Opinion
No. 8959
Submitted May 5, 1950.
Decided July 8, 1950.
1. Gaming — Effect of licensing slot machines on lawfullness of use. The statutes relating to licensing of slot machines do not authorize issuance of license to an individual. 2. Gaming — Lotteries — Words and Phrases — "Gambling devices" — "Lotteries". Slot machines are banned as "gambling devices" and as "lotteries".
Appeal from the District Court of Cascade County. J.W. Speer, Judge.
Messrs. Greenan and Manion, Great Falls, for appellant. Mr. Howard T. Manion and Mr. Philip G. Greenan, Great Falls, argued orally.
Mr. Arnold H. Olsen, Atty. Gen., Mr. Willis B. Jones, Mr. Philip O'Donnell, Mr. Harold L. Holt, Asst. Attys. Gen., Mr. Robert J. Nelson, County Atty., Great Falls, for respondent. Mr. Nelson argued orally.
Mr. Thomas R. Marron, County Atty., Glasgow, Mr. Nat. A. Allen, County Atty., Ryegate, Mr. Bert W. Kronmiller, County Atty., Hardin, amici curiae.
Appeal by Harvey M. Read from a judgment of conviction, entered in the district court of Cascade county, Hon. J.W. Speer, district judge, presiding, for the crime of unlawfully setting up lotteries.
On and prior to May 19, 1949, Harvey M. Read, individually, [1] ran and conducted a tavern located south of the city limits of Great Falls, in Cascade county, Montana. In his tavern Read set up for operation three coin-operated slot machines. No state license had been issued for any of the machines nor do the provisions of Chapter 142 of the Session Laws of 1945, nor those of any other statute or Act authorize the issuance of any slot machine license to the defendant Read or to any other individual.
Slot machines are banned by the laws of this state as gambling [2] devices. R.C.M. 1947, sections 94-2401 and 94-2404. They are also banned as lotteries as the trial court correctly held. R.C.M. 1947, sections 94-3001, 94-3003 and 94-3011; State v. Marck, 124 Mont. 178, 220 P.2d 1017.
The facts and the law sustain the trial court's conclusions and judgment.
Accordingly the judgment is affirmed and remittitur ordered to issue forthwith.
MR. JUSTICE FREEBOURN dissented as in State v. Marck, 124 Mont. 178, 220 P.2d 1017.