The Wheeling Daily Register

Something that Interests More Than One.

Mr. William S. Hutchins, formerly a produce commission merchant in Centre Wheeling, was yesterday arraigned before Justice Johnston on a charge of holding a lottery or raffle, for the disposal of two watches and a horse, the affair taking place some time in July last. The gentleman asserts that before entering into the speculation he took counsel of several individuals, and was informed that the like was a very common occurrence in our city, and that it was no violation of law. And it was also asserted—with perfect truth—that the same lottery business had been carried on by different churches at festivals which had been held within a few weeks past, and no complaint had been raised against it.

Mr. Hutchins plead guilty to the charge that had been preferred against him. The Justice was compelled to hold him to bail for his appearance at Court, which he did in the sum of six hundred dollars. The cause of the complaint made arises from the fact that said Hutchins drew one watch and the horse, which gave the impression to the complainants that the drawing had not been honestly conducted. But nothing went to show that any chicanery had been practiced.

For the enlightenment of our readers we append the statute relating to lotteries, hoping that all will read it:

"If a free person shall set up or promote, or be concerned in managing a lottery or raffle, for money or other thing of value, or knowingly permit such lottery in any house under his control, or knowingly permit money or other property to be raffled for in such house, or to be won therein, by throwing or using dice, or by any other game of chance, or knowingly permit the sale in such house of any chance or ticket in, or share of a ticket in a lottery, or any writing certificate, bill, token or other device purporting or intended to guarantee or assure to any person, or entitle him to a prize or share of or interest in a prize to be drawn in a lottery or shall, for himself or another person, by sell or transfer, or have in his possession for the purpose of sale, or with intent to exchange, negotiate or transfer, or shall aid in selling, exchanging, negotiating or transferring a chance or ticket in or share of a ticket in a lottery or any such writing, certificate, bill token or device, he shall be confined in jail not more than one year, and fined not exceeding five hundred dollars."

It will be observed that, by this law, any person buying a lottery ticket, or any person selling the same, is liable to prosecution, fine and imprisonment. We commend the above statute to the prayerful consideration of people holding festivals, for whatever purpose, under the sun or over it.

We have ever thought, and think it now pertinent to remark, that the lottery or chance plan entered into by church festivals for the purpose of raising money, is wrong in itself, unchristian, and has a very bad influence upon the community. If the church has a right to enter into this business, an outside individual certainly is entitled to the same privilege. And if a church is allowed to indulge in the matter, an individual is surely justified in the same undertaking. If one is punished, the other should be punished also.