Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-01-21
THE RACE TRACK WAR.

matter will come up before Judge
Wexford in Richmond on Wednesday
when argument will be heard to dis
I solve the injunction (Which has been
/ temporarily suspended) which he re
cen iy graz d restraining the owners
of that track from racing horses, selling
pools, e." The lawyers for the State
and for the race track people have beer
busy ever since the injunction was
granted and a strong fight will be
made. The subject of winter racing
it is generally believed, will be discuss
ed in all its various aspects, including
the question whether or not the sport
involves cruelty to animals. The Ole
Dominion officials have been convinced
from the beginning that the ST. Asaph
people were the principal movers in
the crusade against the Island track
In facts, things have taken such turn
that the war of the two jockey clubs
seems to be in a fair way to be thor
oughly ventilated in court on Wednes.
day.
A Washington paper says:
On Friday Judge Norton, of Alexandria,
called upon Lieut. Hollinberger at police
headquarters and expressed desire to secure
| the affidavits of the members Of the detec-
tive force against the Alexander Island track
and Jackson City's resorts. Arrangements
were made whereby Commissioner OF Deeds
Charles S. Bundy was to draw up the legal
documents and acknowledge the signatures OF
/ the detectives. Inspector Hol!lnberger read
| lily consented to the request, as 1t had Tor
some time been his opinion that the existence
| of race tracks in Virginia so close to Wash
| ington was positive detriment to the law
| and order of the city. 1t was arranged ac-
cordingly, for the documents to be signed, but
| nothing it appears, had been mentioned about
st Asaph's track, the only vi lation OF law
that the Virginia authorities had discovered
having been the Alexander Island track.
When, therefore. the papers were presented
for signatures, the police department objected
to the limitation sadd ing all the violation of
the law upon the two places mentioned and
ignoring the St. Asaph track, where pool
room is in operation. Inspector Hollinberger
fatty informed Commissioner Bundy that he
would sign no such one-sided papers, and sew
eral of the detectives interposed similar OBJ
jcctions. The only condition upon which the
much needed signatures could be secured was
davits. so the whole matter went over until
noon on Saturday. when Commissioner Bundy
reappeared on the scene with new papers
The force was called in and the papers were
signed by Inspector Holinberger and Detec-
tives Weldon, Horn, Boyd, Carter. Lacy,
Rhodes. Boardman, Gallshcr and Quinlsn.
After the papers had been duly signed and
sworn to- Commissioner Bundy departed and
Judge Norton called at Bundys office later
to get the documents. 1t is said that when
the Judge saw that St. Bsaph's track had
been included he expressed his dissatisfaction
at tue manner in which the Washington oti
GERS had executed his desires. He called up
on Inspector Holinberger and is said to hive
protested that he did not want st. Asaph NEIL
toned in the afiidavits. 1t is understood that
some rather sharp words passed between the
two gentlemen, in which Inspector Holm
berger stated that it was all insult to the po'
lice department to imagine that it would dis
criminate against one race track in favor OF
another "The Metropolitan police depart
ment," said Inspector Hollinberger, rs not
maintained for the purpose of assisting one
crowd of Virginia gamblers to down another
crowd We consider that both race tracks
and jackson City are menace to the public
good and the sooner they a'e abolished the
better for the public in general Judge Nor
ton is said to have replied that he did not
think he could use the .aflidavits as they had
been drawn up, and putting them in his peck
ct left the headquarters. The atiidayits are.
not the same i'll their wording. They are
practically alike, but some of the officers go
little further than others in denouncing th"
tracks and say that they are menace to law
and good order.
Judge Norton, upon being shown the
above said it did him great injustice,
and emphatically denied the idea
which has gained currency that the
whole matter is fight between the St.
Asaph and the Alexander Island tracks.
The only fight am making said
Judge Norton, sis against winter rae
ing anywhere in the State of Virginia
which has brought into the Common
wealth crowd of toughs from all over
the country. Ladies have been insult
ed by such characters on trains between
this city and Washington. I would
oppose and endeavor to stop winter
racing at st. Asaph, and 1 have so ex-
pressed myself. The Governor and
Attorney General have made up their
minds to stop it at Alexander Island,
no matter what 1t may cost. Judge
Norton referred to the fact that St.
Asaph track had been included in the
atiidavits he had obtained from the
Washington authorities. He told them
that that track was not in the issue, as
no winter racing was conducted there,
aud was told that unless they could in
clude that track in their affidavits they
would not lend aid in breaking UP winter
racing. There had been no unpleasant
ness between the Judge and Lieut.
Hollinberger. Judge Norton was EN-
phatic in the assertion that he never
had anything to do with any race
track, nor had he ever received any
compensation from any one connected
with them.
COULD NOT CoMPLY.-Itwas stated a
| few weeks since that a number of bust