Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-28
RAIDING THE TRACK.
The Police Capture a Number of
Racing Touts at Benning.
JUDGE KIMBALL'S OBSERVATIONS.
No Gutenberg Congregations to
Be Allowed Here.
WEDDING OUT SUSPECTS.

Inspector Hollnberger, chief of detec-
tives, anticipates more stealing here this
winter than usual. He has given his men
instTuctions to arrest all suspicious per-
sons and known thieves who are found
lettering about the streets, saloons and
places where crooks are generally found.
The worlds fair attracted many promi-
nent thieves from all sections of the world,
and now they spreading themselves
over the country. The police think many
OF the crooks will come this way and en-
deavor to reach here during the session OF
Congress In all sections of the country
thieves have been operating extensively
since the close of the fair. Philadelphia
seems to have suffered more than most
| other cities, and the police there are max
ing every effort to keep the facts from the
public.
The police in this city were satisfied that
| there would be a great amount of stealing
| here this winter, and when it was announc-
ed that winter racing would be permitted
here they Immediately thought that an in
| crease of the force would have to follow.
| The force is smaller than that of any other
| city of the same size IN the United States,
| and with the increased number of crooks,
suspicious persons and touts. who would
naturally be attracted here. the officers
feared they would have more work than
they could properly look after
When The Star called attention to the
matter few days ago, Inspector Holm
| berger took the cue and wrote a letter to
Maj. Moore, plainly setting forth the diti-
culues which would follow the holding of
the races for the benefit of the pool men
and gamblers generally. Maj. Moore's let
ter to the Commissioners, which was print
ed in yesterdays Star, followed the in
spector's recommendation. At the same
time the department concluded to begin
| operations at the race track, and either
| lock up or drive from the city persons
| found on the track who were known to
have no good reason for being there, in
Guiding the "touts" and small gamblers.
Most of these persons do not belong here,
but make business of following the races.
1t is known that every race track rob-
berries are committed, the principal things
taken being diamond pins pocket books
and tickets on the races. Then, too, there
is often trouble resulting from the dis
| honesty of the "touts and hangers on.
The matter Of raiding the track was dis
cussed and Inspector Hollinberger con-
| cluded to make the first raid yesterday.
The raid came off, but only a small haul
was made. because the persons who were
to have been arrested had been given no.
| ttce of the intention of the officers through
a premature publication. Many of those
| OF the undesirable kind were seen in the
vicinity of the track. but they were afraid
to venture inside, and 80 they were not
caught. inspector Hollinberser went to
| the track, where he met Detectives Royd
Weedon, Lacy and officer Horne. and the
work of wedding out the alleged suspicious
persons was begun Before the winner OF
| the last event had been announced eight
arrests had been made
| In the Police Court.
Seven of the prisoners were taken to the
| Police Court this morning and tried as sus-
pcious persons. There were three white
men, whose names were given as William
F. Stewart, Edward Clark and Henry Lane.
The colored men gave their names as Tom
Jones, Edward King, William Jones and
Charles Stewart.
| Lawyer Moss appeared as counsel for the
men, and entered a plea of not guilty for
| them. Detectives Horne, Lacy and Weedon
| testified as to the arrest of the men, ex-
| planning that they were known as touts,
having no other means of livelihood The
men admitted that they touted, and that
| they made it practice upon the New York
and New Jersey tracks. Stewart stated
| that he had come here from the Jersey
tracks with the purpose of remaining here
| throughout the winter racing season. He
also explained that he gave but one horse
to win in a race, he being enabled, from
| his acquaintance with the bookmakers, TO
know what horse would win. King was de-
tected in the act of selling a pair of opera
| glasses for 81, but denied it,
| why, your honor" exclaimed Mr. Moss
| there is nothing wrong in trying to sell a
| pair of glasses for 81. L once bought pair
| for 80 cents
| Well" remarked Judge Kimball Il
would like to know who stole them"
| Upon the conclusion of the mems state
| ment Lawyer Moss argued that they had
| done nothing wrong. Race tracks have
| been run here for years"
| Yes" interrupted Judge Kimball, land
| they have been a curse to the District And
| they bring here class of persons who are
not desired here. We don't want any Gut
| tenberg or Gloucester congregations here"
But, your honor contended Mr.. Moss
| "as long as the law sanctions racing here
| touts will come here and pursue their bus
| mess"
Yes, and as long as they are brought be-
| fore me L will deal with them according to
| law, remarked the court. Not one of
| these men Is a decent member of society.
Not one of them earns an honest penny
They add nothing to the welfare or good of
| this or any other community. And the
sooner they and others of their character
realize that they cannot come here and
carry on their disgraceful and unlawful
work the better it will be for them. The
police did perfectly right in bringing these
men before the court. and / shall do every
thing In my power to assist them in ridding
the community of them. These two white
men, VIM. f. Stewart and Edw b. Clark
are the worst of the lot, and they will have
to give real estate bonds of $500 each or go
down for ninety days. Thomas Jones, sixty
days In default of bonds. VIM. Jones, Chas
stewart and Henry Lane, thirty days each in
default. Edw. King l will release on the
condition that he leaves town before sun
down, and Thomas Jones will pay a fine of
S2O on the charge of profanity or sixty days
additional"
None of the men were able to give the
required bonds, and they were accordingly
sent down to the workhouse
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