State v. Boland

41 N.W.2d 727, 241 Iowa 770, 1950 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 440
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMarch 7, 1950
Docket47497
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 41 N.W.2d 727 (State v. Boland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Boland, 41 N.W.2d 727, 241 Iowa 770, 1950 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 440 (iowa 1950).

Opinion

OLIVER, J.

Officers of the Sioux City police department saw defendant carrying a suitcase and asked him what it contained. He said that was his affair and also that he was carrying it because the heat was on. He was taken to the police station where the suitcase and a fishing, tackle box belonging to him were opened. Among their contents were seventy-two decks of assorted playing cards, some of which were marked; ninety-two pairs of dice, some loaded, some in the process of being loaded and some called “tops and bottoms”; a miniature slot machine; *772 several miniature dice cages; various tools, implements and materials for loading dice and marking cards; and a mechanical device known as a “card snatcher.”

Thereafter he was indicted, tried to a jury, convicted and sentenced for the crime of illegal possession of gambling devices in violation of section 726.5, Code of Iowa, 1946, which provides :

“Possession of gambling devices prohibited. No one shall, in any manner or for any purpose whatever, except under proceeding to destroy the same, have, keep, or hold in possession or control any roulette wheel, klondyke table, poker table, punch-board, faro, or keno layouts or any other machines used for gambling, or any slot machine or device with an element of chance attending such operation.”

A witness testified, and the backs of some of the packs of cards show, “a little mark which is almost .invisible * * * which enables an expert in that to know what card the other player is holding.” The witness testified also that dice are loaded by drilling out the spots and placing gold, platinum, mercury or quicksilver in the holes, sealing them shut and repainting the spots. Some of the dice were “dice known in the gambling trade as ‘tops and bottoms’.” The numbers on one of each pair of these dice were “6’s and 4’s” only. On the other dice the numbers were “5’s and 2’s” only “thus enabling the player to make ‘passes’ or his point without the danger of ‘sevening out’ or losing his bet.”

“The card snatcher is a device which is strapped on both arms and runs around the neck and under the coat of a card player. The player using this device can pull or snatch a cai’d by use of wire and strings, also under his coat sleeve. This is manipulated by strings and wires located in the opposite arm * * *. If it is desired to use a card attached to the snatcher and under the sleeve of the coat, movement of the body and arm on the opposite side can drop the card from the sleeve to the hand unbeknownst to opponents.”

The witness testified marked cards and loaded dice are not ordinarily used for nongambling games. Defendant testified, “I * * # was manufacturing these marked cards and *773 loaded dice for sale. * * * I have made sales of marked cards and loaded dice to certain people, but I do not care to disclose their names.”

I. Contending none of the articles in question was a gambling device per se, defendant assigns as error the refusal of the district court to direct a verdict in his favor on that ground. In State v. Rand, 238 Iowa. 250, 260, 25 N.W.2d 800, 170 A. L. R. 289, defendant was convicted of keeping a gambling house contrary to the statute, now section 726:1, Code of Iowa, 1946. That statute contains the language “play at cards, dice,” etc. The decision states customary gambling devices were found in operation and that the legislature recognized cards and dice as gambling devices.

Although the statute here in question does not list cards and dice as gambling devices and the record does not show their actual use as such, the case should be considered in the light of the legislative recognition that cards and dice are commonly used as gambling devices. State v. Rand, 238 Iowa 250, 260, 25 N.W.2d 800, 170 A. L. R. 289; Parker-Gordon Importing Co. v. Benakis, 213 Iowa 136, 343, 238 N.W. 611; State v. Doe, 227 Iowa 1215, 1222, 290 N.W. 518. That is not to say cards and dice are regarded as gambling devices under all circumstances. State v. Cowen, 231 Iowa 1117, 1128, 3 N.W.2d 176. Generally speaking, they may be used for lawful purposes.

A gambling device is any instrument adapted and designed to play any game of chance for money or other thing of value. City of St. Paul v. Stovall, 225 Minn. 309, 30 N.W.2d 638; City of Wichita v. Stevens, 167 Kan. 408, 207 P.2d 386, 390. Marked cards and loaded and rigged dice are designed and devised for the purpose of gambling. There was testimony they are not ordinarily used for nongambling games. One who sells articles designed for gambling only is deemed to know they are to be used for gambling. J. M. Brunswick & Balke Co. v. Valleau, 50 Iowa 120, 122, 32 Am. Rep. 119. As stated in 38 C. J. S., Gaming, section 78, page 133, “* * * the test is not whether the devices are capable of being used purely for amusement or nongambling purposes, but whether their reasonably intended use is for gambling.” In People v. Lippert, 304 Mich. 685, 8 N.W.2d 880, a manufacturer of punchboards was *774 found guilty of having on bis premises apparatus used for gambling. The decision states the record shows the punchboards were intended only to be used for gambling purposes and had no other practical use, and although other uses might be conceived the only sensible conclusion must be that they were for gambling use only, and were gambling devices per se.

Defendant contends dice and playing cards are not within the statutory language “any other machines used for gambling, or any slot machine or device with an element of chance attending such operation.” Section 726.5, Code of 1946. His counsel argues this refers to an element of chance in the operation of the device itself, such as a slot machine, and does not apply when it is necessary for one to enter into an agreement or have an understanding with a second person in order to gamble with the equipment.

The word device refers to the tangible thing with which a game of chance is played as distinguished from the game itself. 24 Am. Jur., Gaming and Prize Contests, section 31, page 420. We have already pointed out that cards and dice are commonly used in gambling. When so used they are gambling devices. 24 Am. Jur., Gaming and Prize Contests, section 36, page 424; White v. State, 37 Ind. App. 95, 76 N.E. 554; State v. Rand, 238 Iowa 250, 25 N.W.2d 800, 170 A. L. R. 289.

Counsel’s argument assumes that one who plays a slot machine gambles with the machine. We are unable to agree with this premise. The player gambles, not with the "machine, but with its owner or operator. The latter holds out what amounts to an offer to gamble with anyone who places a proper coin in the machine. The deposit of the coin may be said to be an acceptance of the offer. Hence, there is in effect an agreement or understanding between the parties to gamble by means of the slot machine.

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Bluebook (online)
41 N.W.2d 727, 241 Iowa 770, 1950 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 440, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-boland-iowa-1950.