Charleston Had It All (((( The Series ))) |
Charleston Had it All #35 Bingo Trials Postponed Mildred Reeves Burnett The August 31 hearing date for the Bingo trials was postponed to Sept 3. Attorneys succeeded in obtaining a postponement. September 3, 1936 Charleston Democrat Editorial—Think It Through In a lengthy editorial by Lex May, reasons were given why the prosecuting attorney Haw had not closed down gambling and bingo before The Watermelon Festival, being he was spending his time and attention, day and night, on “weightier matters of the law”…. It was felt by the Charleston Democrat that “The Enterprise Courier and Charleston Times had greatly erred in judgment of public opinion here”….1 Art Wallhausen newly associated with The Enterprise Courier had really blasted Jimmie “Bingo” Haw with the power of the press for making the Bingo arrests of the eleven Jr. Jaycees. “Do We Want Two More Years of Jimmie ‘Bingo’ Haw?” 2 Charleston Democrat’s words fired back—like spears. Sept 3. 1936 Charleston Democrat spouted, FORTUNATE CHARLESTON—“When Mr. Art Wallhausen came to Charleston to associate himself with the Enterprise- Courier and Charleston Times …We met him and found him a bright, affable and likeable young man.” “But not until last week, when his paper came out… were our eyes opened to what a genius he is…. We knew that since he had lived in large cities like Sikeston and Poplar Bluff he was likely to find this small town rather restricted in its homely views and narrow conception of religion, law observance, and law enforcement. But not until last week did this place (Charleston Democrat) learn what a true cosmopolitan he is. How these ‘moral yearnings of a rural community’ such as Charleston, must irk the very soul of this genuine Bohemian…. Be patient with our backwoods ways, Mr. Wallhausen….3 Two editors fought like Danforth “Tosi” Joslyn’s and John Marable’s fighting cocks sparring in a pit. Charleston Democrat words clawed like sharp talons…. “ We want you to know that we appreciate what a big task you have before you and what a burden you have undertaken in your attempt to divide the Democratic Party in Mississippi County or to defeat one of its candidates because, when brazenly challenged, he did not show the white feather and permit the law to be openly flaunted.” 4 Art Walhaussen’s words strutted right off the pages of The Enterprise Courier showing unruffled feathers to the town…. and the people read…and they anxiously read—curiously read what was being said….Oh! Oh! Oh! Ooooooo… It was like a melodrama—a war fought right here midst our little law-abiding country town. Newspapers tangling…bullets, cannons blast….Eyeballs burned from those hot words cast! Editor Art never fired at Charleston Democrat directly. He took their barbed accusations, but September 10, 1936 he said, “Co’mon Folks Let’s All Play Bingo! This a new game. It’s free to any reader or critic of the Enterprise- Courier. Sit down and write a short letter ….Why do you play? Do you think it’s wrong….Address your letter to the Bingo Editor, Enterprise Courier, Charleston. Burn up the editor if you wish. But get in the game….Aha! The winnah will get a genuine imported Brazilian Stove poker—and maybe a $ bill, for the best letter. It’s a brand new Bingo game.” 5 Charleston Democrat backed Jimmie Haw, tooth and nail, through the whole episode, and his following the law to the nth degree. It has been wondered why Heini Hequembourg wasn’t in that line-up of arrests. There was plenty of opportunity for more to have been arrested, since there were 32 Jr. Jaycees and volunteers managing the Bingo game—bingo cards, number buttons, prizes—at one time or another. Even Attorney Marshall Craig, president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, stood in the Bingo stand part of the times after it re-opened. September 3, 1936 The Enterprise Courier— Eleven members of Junior Chamber of Commerce must face trial in Justice court next Monday on charges of operating a gambling devise, unless a compromise settlement is reached. Conviction carries with it a maximum punishment of two years in the state penitentiary. A compromise settlement was not reached. Haw tentatively agreed to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor provided the young men plead guilty. However, the men refused. They would accept nothing other than outright dismissal of the charges or a Circuit Court decision. 6 September 4, 1936 C. L Blanton—“To the women bridge players of Charleston: Jimmie Bingo Haw’ll get you if you don’t watch out.” 7 September 10, 1936 The Now Famous “Charleston Bingo” trial will be heard tomorrow by Morgan Tatum, Justice of the Peace of Deventer, Missouri. The eleven defendants in the Bingo Suits demanded changes of venue. They didn’t feel they’d get a fair shake in Tyawappity Township where the arrests occurred. New appearance bonds were immediately signed, and the cases were sent to the Deventer, Missouri Justice of the Peace for hearing at 10 o’clock Friday morning. However, the Friday hearing was postponed, until September 17 at Deventer. 8 1 info Charleston Democrat Editorial—Think It Through-Sept.3, 1936 Page 2 To Be Continued |