The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-30
AFTER The TURF EXCHANGE
PTOpTietOTS Of the Exchange Indicted
in the City Court.

Gambling-An Unexpected Surprise
to the Patrons-A Rather Popular
Institution - DR.. Rawson Charged
With Illegal Practice Chasserow
~~.Found Guilty-Mery Green Wants to
Give Bail-Matters in the Superior
Court.
A mild sensation was sprung yesterday
after the meeting Of the grand jury of the
city court when il came out that William
]. O'Dell and Joseph Harris had been in
dicted on a charge Of keeping gambling
room.
The indictment it turned out, applies
TO what is known as the turf exchange,
where you pay your money and take your
choice and usually get left, unless you
know how TO pick the winner, which is a
science that not everybody is familiar
with.
The turf exchange is on the ground
floor of the Citizens bank building, and
was run there before that building was
purchased by the bank. The lease on the
room has not yet expired 1t has been in
operation now about six months, having
been established about the first of the
year.
WHERE MONEY CHANGES HANDS.
The indictment charges O'Dell and Har-
ris with running and operating gaming
house contrary TO the good order and dig
nifty of the state, and states il is place
where people go and play for money. The
room is called a certain game or device
for the hazarding OF money or other val
liable articles.
The witnesses who appeared before the
grand jury were three-One a man who
had played the races a the exchange and
the others telegraph operators who are
employed there. The witnesses did not
appear of their own accord, but We're
summoned by the states counsel, as the
bin was a special presentment by the
grand jury, there being no other prosecu-
tor than the state.
SAYS THE LAW IS APPLICABLE.
The special presentment was found I'M
der the laws Of 1888, page SO, which is an
amendment or substitute for the old
gambling law that confined games
of chance to cards. The law of
1885, however, is sweeping in its nature,
and covers any scheme, game or device
for the ha1arding of money or other valu-
able articles. The solicitor general stated
yesterday that he thought this law would
fiji the case and that his attention had
been called to the turf exchange, which
although run openly, was one of the
worst class of gambling places, there be-
ing little difference technically between
betting on horse and on the turn of a
card.
The fact that the exchange has been
taken up by the grand jury, and its pro
prletors indicted will be a surprise to
many who have frequented it, and who
believed there was no law in Georgia by
which it could be stopped
BROKEN UP IN AUGUSTA.
1t has been semi-public place. and
while many have visited il ia order to
play and take their chances on the run
ming Of horses many have also gone there
out of mere curiosity 10 watch the runs
and to see how it was conducted. The
turf exchange in Augusta was attacked
by the courts there in a similar manner a
Few weeks ago, and the result was, it was
put an end to, and the owners fined for
violating the gaming laws. The action
was taken under the same law under
which the operators of the exchange
here were indicted
Harris was arrested last night and gave
bond. O'Dell is at present out of the
city, but will doubtless return at once
when he learns the state of affairs 1t
remains to be seen whether the indict-
ment will have the effect of closing the
place up at once or whether the operators
VI bAb CAAAAdllSS W III Keep open dQQ test
the law under which they are indicted to
see If it can be made TO apply to them.
WANTS AN EARLY TRIAL.
Solicitor General Fraser says he will
endeaVor 10 bring the case TO trial at
once, or as soon as day can be obtained
Tor II. lie thinks case can be made out
by the state under the law mentioned,
and there will doubtless be a pretty bat
tie over the question between the attor-
ney for the state and those who appear
for the defendants
The turf exchange pays the city a Ii
cense of $500 year, and, it is SAID, the
question was carefully looked into and
passed on by the city authorities before
the license was granted
An indictment was also found against
Or. j. b. Rawson on charge of illegal
practice OF dentistry. The fact that such
charge had been preferred against DR.
Rawson was mentioned in the MORNING
NEWS some weeks ago. The witnesses in
the case are DR.. II. S. Colding and DR.
A. q. Bouton, who state that DR. Raw
son has been practicing dentistry without
a certificate or license to practice from a
board of dentistry duly authorized and
appointed by law TO grant such licenses.
The indictment dates the charge Aug. l.
Edward Solomon, who was pulled by
Detective hayanaugh about a week ago
on charge Of operating a gaming device,
was indicted for a misdemeanor. He
operated peculiarly constructed nickel
in-the-slot machine, which was described
and commented on at the time.
CHAssERow FOUND GUILTY.
The jury in the case of George Chas-
serow, who was tried day before yester-
day on charge Of keeping and operati
a gambling house remained out all night
without reaching any conclusion IL
seems that one single juror was resUonsi-
bic for the disagreement, he being OBJ
posed To finding an out-and-Out verdict of
guilty 1t seems, however, that an agree
ment was reached about $3.50 O'Clock YES
terday morning, and verdict of guilty.
with recommendation TO the extreme
mercy of the court, was the sulteJudce
MacDoneu will pass sentence on Chas-
serOw this morning
The grand jury of the city court will
meet again tomorrow afternoon to make
its general presentments and adjourn for
the term.
SAID HIS CHARACTER WAS DAMAGED.
On the civil side Of the city court the
case of l.. w. Beasley against James Dor
sey was tried. The suit was for damages
for false arrest. and damage to character
by the charge Of larceny after trust
which was preferred
Beasley IL seems was arrested in Nav
on warrant sworn out by Dorsey. the
grand master of the Grand United Order