Charleston Had It All (((( The Series ))) |
Charleston Had It All #33 Bingo Arrests Dampens Watermelon Fest Slot machines and all other gambling devices where any prizes were given in money or merchandise were outlawed August 20, 1936 and were to be disposed by August 24. After that date all such machines will be confiscated and persons handled accordingly to law. This was August 26. Sheriff J. O. King and Prosecuting Attorney James Haw were determined to clean up the county from all the wicked gambling going on. Haw began right there at the Watermelon Festival. It was likened to a today’s drug bust, except Haw was after some of the cream of Charleston: Charleston’s future “mover and shakers”, who originated the Watermelon Festival. Haw said; if they want me to get rid of gambling, might as well start right here. Well, that rubbed noses raw and it ‘bout shocked me out of my shoes when I discovered such wild old news—it nearly jumped off the page— of that tattered and aged Enterprise Courier of 1936. I was innocently reading about the very first Watermelon Festival, of which I knew nothing, when “Jimmie ‘Bingo’ Haw” took center stage. Why, I recognized all but one of those named, and James Haw I remember as a quiet gentleman, a lawyer of good repute. What a tale to tell and I’ll tell it the best I can. We’ll skim through. So, come along. “Jimmie ‘Bingo’ Haw” didn’t help any civic clubs with the Watermelon Festival the ranting went. He didn’t lift one finger, nor did he contribute one red cent! Haw was accused of using his power as Prosecuting Attorney to arrest “eight desperate criminals”, who he said were guilty of operating a Bingo stand. If Haw ran for office today, he’d be lucky to get twelve votes—his own, a few from his family, and stooges. Editor –The Enterprise Courier – Art L. Wallhausen’s ranting raved on. James Haw, the so called “Jimmie ‘Bingo’ Haw”, was accused of winking at the law just recently when a church group sponsored a picnic at which Bingo was played before the primary. And there had been other Bingo games played around. The Junior Chamber of Commerce, who planned the festival affair, had hoped to defray expenses with profits from Bingo. According to what I’ve learned Jim Haw had told Marshall Craig, president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, that he would make no effort to stop the Bingo game himself. He left an impression that he would prosecute if anyone signed complaints, however. Ivan Thompson, deputy sheriff, with his “trusty .44 and blackjack” arrested eleven unarmed men in two separate sweeps of Haw’s “one- man dragnet”. They were attorney Tom Brown, Republican candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, Ed Coon, insurance agent, attorney W. Clifton Banta, Wyman Beasley, engineer, Dee Rolwing, Simpson Oil Co. employee, C. I. “Peachy” Lutz, sign company owner, Gordon Barks, druggist, E. D. Burnett accountant, Lex May, Ellis Howlett, circuit clerk of the county, and James Atteberry, salesman at Winchester Chevrolet. The humiliated and embarrassed men were marched like common criminals before Justices of the peace Charles Kirkpatrick and Owen Cook, who fixed bonds at $300 each. Hearing was set down for August 31. The bonds were signed by the defendants and Marshall Craig, Frank Ashby, Harry J. Johnson, Milburn Arbough, E. A. Story, and Harley S. Estes. Back at the closed Bingo stand crowds of people milled around reading a red-lettered placard which stated, “This Stand Closed by Order of Jim Haw, candidate for Prosecuting Attorney. Twelve Junior Chamber of Commerce members arrested.” An other view of the story goes is that the young Jaycees were told, ahead of time, that the Bingo game was illegal under the statute handed down. The deadline time for running gambling devices was not extended, which they had sought. However, in face of that fact, they opened the stand anyhow. * The Watermelon Festival carried on. After Mayor E. E. Oliver’s welcoming speech at eight o’clock, in front of the court house, he announced Jean Frazier queen of the festival, and placed the official crown upon her head. Miss Frazier also received a handsome loving cup and a bouquet. The lovely maids of honor, Jessie Burke, Stella Grace Smith, Emma Lee Carson, and Mary Virginia Fassett were presented gifts—tokens of their beauty. Miss. Frazier, the queen, formerly opened the street dance on the front side of the court house. Eight to twelve hundred persons danced, until about one a. m. beneath a canvas of multi- colored lights. Those dancing kicked up their heels and glided on corn meal that had been strewn and thrown, like feeding chickens, on the entire block, readying for the dance. The remaining crowds at the Watermelon Festival began to dwindle. Everyone picked up his/her stuff and cars, trucks, mules pulling wagons, bands and floats disappeared. Trains loaded passengers and at 12 o’clock, clattered, whistled, and belched billowy black smoke back to Poplar Bluff. … and to Memphis. The First Annual Watermelon Festival came to a close. * Charleston Democrat, Aug. 27, 1936 “Put Yourself In their Places” Lex May editorial.
To Be Continued |