The criminal court case earned the name the “bank night” case in the newspapers of the day, even if the charges had nothing to do with any banks or financial institutions.

The State Theater in Jamestown was accused of conducting a bank night which was against North Dakota’s lottery laws back in 1913.

Bank nights were common theater promotions back in that era. A drawing would be held and cash prizes awarded, hence the name bank night.

The Stutsman County state’s attorney interpreted this as an illegal lottery. Roy Metcalfe, State Theater manager, was arrested, tried and convicted on the lottery charge. Judge R.G. McFarland sentenced Metcalfe to 90 days in jail and a fine of $250.

The conviction was appealed by Metcalfe’s attorney to the North Dakota Supreme Court. North Dakota Gov. William Langer also filed papers in support of Metcalfe with the court, which ultimately denied the appeal.

About a week after the appeal was denied, Judge McFarland suspended the jail sentence and any remaining fines ending the case.

Long and short of the case, yes, it was illegal to hold a bank night at a theater in North Dakota in 1913, but the crime wasn’t worth locking the perpetrator away for three months.

Lotteries and raffles continued to be illegal in North Dakota for another six decades. The first change to those laws came in 1975 with an amendment to the North Dakota Constitution allowing some forms of charitable gaming and raffles.

Since then, other forms of gambling have been legalized in the state with full casinos limited to Native American reservations.

No word on whether any movie theaters are planning on resurrecting bank night.

Author Keith Norman can be reached at

www.KeithNormanBooks.com

The Iowa State football program added a new pass-catcher to its ranks Friday.

Former North Dakota State wide receiver Eli Green announced his commitment to the Cyclones on Twitter. Green has played in 27 games at the FCS level with a powerhouse Bison program. During those games, he hauled in 51 receptions for 969 yards and four scores. He can also be a rushing threat, having run 14 times in his career for 128 yards, good for 9.1 yards per carry.

The vast majority of his production came as a sophomore, catching 45 passes for 877 yards and three scores. He led the Bison with 1,197 all-purpose yards, including 118 on the ground and another 202 as a kick returner.

Green will join a Cyclones wide receiver unit led by seniors Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. That duo combined for 119 receptions for 1,803 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The Cyclones’ offense also boasts talented young running back Abu Sama III and quarterback Rocco Becht looking to improve on an impressive freshman campaign.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFYR) – The North Dakota Council on the Arts is launching Arts Across the Prairie. It’s a first-of-its-kind, statewide, public art program showcasing the cultural heritage of eight regions.

The council hopes to break ground on the Grand Forks installation later this summer.

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