People v. Chase

The charge on which appellants were convicted is that in the city of Long Beach, they “wilfully and unlawfully, by invitation and/or device, did prevail upon persons to visit a place kept for the purpose of gambling, to-wit, the ‘Johanna Smith’, a ship anchored off the coast of the city of Long Beach”. This is alleged *778to be a violation of section 318 of the Penal Code, which reads in part as follows: “Whoever, through invitation or device, prevails upon any person to visit any room, building or other places kept for the purpose of gambling or prostitution, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Appellant…