New-York tribune., 1891-05-22
POOLROOM EXCITEMENT.
SIX TELEGRAPH OPERATORS ARRESTED AT
GRAVESEND.
THE GATES CLOSED AND PEOPLE UNABLE TO
LEAVE THE TRAcK-A REMARKABLE
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.

THE GATES CLOSED AND PEOPLE UNABLE TO
LEAVE THE TRAcK-A REMARKABLE
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.
@Abe7 Hummeps declaration that they had vio-
lated the law by bidding their odds fell like
bombsheIl among the commission men. and they
were wild with CONSERVATION. Their position is
becoming desperate. Yesterday they all but collapsed
under the storm Of hot shot pourned in them from
all Sides Philip Dwyer succeeded is preventing any
poolroom agents from leaving the track during the
afternoon. Just before the first the gates
closed. and, although anyone might get in TO the
track on payment Of the admission fee, it was not
possible for anyone 20 leave IL before the fifth race
had been run. Pnkerton detectives were stationed
all over the grounds, and ii reported IN New
York that everybody suspected Of being a poolroom
agent was stopped at the gate and searched As a
result Of this policy no information Of any kind
received from the track until after the fifth race when
the poolroom were able 10 leave the grounds
with the crowd which always rushes to get the first
train before the last race is
All through the afternoon the descriptions OF ench
promptly given from the cupola of Steights
Hotel: bat no betting. running something's or time
records appeared the blackboard The official
placing and timing Of the first reached New York
just one hour and a half after Tula Blackburn had
passed the post, and her hackers accordingly
compelled TO wait for that money. The condi-
tions prevailed all through the afternoon up TO the
last race.
Tie main attraction of the poorooms hitherto has
been that hackers OF horses could know just what
occurred at the track without paying the railway
fare and admission fee to the track. Now the
Of information Is entirely cut of. The public quickly
grew tired Of waiting FOR nothing and the pOorooms
were almost empty.
Justice GaiDtOr is making matters unpleasantly
for the poolroom cashiers WHO brought be-
fore him. O'Bren Adams and William RYAN, when
brought before him for the third tine yesterday. found
their bail increased TO $1,000. John Morgan. Daniel
King and Robert c. Ryan had 70 find 81 900 bail
Il VIII increase the bail for each offence said Jus
tee Taintor. Then. 10 add to the agony the supply
of bondsmen suddenly ran out Patrick Cunningham
and Charles Crawford, who have already given bail in
half dozen cases were rejected, and the poolroom
men were compelled 10 scurry all town IN search
Of bail. Finally Alfred Adams who owns a fve-story
brick building at Eighth-ave. and Forty -frstst.
accepted for all the prisoners.
If Dwyer beats me- III beat him. said Peter
De Lacy again yesterday dent want the parsons
or temperance cranks 10 help me this time. 1 can
take the Ives Pool act into court and smash It,
Charles Anderson, of 40. 90 Park Row. and John
O'Brine, Of No. - Park Row, booksellers. who were
arrested several days ago were indicted by the Grand
Jury yesterday. There two charges against Ander
son and one against O'Brne. They viii plead to-day.
The closing Of the racetrack gates remarkable
evidence Of weakness on the part Of the Jockey club,
which, by an action absurd. foolish, fruitless,.
Is liable 10 get into serious trouble. so preposterous
thing was never before heard Of Think Of any as
soc alton of men deliberately shutting within
closure 1000 6.000 persons and refusing egress TO
any unprovided with pass from the proper
official A woman with a sick babe In her arms, anx
to 60 her home stood at the gate and cried be
cause they would not let her out OF course it was
mistake 10 let her In No has any business TAX
ing a baby 10 ycerack She ought 10 have more sense
than do such thing, but she viii be 50 idotc the
best thing the jockey club do Is 70 let her go home
at the earliest possible moment Mr.. Dwyer and
his agents cannot be excused for keeping THIS par
tcuar woman shut up. Her situation however
was not more hopeless than the situations Of other
people, both men and women, who wanted 10 leave
the grounds before the fifth race.
Little permanent good accomplished by this
extraordinary proceeding. The pOoroom men were
embarras ssed, il IS true, but only temporarily Ae
the gates TO be closed every day Are the patrons Of
the track going 10 submit to this cooping mp No.
Mr. Dwyer had better ask himself If he is not making
a mistake if he is not going too far in his war on
the poorooms Every legitimate and proper means
should be used to close these city dens but 70 over
step the bounds Of prudence Will surely hurt racing
more seriously than the president of the Brooklyn
Jockey Club imagnes. Able lawyers pronounce the
Ives Pool law unconstitutional and Mr.. Dwyer is pro
ceeding in way 10 have the question put 10 the test
Has he asked himself if he can afford 10 do thsl
The closing of the gates drove the telegraph
operators who furnish information 70 the poolrooms
10 adopt all sorts Of methods Of sending news out Of the
grounds their colleagues IN the cupOla Of Seight
Hotel. The favorite and accepted way the hard
Dau system. \ lot Of hollow wooden balls that I'M
screw at their eQuatOrs such used In the big
dry goods for sending cash TO the Oce were pro
vided and IN them fuu Information about each race
was packed Then the ball were tossed over the high
board fence score Of operators were on the watch
as that is crime against the state and an arrest for
such pastime might be Of doubtful merit but BOD
PinkertOn saws and Bob knOws-that one Of the
neFs-laden 5alls, being tossed over the fence
did land fairly and squarely the head
Of an inOnensive citizen OF the State, and
IL was says BobS-and Bob knows-t was
on the Omyisnt Of the said inOfensve citizen that
the ball tOssers arrested. The names OF four
0f them are Cosgrove. NILS, Schramm and Harden
They were taken 10 Coney Island and released on the
ground that there no case against them The
brothers McAster also operators. were elected rom
the grounds. AL the men who got into trouble are
empioyes Of the Western Union Company 1t is
aid that the company mad about IL and viii send
to the track today 100 necessary, as 1t intends
10 have the news