roof, but some places of business and private residences also have a conveniently arranged room where poker or bridge are indulged in. Also in almost all the saloons cards are played and dice thrown for drinks which is clearly a violation of the law.

Let the Chief close them all up tight.