| Show NOT PARALLEL CASES FROM the ogden standard of may 28 we learn that judge hen derson debreon lately made some strong remarks in favor of the enforcement of thelah the law against gambling the keeper of a gambling house was convicted and when brought up for sentence his honor said the statute is a very plain one and strict in its terms it declares it unlawful to keep a place of gambling I 1 have no doubt but that what mr smith says is true as regards your character but you must appreciate our situation and that of the people it makes no diff difference arence whether you and I 1 practice gambling every day together the statute cannot be overruled you are well aware tb that at the laws are strictly enforced in cases of unlawful cohabitation and adultery these unlawful praet practices ices are rigidly enforced against a people many of whom are sincere in their convictions yet the government insists that they must be discontinued it la Is useless to strike at one c crime r me and totally ignore another I 1 should feel it a reproach and a disgrace to daily sentence these people for crimes u under uder the edmunds law and permit gambling to run penly openly without any restraint you are a man of intelligence and I 1 shall allow you to pronounce sentence on yourself the government wants citizens not prisoners now discontinue running 1 I a gambling house bouse that is all I 1 ask riia it t is all that the government asks all you will have to do then is to pay the costs I 1 will postpone sentence for a few days and allow you to think over the matter and de termine what sentence you will pass pam on yourself uniformity in the execution of the laws is conceded to be necessary to command respect for the laws judge heddemon Hend Hen demon ereon is entitled to credit for his action in this matter the chief object of the penalties imposed p ased for the offense of gambling is to suppress the crime and reform the criminal if the offender ceases his wrongdoing wrong doing the purpose of the law is accomplished accomplish eit whether the principle is sound that no penalty should be inflicted when the culprit agrees to reform is open however to considerable debate and there is a wide difference between the promise required of a gambler to cease his practises practices and of a defendant convicted of the offense known as unlawful cohabitation under the edmunds act the latter as it has been construed by the courts comprehends some things that in many a ny d defendants e f on dan to find it a almost imo 8 t impossible with a due regard for honor manhood and the obligations of family to agree to and this without any disposition to rebel or defy the laws or er to be disrespectful to the coart at first sight there might seem to be a parallel between the cases but on close examination it will be found that they widely diverge we hope the laws against the vices that have lately been permitted to flourish unchecked in ogden will be enforced with something approaching the vigor which has been exercised in other cases and that judge henderson will continue to pursue his consistent course in relation to them |
