The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-07
Mayor Reilly, of Hammond. and Other
Officials Petition the Jury to Return No
Indictments Against the Pr0prietors.
SCENES AT THE RESORT
FabricatiOns Sent Out About
Gambling in the Old Arena.
Robyites Expected TO Bunco the Gov
ernOr in Offering TO Tear Down the
Structure Used for the Fight.

Eastern metropolitan papers alleged de-
scriptions of the gambling at Roby, In
which the place has been characterized
as the Monte Carlo Of this country These
articles, in a large measure, are lies. pure
and simple, for they purport TO describe
a gambling casino in the old arena OF the
Columbian Athletic Club, used for prize
fights till the Governor had his army and
Gatling gun encamped before the doors
of the big barn-like structure The race
track. however, remains as an evidence that
the State Of Indiana is being dsgraced by
open and notorious violation of the law
but the writers of fabrications for Eastern
papers knew that the glamour of a winter
race track was not sufficient TO make SAL
able newspaper articles, so they resorted
te imagination and invented a Monte Carlo.
1t is curious taste many newspaper read
ers have for stories that tell Of great vim
nings Of huge gambling hells.
The appearance Of the old arena itself
contradicts these stories. II is wholly url-
fitted for gambling room by virtue Of
its construction, while he would be hard
ened gamester, indeed, who would brave
the pneumonia-breedlng atmosphere OF this
barn, with its dank interior of rough lum-
Der, when he could remain in Chicago.
where all the gambling houses are running
at full blast. 1t was stated that the gam
blers of Chicago, driven from that city,
had reftted the arena and made it pala-
ttal. This statement is made ridiculous
by visit to the place.
Roby's great prominence was due to the
prize fights which Dominick @ Malley gave
under the auspices of his Columbian Ath-
letic Club, and which continued till the
Governor was finally reused to action by
the press of the State. O'Malley believed
that the proximity Of the place TO Chicago
and the indifference OF the people OF Indi-
ana to the conduct of a Chicago suburb,
would furnish immunity from legal interfer-
ence. Roby is really a part of Chicago,
there being no border OF demarcation in
the form Of open country, as houses line
the roads leading to the race track and
the arena from the city of Chicago SOUTH
ward. In fact Roby is at One-hundred-and.
sixth street. The resort is reached from
the city by two railroads and by the ele-
waited roads connection with a suburban
electric line. By the elevated and electric
route 1t costs but 10 cents to make the
Journey of eighty minutes necessary to
reach the place The railroad schedule
is much better, and during the hours Of
the races the fare is reduced.
Between the tracks OF the two railroads
stands the arena, tall octagon box, con-
tanning many thousand feet OF lumber,
slapped on a framework without thought
OF beauty, architecture or decoration. IL
is very unsighty affair. Ths ground on
which IT is built is soggy and wet a large
part or the year, and from the railroad
tracks elevated platforms lead to the en-
frances. The interior is a cheerless place,
indeed, and might be abandoned TO the bats
II there were any bats II the neighborhood.
watchman is employed to stay about
the place at night TO prevent any attempts
at firing the building The fighting plat
fpa
and surrounding this are tiers of seats oc-
cupying the remainder of the arena These
tiers rise TO the roof. Underneath the seats
are narrow passages for entrance and exit
and for dressing rooms. Paper and paint
has been spared, and at the present time
the dirt and dust of several months has
settled everywhere. There have been no
| lights in the building since the last fight,
| the electric lights having been discontinued
| Immediately after that mill. There is not
an open space OF the interior where two
dozen men could have comfortably gath
cred TO indulge In q game or TO have
rtsked their mon money at gambling table
| possibility. Excepting the race-track am-
| phitheater and the betting ring underneath
there is building where gambling could
| have been extensively carried one, unless
| 1t might h ave been IL the Roby Hotel, an
| unpretentious two-story affair. with
| room In II large enough to have accommo-
| dated a crowd.
Tne, Jockeys, and trainers at the track
| board at this hotel which is kept by Prof.
| James Robinson, the trainer during the
palmy days of the arena. Robinson came
to Roby with OMalley from New Orleans.
| He formerly owned the pugilistic training
| quarters al Bay St. Louis Miss, and is 4
| man high in Roby sporting circles He says.
| and offers all sorts OF evidence that there
| has not been card played in the arena,
or a game of chance run. Further, be
claims that the story of Costelos return
| to Chicago from Canada is a myth. al
though he insists that the Athletic Club
| will spare no efforts TO have Costello
| was sentenced to a term in the penitentiarY
some months ago. O'Malley is now IN New
| his case is called for trial. Robinson mas
| hung uD on the walls or his DarrOom the
gloves used @ In It the pr prize fights in the arena
on Aug. IA, when Creedon was one or the
MIsERLY OFFER.
The delegation of men interested I'm Roby
told the Governor last week that IL he
would not interfere with the race track
they would tear down the arena and allow
no more prize fighting at Roby. This would
| be very small concession on their part,
and aside from the Governors good inten-
tions in suppressing the evils at the resort,
| IL is not surprising that he turned deaf
ear to their offer. The arena is practically
worthless, even more so than some Of the old
worlds fair buildings. The Roby people
would not dare 10 have another fight there.
| and the arena cannot be used for other
| purposes. II is worth just the value Of
SO much old lumber. The Lake county DELI
|
| they could have offered the State OF Indi-
100000 year for the privilege of keep
/ ing the race track open, and at this could
have amassed few millions in few years.
! From the tenor OF the race-track peoples
talk at Roby they badly scared lest
/ Governor Matthews take immediate action
to close the track, which is becoming even
more profitable with the approach OF spring
weather. There viii yet be two months be-
fore the legitimate racing season on CHI
cago tracks opens and two months Of rae
ing at Roby represents many thousands OF
dollars. both TO the track pToprietors and
to the bookmakers. A summer season OF
racing might also prove profitable. for the
track could be so improved and sufficient
purses offered as 10 attract a good class
OF horses I'm the proper season. The law
of Indiana, however, allows no pool selling
on race tracks. winter or summer. although
in some instances the law is not enforced.
where the selling OF pools has not become
the evil IL has at Roby.
The Chicago men who started the track
were shrewd enough TO take several Lake
county men in with them on the venture.
so as TO counteract as far possible any
attempt to head off the association Then
a large number OF men were employed as
constabes and special police. preference be-
ing given TO residents OF Lake county. The
dependency OF these men upon the magnates