State ex rel. v. Williams

77 P. 965, 45 Or. 314, 1904 Ore. LEXIS 102
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 8, 1904
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 77 P. 965 (State ex rel. v. Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. v. Williams, 77 P. 965, 45 Or. 314, 1904 Ore. LEXIS 102 (Or. 1904).

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Moore,

after stating the facts in the above terms, delivered the opinion of the court.

It is contended by defendants’ counsel that errors were committed in overruling these demurrers. Let us first consider whether or not the alternative writs state facts sufficient to warrant the granting of the relief demanded. They show the right of the relators to institute these proceedings ; allege the incorporation of the City of Portland, and the several duties of the respective defendants, so far as involved herein; that since March, 1903, defendants have wilfully conspired to obstruct and defeat the enforcement of the provisions of the city charter, of the municipal ordinance, and of a statute of the State prohibiting gambling, and to thwart the conviction and punishment of persons engaged in gaming, or who keep or frequent gambling houses, and refuse to perform the duties imposed upon them ,in relation to such prohibition; that every day and night since the unlawful agreement was entered into a number of persons have openly and notoriously been engaged in keeping and conducting gaming and gambling houses, rooms, and premises, and playing the games so prohibited, which places have been and now are kept and used as common gaming houses for playing therein for wager of money at games of chance, some of the persons so employed and of the rooms in which they are engaged being as follows: John Thomas, 130 Fifth Street, H. Shapiro, 185 Third Street, George Fuller, * * Fred Fritz, 242 Burnside Street, E. Blazier, 248 Burnside Street, and A. D. Martini, 81 First Street; that at all times and now the defendants had and have information satisfactory to each of them that such houses and rooms were and are constantly used for gambling, but, in pursuance of their unlawful agreement, the chief of police, with the sanction and approval of his codefendants, pretends to subscribe and verify complaints against such persons, feigning [320]*320to charge them severally, in due form of law, with violating the ordinances relating to gambling, files the same in the municipal court, and, without any order therefrom fixing their bail, induces them to deposit sums of money, pretending that they are in lieu of bail,'and the municipal judge, in furtherance of such unlawful combination, professes to order such money forfeited and paid into the city treasury, the defendants intending that the persons so charged should not appear in court for trial, they consenting thereto, relying upon the defendants’ advice that they were not to be tried on such charges if twice each month they would deposit the sums agreed upon as simulated bail.

It is also further alleged that in pursuance of such conspiracy all persons conducting common gaming houses, including those hereinbefore named, have been charged by the chief of police twice each month with the offense of gambling, and in every instance they deposited a specified sum of money in lieu of bail, which has invariably been forfeited, the municipal judge refusing to proceed with their trials; that at intervals between the time of such deposits the defendants had, and now have, satisfactory information, and know that the persons so charged-are keeping gaming houses, but the defendants wilfully neglect and refuse to charge them therewith, or cause them to be arrested therefor, or to be brought to trial, and in doing so the defendants have not exercised any discretion, but act arbitrarily, and with intent to permit public gambling in violation of law; that the municipal judge, well knowing that the persons making such deposits are in the city, at their several gambling houses, engaged in playing prohibited games, wilfully neglects to issue bench warrants for their arrest, “ as required by law,” with intent that they shall continue to violate the city charter, municipal ordinance, and statute of the State, so as to derive [321]*321from them an illegal and corrupt revenue for the city; that the largest gambling house is known as the “ Portland Club,” at No. 130 Fifth Street, which is, and at all times mentioned herein has been, kept and conducted by Peter Grant, Jack Grant, Lawrence Sullivan, .Harvey Dale, and Nate Solomon; that in March, 1903, and thereafter at regular intervals, the chief of police has pretended to file in the municipal court verified complaints against one of .the persons last mentioned under the fictitious name of John Thomas, well knowing the true name of the person intended to be charged, who would thereupon deposit in that court, under pretense of bail, about $250, but on November 23, 1903, the sum left for that purpose was $300, which the judge pretended to forfeit — whereby gambling has continued in violation of law, and the persons engaged therein and pretended to be charged therewith and arrested therefor under the name of John Thomas have, in pursuance of such conspiracy, never appeared in the municipal court for trial; and that the relators have no plain, speedy, or adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law.

The four alternative writs are alike in every particular, except the thirty-seventh paragraph thereof, which relates to the respective commands enjoined upon the several defendants ; the one addressed to the mayor, omitting the choice of showing cause, being as follows:

“ Now, Therefore, you are commanded that immediately after the receipt of this writ, you forthwith direct Charles H. Hunt, as chief of police of said city, to enter, or cause a proper police officer to enter, the common gaming houses described in this writ, and particularly the premises at 130 Fifth Street, known as the ‘Portland Club,’ which is a common gaming and gambling house, and forthwith arrest or cause to be arrested the person or persons who may be found there violating the gambling law and ordinances, and particularly the person who has heretofore [322]*322been charged by the said chief of police in the municipal court of said city with violating the laws and ordinances of said city under the name of John Thomas, and the persons to wit, Peter Grant,. J^ck Grant, Lawrence Sullivan, Harvey Dale, and Nate Solomon, who are keeping and using said gambling house, and to seize all instruments of gaming that may be found therein, and bring the same into the municipal court, and to vigorously prosecute said persons therefor, and that you show cause,” etc.

The command addressed to the executive board is almost identical with that to the mayor, and that directed to the chief of police was to execute the orders of the mayor and of the executive board, as contained in the mandates to them. The municipal judge was required to perform the following service:

“Now, Therefore,you are commanded that immediately after the receipt of this writ you issue bench warrants for all persons charged with offenses against the ordinances of said city relating to gambling, whose bail has been forfeited by order of your court, and who have not appeared for trial in the several actions against them, and particularly for the persons charged under the name of John Thomas, charged in the months of May, June, July, August,. September, October, and particularly about November 30, 1903, and that you cause the said persons to be brought before you and proceed to the trial thereof.”

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Bluebook (online)
77 P. 965, 45 Or. 314, 1904 Ore. LEXIS 102, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-v-williams-or-1904.