Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16
THEY WERE WARNED.
No Racing Took Place at Ivy City To-
day.
Projected Raid Frustrated - District
Attorney Birney Wants Instruc.
tiOns Carried Out.

and today'S races at the Ivy City track
were declared off for the day at least. Con-
sequently the curses of the regulars were
deep and loud when they reached the rail-
road and saw a card hung up to the effect
that the races were off for today.
Beyond the fiimsy and utterly false state
ment that the races had been declared of
because of the rain, no other explanation
was given out at the depot. The fact is,
however, that no Races were run today at
Ivy City because of the fact that District
Attorney Birney and the police force had
intended to arrest not only Engeman and
his associates, but also every bookmaker
and pool seller doing business at the track.
and as many Of their patrons as could be
run in. In some unexplained manner the
news Of the proposed raid got to the ears
of Engeman and his management, and,
fearing to go on today In view of the in
tention of the authorities, 1t was hastily
decided by the management that 1t would
not be healthy to run today and the gam
blers and horsemen were given the tip.
The races were declared off in a notice
posted at the B. and o. railroad station at
IL :25 a. m, and consequently no special
trains were run to the track.
When 1t became known that no races
would be run today the regulars took on
an exceedingly gloomy aspect. and bets
were freely offered that unless the authori-
ties relented It meant an end of the pro-
posed winter race meeting.
A Misunderstanding.
Inspector Hollinberger explained to a
Star reporter this afternoon that the police
force had at all times stood ready to fol-
low the instructions of District Attorney
Rirney, but stated that he did not under
stand that such a raid as was contemplate
ed for today was desired by the govern
ment. On the contrary. he had first learned
of such a purpose on the part of the dis
trict attorney at a consultation with him
and his assistant, Mr.. Mullowney;:
was discussed and decided upon. There was
row a perfect understanding between the
police force and Mr.. Birney, and the very
next day the races were started again the
raid would be made. and it would be made
to the entire satisfaction Of the government
Liquor Warrant.
When the race track was opened Thurs
day the bar was thrown wide open and the
holders Of tickets that did not contain the
names Of winners had no difficulty in get
ting liquor refreshments strong enough to
blot out their memory so far as the particu-
lar race was concerned, while the winners
celebrated their victory in the same way.
Although the liquor was sold in open viola
ton of law, the police of the ninth precinct
failed to arrest the owner or even a bar
tender. who, under the decision of the Po-
lice Court is liable for aiding and abetting
Yesterday there were no strong drinks Sold
and the spectators at the tracks had to con-
tent themselves with indulging in glass of
soda or other "soft' drink While this was
the case, at the bar there were plenty of
bottles on hand and many of those who
felt the effects of the damp weather gladly
accepted drink from the bottle of a friend.
Today the police went into the Police
gust Itkfns. The warrant charges the IL
legal sale of liquor on Thursday. Policemen
Stamler and Robert Potee swore to the war
rant which may, perhaps, be served in time
to have the case in court Monday.
An Offer Refused.
The race track people got wind Of the
contemplated raid by the police, and early
in the day Mr.. James Coleman, their coun-
sci, called on District Attorney Birney
and requested that no general raid Of the
POOL lawn be made. He said he was de-
sirous Of testing the right of the bookmak-
ers to do business, and to that end he said
he would bring in one of the bookmakers
and give the government the necessary
proof in order that they could take the
particular one into court and make a test
case of 1t.
But Mr.. Birney declined to accept the
offer. He assured counsel that 1t was his
desire and intention to break up the busi-
ness If possible, and that he would not re-
woke his instructions for general raid
to be made. If counsel brought in one
man, Mr.. Birney said, he would see that
he was prosecuted, and he would also see
that all others who conducted business
were arrested. After this declination the
management made a virtue of necessity
and called the races off.
1t will be remembered that, as reported in
The Star at the time District Attorney
Birney instructed the chief of police previ-
Gus to the Inauguration of the Ivy City
winter race meeting that the erection of a
betting ring within the infield, even though
outside of the mile limit, and the carrying
on of betting therein would be unlawful.
district
instructed and requested the chief of police
to enforce that construction OF the law by
the arrest of the offending bookmakers on
the very first day of the meeting, Thursday
last.
But, for some unexplained reason, the po-
lice authorities not only failed to carry out
the instructions of the chief law officer Of
the District on the opening day of the
meeting, but they also permitted betting to
be carried on yesterday without the slight
est moestation on their part. Unable to
understand the failure of the police to act
a. requested by him, District Attorney Bir-
ney yesterday sent for Inspector Hollinber-
ger of the detective corps, and explained to
that officer that the government was entire
ly in earnest in it's purpose to prevent, IL in
any way possible, the continuation of the
Ivy City winter meeting, and that it was
his the district attorney's) desire that
every bookmaker and poolseller, and, as ia :
as possible, every patron of theirs should
be arrested this afternoon Immediately af-
ter the first race. and the offending parties
taken at once into the city and locked up
until duly released on bail.
Meant Them All.
1t Is understood that the district attorney
was not only very emphatic in his instruc-
tions to Inspector Hollinberger yesterday.
but also expressed his surprise that his
previous instructions had not been followed.
Inspector Hollinberger. 1t is said, was in
formed that the Instructions did not mean
the arrest of only few Of the gamblers
and specializing public, but the arrest of
every bookmaker engaged in business. their
employees and as many of the spectators as
possible. And 1t is understood that the in
spector promised that he would see that the
district attorneys instructions were fully
carried out.
Under Two Laws.
To Star reporter District Attorney Bir-
ney stated this morning that he had in
structed his assistant before the Police
Court, Mr.. Mullowney, to prosecute the
offending parties. not only urder the law
prohibiting betting within one mile of the
city limits, but also under the act pro-
hibiting the setting up or keeping of any
gaming table or device within the District,
or the use of any premises for such pur-
poses. The act prohibiting the setting up
or keeping of any gaming table was to the
effect, the district attorney explained that
every person who shall set up or keep any
gaming table, any kiEd of gambling
table or device, shall, on conviction, be ad-