The Sheriff and the Prosecutor Team Up Against Gambling
A rare cross-party alliance in King County aims to crack down on public gambling in Seattle, bypassing local police.
The story, cleaned up
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Seattle—If an agreement between Prosecuting Attorney Scott and Sheriff Cudihee is carried out, there will be no more public gambling in Seattle, regardless of the local police department's inaction. Mr. Scott has determined to move against the 'moss-covered traditions' of his office and take an active role in preventing lawbreaking. He has obtained assurance from Sheriff Cudihee that he will cooperate fully. Scott stated, 'I have instructed the sheriff to keep gambling closed... It matters not whether the law be broken in the heart of Seattle or in the backwoods of King County, the sheriff will arrest the lawbreakers, and I will prosecute them.' This alliance is notable as Scott is a Republican and Cudihee is a Democrat, potentially complicating municipal politics as the city nears election season.
“It matters not whether the law be broken in the heart of Seattle or in backwoods of King County, the sheriff will arrest the lawbreakers, and I will prosecute them.”
The tension between local police and county-level officials over the enforcement of 'vice' laws—specifically gambling—remains a persistent theme in urban governance. This 1903 political maneuver highlights how officials often used anti-corruption crusades to build power during election cycles.
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