The sun., 1895-05-27
LENITT IN M.iSSi ETTS.
Laws Against Pool Selling Strict, but They
Are Enforced Only In Certain Places.


BosroH, May e0.--The laws governing horse
racing. pool selling. bookmaking, and betting
In Massachusetts are so stringent that were
they to be enforced to the letter throughout the
State not only would racing be killed. but the
breeding industry would probably be killed.
These laws from time to time have been so
Rmenled us to leave no doubt as to their mean
ing. and the brondest interpretation gives no
oophole for escape. But they are not enforced;
neither are they obsolete.
Racing and betting seem to be governed
largely by local opinion of right and wrong.
Should sworn complaint be entered against
betting or pool selling Mt the race tracks. the
Mayor and the Board of Aldermen or the Sc
lectmen OF any city or town where such com.
piaint is entered would have to take some
ton. 1t is seldom that there is any trouble of
this kind. The interest in horse breeding and
horse racing has become so well established in
this State that the authorities and the people in
general are willing to put up with good deal.
One of the laws against horse racing still on
the statute books of this State prohibits all
running. trotting. or pacing for bets or wasers
of money. or for purse or stake, made within the
State, except the trials of speed for premiums
offered by legally constituted agricultural So
cieties. An infringement OF this law. were it
enforced, would mean year in jnil, or 1000
fine, or both. 1t was the resurrection of this
old law that killed racing at Springfield and
allowed the grass to grow on Hampden Park.
at Worcester the Law and Order League fur
nshed evidence for indictments, ard the track
The IS Of Fit TRere ha. bcon
no such trouble at the other tracks. and racing
goes on undisturbeh around Boston and IN Law
renee and Haverhll.
The lazy on pool selling and bookmaking is
Closed every VI pool room in the city % It reads:
Whoever Keeps building or room. or any
part of building or room. or occupies any place
purpose OF registering bets. or Of buying or SELL
ing pools. upon the result Of trial or contest OF
machine. or upon the result of game, competi-
ton. political nomination. or whoever is present
or employment; or being such keeper. occupant,
or person. present Us aforesaid, registers such
S % buys OF se ssnpp snf 9 !:
or being the owner, lessee, or occupant OF
abuilding or room. or part thereof. or private
keeps, exhibits, uses, or employs, or knowingly
employed, anv device or apparatus for register
Ing s such bets is or for buying or selling such
$4,000, or both. And whoever becomes tho
custodian or depositary for hire reward COM
saked Pr bet upon any such result
This law was so amended a few years ago as
70 allow search warrants for pool tickets or
other materials provided for In tho buying or
selling Of pools. Another bill with amendments
TO the foregoing law making everybody at a
horse race liable II pools were sold or bets made,
was offered in the Legislature this winter. but
the horsemen fought 1t so successfully that all
the objectionable features were eliminated. 1t
has not, however. become a law. and may not.
ltwould seem that the State was we'll enough
provided with laws on pool selling and racing;
Horse racing. however. has been governed by
common sense, excepting in the places men-
iloned. where agitation for moral reform has
mad strength enough to stop such contests.
Hetting at races in this State Is carried on to
considerable extent. and were 1t not for this
element at the races no trotting meeting could
be carried on successfully. The privilege to sell
race or the biz breeders' meeting il worth any
where from $4,000 to $4,000. Hundreds and
sometimes thousands OF dollars change hands
at good trottnR or pacing meeting.