New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-29
IORF GA4uBLEES SCARED.
lHEl APPEAL TO THE CHANCERY COURT
FOR PROTECTION.
FKAID THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF
EAIoNToWN WOULD REVOKE THE MON
MOUTH PARK uCENsE-TRYING To
BEAT THE TOWN OUT OF
THE IIcEScr
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRInrNEI

t"' iELf"RAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Eatontown. " j., July 2S-Thc turfmcn who
have been running the Monmouth Park racctrack
INTO the ground have become frightened for fear
the township authorities can no longer be held
under their thumbs, and have appealed to the
courts for protection. They evidently feared that
the Township Committee of Ea,ontown would be
goaded into activity by the tide of public opinion
which has been setting against this high -handed
set OF gamblers recently, they took the intia-
tive before the committee had an opportunity Of
doing anything. On the eve OF meeting at
which, it is believed, the Township Committee
would have revoked the license of the Monmouth
track, writ OF certiorari was served on the mem
bers, which will take the whole case before the
courts.
This action was the outcome of the fight be-
tween the Township Committee and the race
track officials, which has been going on ever
since the license granted in February The
law which made racing and booimakng legal in
New-Jersey provided that license must he Sc
curcd from the Township Committee, Board Of
Aldermen any body having general supcrv sion
ever a municipal division. The law also declared
that conducting racetrack without such license
would be illegal. As was told in The Tribune last
Saturday, the Monmouth people lost no time in
securing the license from the Eatontown Com
McFaddcn. r. F. Hopper and George Gibbs When
the license was first granted fee attached
10 it, 1t was understood, however, so one of
the members of the committee granting the license
declared. that the fee was TO be fixed later, and
it was intimated that the association was to pay
u percentage of its receipts to the township for
the privileges which il received. At a later meet
ng the committee fined the license fee at $1,000.
Notice was given TO the Monmouth officials Of
this action The association begged OF on the
ground that President WalcOtt was in Europe
and the treasury was empty. The Law and
Order League also procured writs of certiorar
about this time to review the action OF the
committee in granting the license. The Mon
mouth people demurred again after this action
was takcn and finally, July l was the date
set for paying the fee. When this time arrived
the Township Committee was completely ignored
hy the new officials who took control of the
association. Demands made first by the
town clerk, then by constables, and finally by
tlc members Of the Township Committee in
person. To this last demand President Wal
colt still dcmurred, for the purpose of allowing
the matter to be placed before the association :
wmnsel \ final answer promised early
tnis week That answer came and to the
effect that the association refused 10 pay the
fee The reason given that, i'll view OF
the certiorari proceedings pending, il would b.
contempt TO pay the amount at present.
This naturally angered the Township COM
mittee beyond measure. Mcssrs. McFaddcn, lipp-
per and Gibbs had ALREADY begun 10 feel tho
pressure of public opinion. They had been eN-
,remely lenient with the racetrack people, ana
feared that if they delayed taking decided action
any longer they would be charged with having
entered into a corrupt bargain with the a'socIa-
ton They believed, also, ~ Mr.. Mel adden to''
The Tribune correspondent Tonight after the meet
inr that they had acted i'll good faith with the
4; etrack people, and they had been treated with
.lnything except fairness by the turfmcn. HE
members Of the Township Committee believed
that they would he acting under the PLAIN letter
and spirt of the law if they revoked the lccns"
and no doubt il would have been rcscndcd To-
,inht hut for the countcracton Of the assocl-
zion.
The Monmouth people got wind Of the intended
action, and they secured writ of certorari from
thc Court of Chan.cry to review the action Of the
committee in imposing the license fee. Ihis VIII
lrno the whole matter before the courts al an
early date, when the question will be determined
whether or not these gamblers can hoodwlnk an
,ntire township and secure NaluaOlc Ilcciis'
without paying a cent for H.
The committee will take legal steps on MS own
socpunt also What their nature Will BE- has not
vot been disclosed James Steen, oi EatOnt0wn,
who is the committees counsel admitted to-nl2ht
that some legal steps would he taken al once a.
id the members Of the committee. hut lust Wha'
their nature will be- Mr.. StCcn ana tn' cohnii'tN-
men refused to say. II l. expected thdt an III
junction will be- applied for TO stop racing a.
Monmouth entirely unless the license fee Is pal'
RrNORED SHIPMENT or ARMS TO H1UAIL