New-York tribune., 1876-11-25
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
rv,,s of THE PooL-RooMs.

il.
,,,xnVn pR.rns IN THE BETTING UPON BILLIARD
CONTESTS - INFLUENCE UPON YOUNG MEN -
wrruDpAWING MONEY BET on THE ELECTION.
The nublicity which surrounds the selling of
noos az auction mas made that form OF gambling most
effective medium through which to exercise an lnnence
ON elections aud Offers the opportunity Tor Hauus III
many WAYS It is alleged that during the past week
those managing the billiard tournament have avahed
themselves Of these advantages in the most successful
and marked way The tournament Is advertised 10 DC
fair contestof skin between number OF nne players
but persons claiming 10 have authority Tor the STATE
uents assert that the whole affair was arrahgeu po
hand and that the winner was long ago deciueu'' s
tenan who is acquainted with some OF the snoo.n n"
questionable ways Of the billiard players said yesterday
that the Centennial tournament played at Phadeipma
was admitted 10 have swinde from hrst 10 last
We know nothing directly against the FAIRNESS OF 'he
present match but the probabilities were not IN laVor Oh
honesty. The rumor was circulated that bad
feelings existed between two or three OF the
plavers. and that statement may have been made
N assist I'm the fraud The record of billiard tourna
ments for fairness was very bad They were gotten up
by manufacturers to advertise the billiard tables IL
was expected that the admission fees would pay ex-
penses and the prizes to the players The game OF oil
lizards was so much Of chance that 1t was easy 10 de
tern1e beforehand how the games should result Inc
same precision which could make difficult shot could
make the ball counting that the spectators
would have no proof of prearranged result Iheh the
players could take the money coming to them IN tne
shane of prizes and place it In the pools as 10 WIN
large amount to be divided with the prize money, be-
tween them.
II sueh is the case then all the betting progressing in
tho poorooms Just now to the issues of the tourna
ent is most unfair While 1t is to be regretted that any
one should be cheated in such barefaced manner YET
the men who frequent these places must look out Tor
themselves II any one win take the trouble to watch
the crowd Of beters who paronize the more quiet ana
ipeonspcuous French pools, saddeninS sights may be
witnessed and realization may be gained OF the
subtle and dangerous influences OF these ganDihS
places. Many boys and very young men who have not
the confidence to buy conspcuousy in the auction pools
invest many dollars in this quiet way Among the crowd
that seem charmed TO listen TO the click OF the
wheel and to watch for the appearance of the num-
Der in the bueyes boys only 16 or IL years Od are
numerous Some OF them we'll dressed hut more are
shabby and look pnched with want They all display an
eagerness which shows that they understand perfectly
well the mode of betting, and have more than specta
tors interest Such sight could have been seen yestei
dav noon in the pool cellar at No. Barcay-st. The
betting there was all billiards. In some establish
ens the price of tickets has been placed at 81 or even
at 81 Three dollars is the usual price These reduc-
tons have attracted and intended to attract persons
ofsmal means. The temptation toincrease small income
by lucky chance is thus placed in the way in the most
irresistible manner At No 10 West Twentyeghthst is
one Of these cheap places crowded yesterday by
number of remarkably young men from the Lower Lower
classes of society The absence OF Oldef sporting
tiers was very noticeable The eagerness and interest
that sat the old young faces were painful IN the eA
treme AT one pOOrOoul~ notice is posted that boys
are not admitted The crowd there is perhaps some
what older, but still very young element pfeuOm-
mates In fact at all the gambling resorts the same
features are prominent the only difference being that ~
the more fashionable the Detters are more las
ionahy dressed 1t would seem that the eVll must soon
attract the attention of the proper authorities -,
Considerable money bet ON the general result OF tne
Presidential election withdrawn at Morrlsse poor
rooms yesterday, both sides consentlng ana MoIlssy
retaining his commission. large number OF persons
have handed in the numbers of their tickets TO show
their willingness to have the money drawn Many VINO
have purchased tickets the success OF hayes are VIII
ing to abide the result There is not much pOoaby OF
bels being paid before the meeting OF the Electoral Co
lege Morrsseys pOOrOOms are being transformed INTO
bliard-rOoms for the Winter. >, -,
drawn. Johnson received a black eye in his own poor
rooms Wednesday afternoon, but not as some
thTongh any 0uarrei growing of the betting. man
who wear ago mad been prosecuted for making an as
saut on ohnsOns brother entered the rooms under inc
influence of LIQUOR and struck johnson without warning