New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-14
POOL SELLERS sWINDLED.
TELEGRAPH WIRES TANfPERED WITH.
TAPPING THE LINE TO JEROME PARK-THE Asso'

IAPPlNG The LINE TO JEROME PAhh-lhh Ao9O-
GATED PRESS VICTIM,
The last day of the fall meeting of the American
Jockey Club, which closes the racing sea-
son in this part of the country, was
marked by the successful accomplishment OF an
extensive swindling of the pool sellers. The wire
of the Western Union Telegraph Company when
alone has line to jerome Park, was tapped ana
false dispatches substituted for the genuine ones
The fraud was not discovered until the return
to the city of persons who had witnessed
the racing. Long before that the pool
settlers all over the country had paid the tickets
On what they supposed were the winning horses
The amount of these losses has not been ascertaned
but at the Office Of the Associated Press 1t was es
timated last night that it would not fall snort
of S75. 900. and might largely exceed that sum-
From dispatches that had already been received II
was learned that the booksellers at Boston, Fhla-
delphia and Pttsburg had been large sufferers from
the fraud II is probable that at Chicago, LOUIS
vile and st. Louis, where the betting is heavier
the losses must have been serious.
The Associated Press itself was victim OF the
swindle for its report of the second race
was false. The result of the first race hau
bean correctly stated and from this fact 1t IS pre-
sumed that the persons who tapped
the wire either had not completed their
connection or dreaded detection by beginning their
work too soon. In the second race Ecat was an
nOunCpd as the winner, while the BHtOmarte COZ,
the actual winner. was placed third From ll!s
time to the end of the races there was stcauy Su0
cesIOn of false dispatches. .,. .,,.o
The tapDlng OF telegraph wires for the purpose
of svindliug the booksellers has been attempted
frequently but never before with the success which
crowned yesterdays effort. 1t was tried thl5 year
ON small scale between Monmouth Park ana
PHILADELPHIA but without success some
what elaborate attempt to detraud the poor rooms
| at Hunters Point made last year. Dut
wa, detected accidentally iust as 1t was being car
ricd into successful operation. An employe OF inc
Mutual Union Telegraph Company confessed COM
pCity IN the scheme, -, ,r
| last night either By the Western, DhIoh
| Telegraph Company or by the Associated fles',
winch had men engaged IN the search, where the
| line had been tapped or who were the hnlhOIs oI
| the swudle. IL was considered doubtful whether
| the criminals would be- detected because OF INC
lateness of the hour when ~ was learned thd' .,i
| wire had been tempered with. Ii was only known
| that somewhere between the raCe-cOuISe anu
| the telegraph companys general offices the wire
had been tapped. The criminals hdi hah ahpio
| time to conceal all traces OF lhcF WORN a.
the telegraph office last night little was
known about the matter, because the swindIe had
! heen perpetratcd before the night force went TO
said that ne had learned of the fact only RON some
| ~ mo day 0perators who had not left tine
| room when he arrived. Al the Office of the
Associated Press II was sad that no discovery
of the fglseues, Of the dispatches had been maze
until after the return of the racing reporter from
| the track. II was said also lhdl lHs' dISPli'h
from bradford Penn. IN regard 10 the flowing OF an
| Tie well II was aiterWaEd learned h-d not D'Ruh
IN do NJ al