The members of local card clubs, who are in the habit of playing for prizes will be interested in the following dispatch from Princeton stating that the prosecuting attorny of Mercer County has issued warrants for 32 prominent men and women of that county for playing cards for prizes. The dispatch says: "Thirty-Two of the most prominent society persons of Princeton have been arrested on information filed by Prosecuting Attorney Ben F Kesterson of Mercer county as the result of playing cards for prizes.

"The information is under section 2212 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which prohibits playing "at any game for money, property or gain with cards, with dice or any other device.'' Kesterson has been raiding gambling houses in Princeton and it is said that the gamblers complained to him against the society card parties. All the arrested will stand trial, and the first case is set for Feb. 7. It is declared by those arrested that if they are convicted they will cause proceedings to be instituted against their recent hosts for keeping gambling houses and religious leaders for playing dominoes for prizes.

"Similar action has repeatedly been urged upon grand juries by circuit judges in various parts of this State, but this is the first opportunity to determine whether society card playing for prizes is unlawful. The maximum punishment under the statute is a fine of $200. In this connection, however, some persons under age were concerned. This makes it possible to prescribe a penalty upon the others of not over siz months in the county jail."

Feb 8th following.. It determined that the playing of cards for prizes was not unlawful.

Chillicothe Constitution 5 Feb 1907

KANSAS CITY LAWYER IS DISBARRED IN MISSOURI

Ben F Kesterson, Kansas City lawyeer, today was disbarred from the practice of law in Missouri, in a court order made by Judge Thomas B. Buckner of the circuit court. The specific charge against Kesterson was the unprofessional handling of a prison pardon case for Mrs. Minnie Wilson of Kansas City, who testified she gave Kesterson $400 to obtain a pardon for her husband, Louis Wilson, who was serving a 5 year sentence in the state penitentiary.

Disbarment proceedings were filed against Kesterson by the Kansas City Bar Association March 14, this year. He had been indicted for teh offense, tried and convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. Later he was granted a new trial and the case is still pending.

Mrs. Wilson testified today that Kesterson represented himself to her as a close friend of Governor Hyde and told her the Governor would do almost anything for him he asked. The pardon for her husband was not obtained, she testified, and her $400 fee was not returned. Neither Kesterson nor an attorney for him appeared today to present a defense.

CHILLICOTHE CONSTITUTION 4 Nov 1924