The Washington times., 1895-02-08
Detective Garter Arrested a Gay
Young Man from Brooklyn.
t"t ttt irHtrT7
RACE TRACK PACE TOO FAST
He Won $500 at sheepshead Bay, Wooed and
Also>Won the Girl of His Heart, and Then
They Came Eere-Alexander, Island
Started the Gambling Fever Again, Then
He Went Broke and Couldn't Pay Bills.

Detective Carter brought in as prisoner
to police headquarters last evening hand
some man, twenty-three years of age, of
splendid physique, fully six feet high, gentle
manly in appearance. and clad in the most
fashionable garments. He was arrested in
the lobby of the National Hotel upon COM
plant Of the proprietor. and was to have Lcen
held under the yagrancy act as "hotel
beat
The prisoner was taken into Inspector
Hollinberger's query box aud related to that
official the story OF his recent experiences.
His name is Willis L. Downing, and he had
but recently given up lucrative and respon-
sible position as bookkeeper and cashier for
prominent lumber firm in Brooklyn. n Y.
During last summer Downing was induced
by his fast companions TO frequent the
races at Sheepshead Bay. He let heavily on
the events and was lucky, winning several
big stakes.
sNATCHED FROM THE PICKLE GODDESS.
Ofthe amounts thus snatched from the
flckle goddess OF chance, the young man laid
away $500 for the purpose OF marrying one
OF the bellies of Brooklyn, the daughter OF
wealthy parents, who was smitten by Down
ings iine form, handsome face. and gentle
manly manners. Just one month ago the
wedding occurred. II was swell affair and
the happy pair started, presumably. On
Southern honeymoon tour. But the young
man had been seized with the gambling fever
| and the pretty young W fe commenced TO
realize that she had a Formidable rival III the
tickle goddess who had wooed and won her
husband at the Sheepshead race track.
Instead OF going South he stopl ed in this
city, eng ged swell suite at the National
II tel and informed his wife OF his previous
good luck at betting on the ra es in New
Jersey.
She consented that he should go to the
Alexander Island track aud try TO make more
heavy winnings with the residue of his 90.
BE did so. and bet large amounts. but Dame
Fortune had forsaken him and within three
days he had bet his last dollar without a
winning ana found himself destitute aud
pennlless in Il strange city.
When he informed his young wife of the
I true situation she swooHed away so Down
ing informed Inspector Holm erger. and
/ aiterward spent many hours in tears. In the
meantime his hotel b Il was mounting MP
4 higher and higher but the hotel authorities
never suspected the real state OF affairs.
/ THES HE TOOK TO DRTyE.,
] In his desperation Downing ordered up to
! his room many drinks OF whisky and absinthe
/ IN an effort TO drown his trouble The liquid
/ only made badsworse, until his hotel bill,
amounting TO over $40, was presented 10 him
| with notification that it mus; be paid forth
! with
At this juncture, several days ago, young
! Mrs. Downing left her desperate husband and
] quietly returned 10 her family i'll Brooklyn.
In the meantime he wandered aimlessly
about AMI haunted the billiard-room and
/ lobby OF the hotel. where Detective Garter
found him last evening. After he had rected
his story to Inspector Holnnbercer the young
man begged that he be allowed TO return 10
New York and try to regain his wife and
Standing in the community 10y honest effort.
lie had Sc. 10 in his pockets, and was escorted
TO the train and allowed 10 depart last night.
/ Referring to this case. the Inspector called
attention to the fact that there is no law IN
tine District to protect hotel and boarding
house keepers. He was convinced that
Downing was not ahotel bent. but, had tod
him true story, for his statements were
verified. s'.r'f -sarft'f s.a
But said the Inspector. "in the case of
genuine beats, there ought TO be some law TO
punish them. AS it is now. we can only pre-
fer the charge of vagraney against such
characters. and if they can only furnish a
small bail bond there can he no punishment
attached to the oTense. Nearly every State
has law for the protection OF the keepers OF
hotels and ng-housekeepers. There
! should be one here.