Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-19
ILLEGAL FOOL TABLES.
Fined Under the Gambling Laws
Caustic Remarks OF Judge Miller.

This afternoon in the Police Court Henry
Young. colored. was placed on trial charged
with violating the gambling Law. il being al
legged that he permitted gaming in premises
under his controls pool-room and eating
house at No. 81 49, street northwest The
gambling charged is alleged 10 have been in
connection with games of pool played on the
tables. Mr.. James E. Psdgett appeared fof
the defendant and plead not guilty.
SEVEN coLoRED BoYs
testified that they played pool in the defend
ants place. The loser would pay for the game.
The winner would receive checks from the pro-
prietor which would entitle him 20 cents
worth OF anything IN the house, such as ginger
beer, tonic beer, cider, and especially pie and
The defendant admitted the facts as sworn to
by the witnesses, and Mr.. Padgett claimed that
he was entitled TO acquittal because he had
been conducting this business surprising IL was
lawful. IL the court holds that he is guilty OF
having violated the law he is willing 20 stop.
What he did is the universal practice in all the
pool rooms in the city.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Here arises a very important question:
said Judge Miller. "Going outside of the law.
there is no more nefarious thing than this bust.
ness. Here are a number of bows who are
kept from work and are permitted TO 20 there
and play for these checks. They represent
something, so that the BOYS PLAYED for the re-
suit of the game. The very act Of giving some
thing at the end of the game is an inducement
held out to them to play. Pool and billiard
tables are not gaming tables within the mean
ing OF the law; but when betting or playing
i , wager Is permitted the game assumes
different aspect"
Mr.. Padgett argued that the tables in aues-
uon were gaming tables under the law They
were licensed tables, and were. therefore rec
| ognlzed by the law as legal tables. and under
the license the defendant had a right 10 do ex-
actly what he was doing. He cited an authority
In support of his position.
THE JUDGE, COMMENTING on THE CASE.
said that where such inducements are held out
it has the effect of gathering idlers. who be-
come fascinated with the same and will rob
their parents at night to get money enough to
play with their companions. The judge spoke
| OF the demoralzng effects Of such games He
said that boy will go in such place just after
dinner TO play pool. He is not hungry and
wants nothing to eat, but he will drink and
smoke and probably become sick.
Can't eat pie" remarked Mr.. Padgett.
''No," continued the Judge.
That has not been my experience said
Mr.. Padgett.
Mr.. Padgett said that if the court held the
| defendant guilty he did not think that the case
was one that called for a heavy fine, as il was
the hrst case OF the kind ever brought to the
| courts attention.
| SENTENCE SUSPENDED.
Judge Miller said he was under the impress
sion that If any inducement outside the price
of the game was held out to get these people
| there 1t was violation of the law. A fine of
S25 was imposed and the court suspended exc
| cution of sentence.