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Show CLOSE UP THE JOINT. If there is any reason why tho Diamond Dia-mond saloon should not bo closed up, those in charge ought to show cause. This joint is on First South, near West Temple, and was tho scene of one of tho most bare-faced hold-ups on last Thursday evening that was ever perpetrated per-petrated in tliis or any other city. James Rice, of Stevens Point, Wis., was enticed into this place by two strangers who induced him to shako dice. Explaining that It was just for fun, tho trio began shaking, when finally, one of the men asked nice how much money ho had on him. Rice foolishly produced his roll, amounting to ?400, in threo $100 bills, one $50, one ?20 and a ?10. Immediately Immedi-ately the money was produced It was snatched by one fellow, who passed it to his confederate and tho two made a quick get away. When Rico started to run after them ho was stopped by another thief, who claimed to lie the proprietor of the place and who ac cused him of gambling, at tho samo time grabbing him around the waist, thus giving his pals a good chance 10 escape. After they had a good start ho let go and disappeared through tho back door. Rice lost no time in reporting re-porting the matter to the police. One Wilkinson, a bartender, was standing in front of tho bar during the time the play was made. According to reports ho made no effort to stop the men and permitted the affair to go. For this reason and this alone wo urge that this dump bo closed. Men who will permit Innocent strangers being robbed In tho raw, cold blooded manner man-ner this man was robbed, should be driven out of business and out of the town. There is justification enough to warrant the chief of police going down and closing tho shop without further notice No excuse offers for Its continuing con-tinuing longer. Rico may have been wrong In going to a saloon, but there is no statute against it and ho was entitled en-titled to protection when he was inside in-side at tho hands of those in charge. It is tho sort of work that' militates against Salt Lake City. An affair, such as tills ono will give this city a bad name everywhere. Travelers and newspapers will circulnte tho report that tho town is filled with thugs and that no protection for tho unwary exists. ex-ists. The police department cannot afford to have such a condition of nf-falrs nf-falrs and the way to check it isj every time a man Is robbed In a saloon, to close it. Tho decent whiskey sellers would not' permit any such affair and tho divo keepers ought not he allowed to. Close this joint up, revoke its license li-cense and never again grant ono for tho samo nlacc. Truth regrets tills incident becauso of tho consequences Hint will follow and becauso tho man lost his money. Becauso this city is not an abode of thugs and hold-ups; becauso It Is not a city of dives. Wo get this class occasionally, occa-sionally, for they will drift in hero, but as a rule Salt Lako is a good place to llvo in. Protection to life and property prop-erty aro as good hero as in any city of Its size in the world. But this reputation reputa-tion will not long continue, If such things as this aro allowed to pass unchallenged. un-challenged. Wo regret to say that wo can seo nothing in tho conduct of this bartender barten-der to justify us in tho belief that ho ,1s entirely innocent In tho mattor. Plenty of men have been convicted of being accessories on less evidence than is shown In this instance. Hut no matter whether tho bartender barten-der was in witli (lie play or not, tho management of the house has shown Its unfitness to conduct a place and should pay the penally by being closed up. Protection to tho stranger in the city and to our own demands that no plnco liko this should bo permitted to continue in business for a minute longer.. |
