New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-23
RACE-TWo-YEAR-OLD
SEVEN FURLONGS
First race at . 80 p. III.
THE POoLROOMS LANGUISHING.
A FREE FIELD AND THE CORPORATION COUNSEL
! TOO MUCH FOR THEM.

/
| The poolroom keepers their last legs. Cor
poration Counsel Clark's letter TO the Police Com
rnissioners, with its clear and forcble exposition of
the laws affecting pool selling and its practical sug
gestions for the proper, immediate and eectual en-
forcemcnt of those laws, has fallen upon them with
| the force of thundercap. Up TO Saturday, flushed
with their partial victory the Monmouth Park
executive and rejoicing in the prospective restoration
of the Geographic communication with the racecourse
and with il the return Of their customary gains they
snored defiance at the powers arrayed against them
Now between the sudden and overwhelming and
almost complete disappearance Of their clientele under
the seductive influence of the Westcheser free field,
and the imminent probability of final and crushing
onslaught from legal authority, the city pool men are
in a state of utter demonstration and despair.
One had only to look at their down
cast faces yesterday, they noted the
depleted numbers of their patrons, and listen 10
the voley of aAjectival basphemy that issued from
their lips whenever the words DiSulct-Attorney,
Judge Fish, or Morris" were mentioned N their
hearing 10 comprehend the effect which the double
visitation IS exercising their minds Yet,in reply
to all inquiries the subject they smiled a slchS
smile and outwaldy, at least, maintained Their al
titude of blasphemcus defiance
Let the police and the - race-racKs 90 thelr
best and their worst" said OF the most hotoilouS
of these fellows yesterday. "They can't prove that
we are anything but commission agents. we say that
receive bets az agents, ufaW our Copiii9'io" Va
9 cents and in all cases transmit money TO the track
and we keep no books"
How do you propose to provo this Cah you
point 10 a man in this room from whom you nave
ever taken cent of commission? And assuming that
you keep 10 records Of your bets how are you aoie
10 nut check on your agents at the track ana paiafce
your accounts ?" asked The TrIE1lne reporter.
at does not matter how We can prove 1t we snail
prove what we say If cal ell upon do As TO pute
y.
honesty What do you Think" he continued, WIN
a grin We have half dozen agents at the uach.
If Won want TO know their names wait TIL We arc
pulled I'D before the courts ., , ..
You viii not deny fact that Is wen h h" ~
every racing man in the country, namely, Una. !pn
change your prices with but little rcference 10 Ihe
track betting and lay odds right up TO the inonol.
of the start How, then, j. IL possible lOr SOu I"
transmit instructions 20 yOnr agents =! - A.
No coherent reply given 70 This query, Dus
for me next few moments the air was reoOleht Vi
sulphur. ...o.s ,,,aro
Xii through the day double guards of watchers were
placed outside the poolroom doors IN holIIy eA-
pect alton Of raid. At any signs OF an hdIm mo
bettors sclirned away like rails into hOle Ieturn
ing with equal swiftnesS directly the danger was TO
moved. . -, a..
Acting superintendent Dyrnes said yesterday that
the letter OF Corporation Counsel ClarF regarding he
evidence needed 10 convict booksellers IN the cry
had not been referred 10 him by the Police Board and
he would not express any opinion on the sublect;
only request" he said, that the police VIII con
tnue Try TO enforce the law against pooseling III