The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-05
Is POOL SELLING LEGAL2
is IT DOING TIE MEN OF THE CITY
ANY GooD2
Scenes Which May Be Witnessed Any
Day in the Local Poolrooms, and the
Inevitable Result-Legislative Enact
men on the Business.

There are few cities in the country where
the poolrooms are permitted to flourish
and spread out which have not in the long
run deplored the unbridled license and
cried loudly for halt.
Memphis is passing through the Same
ordeal now, and the sentiment against the
enticing gaming establishments daily gains
scores of converts.
The same causes which brought about
tumultuous protests in other cities prevail
here. Young men and beardless boys
haunt the places daily, putting up money
on short horses, that never come in, as
long as it holds out. While everywhere
else business may appear dull as
in midsummer, the three poolrooms
in full blast here have about all
the patrons they can attend to. When
losses are sustained at gambling. il is hui
man nature to get even il possible. Men
become reckless, desperate, especially the
young, when their losses are complete.
Memphis now numbers among this class
OF its citizens hundreds, who cannot DO
designated as gamblers, victims OF alluring
temptations to risk money at heavy odds.
They loom up, in all their gloom and des-
peration, among the throngs one may find
in the poolrooms any day gazing at the
blackboards, relating how they would bet
If only they had the money; how thGye
won on some earlier day in the action, and
how they lost all later. AS one victim put
it, 81 had enough money laid aside when
these poolrooms opened TO take long
summer trip, and intended doing so; now
haven't got cent"
There can be but one sequel to these
lavish and continued contributions TO the
proprietors OF these gambling shops.
Pushed TO the wall by creditors, and in
sane from desire to retrieve their losses,
employers OF the victims will suffer, tho
police will DO called upon to do their duty,
a jury will convict the prisoners, Judge
sentence them, and that is the story.
There is little law bearing upon pool.
selling in the State OF Tennessee which the
sworn authorities might earnestly con-
slider.
In Acts OF the Legislature Of 1888, chap
ter 1888, IL is provided:
THAT il shall be unlawful for any per-
son 10 sell pools, or 10 make any betting
book or combination upon any race run,
irotted or paced in this State, or in any
other State OF the United States, un-
less the said pool-selling, book.making
or combination he conducted or made un.
der, and by the authority OF lawfully
chartered or incorporated blood horse or
turf association or trotting association, or
stock or agricultural fair association Of this
State, and then only in the county in
which said association or fair may be 10.
Gated.
THAT n violation OF this act be, and tho
same is hereby declared n misdcmeanor,
and, upon conviction, the person guilty
thereof shall fined not less than twenty
five dollars nor more than two hundred
and fifty dollars.
That any association operating under
the provisions OF this act, shall pay an
annual tax for said privilege to the State
OF one hundred dollars, and the counties
may collect such tax on the same, not TO
exceed the State tax, and II shall be a mis-
demeanor to sell pools to minors and
drunken men,"
In the Acts Of 1887, chapter l5s, 1t APP
pears
ut shall not hereafter be unlawful for
any person, company, association or cor
porations owning and keeping up bona
iide n race track or race course in
this State, 10 bet or wager by making
pools, combinations aud book bets on trol-
ting, pacing or running races, trottcd,
paced or run thereon, or any track or
course In the United States, made aud
kept for that purpose; nor shall II be un-
lawful 10 buy such pools, combinations
and book bets; provided, the same be
made and sold Ia the county where tho
race track or race course OF tho person
making the Same IL situated, and, pro-
yided further. that II shall not be lawful
TO make and sell said pools, combinations,
book bets to minors and drunken men,"
There Is no subsequent legislation on
the subject, despite an impression 60 tho
contrary. Tho impression Is based upon
nothing moro substantial In the legislative
enactments than mere provision In the
Revenue bill that persons, companies,
firms or corporations engaging In pool sell.
ing shall pay a stipulated tax. In 1851
this tax was fixed nj 500 per annum, and
in 1850 at 500. A singular Interpretation
Of these latter references 10 pool selling in
the Revenue bills repealed all the general
laws regulating the business, and that
every man and woman in the State nigh,
engigc in Il II they would put up the rc-
quircd tax. OF course the same line Of
reasoning could be applied 10 whisky SELL
ing and knock the iour.lnio and
any other law against Il out In
short order. The general laws ON
pool selling specify who may engage in