Evening journal., 1896-02-21
WANT TO TEST THE LAW.
THE POOL SELLERS WHO HAVE RE
GENTLY OPENED ROOMS HERE.


They Locate on Fourth strest and at
Onoe Bring Down Upon Themselves
the Attention OF the State Authorities.
The Landlord Warns Them Out and
the State Threatens Arrest.
Last Spring 6rm OF bookmakers
opened rooms In the Smith building on
Market street and began the systematic
sale OF pools on the New Orleans and st.
Louis races The system used WAS that
employed In other states aud was yelled
behind an alleged telegraph system, the
local sellers purporting TO act simply as
agents for the gamblers at the race
track.
An effort was made to stop the sale Of
these pools, but as some question existed
as TO the power Of the authorities, Branch
h Giles, then deputy attorney-gener
drafted a bill which be had passed by the
General Assembly, and which prohibited
even the betting by telegraph, at least In
i the manner employed by the men alleged
to bo violating the law In these cases
The pool sellers seem to take no stock
In the law as passed and by advice OF
counsel II 10 said have decided TO test II
and few days ago another room was
opened In the second story Of No. 2 Eest
Fourth street under the name OF the
New Jersey Commission Co, John J
Nssbltt. general manager. The police
authorities were at once notified and
were proceeding to act when word
WAS received from deputy Attorney
General Cooper that the state
was acting. As 1t was q state law
that was being violated Chief Dolan took
his hands of simply informisg Mr.
Cooper that he stood ready to aid him.
The state detectives have since been busy
gathering evidence. aud it Is understood
have got their plans In good working
order.
The system used by the pool sellers is
the same as was adopted In New York,
and under which Johnny Mack, who Is
the head OF the Municipal Telegraph
Company, at Albany. and king OF turf
gamblers, won ont over the state officials,
W. Is different Ia Delaware. however a
Imam pisits the room andr alter
picking out ths horse which
he thinks will win, from among
the names, displayed on blaekboards
covering the walls OF the room, and
naming the odds for or against, walks to
to the desk aud fills out a blank. pur
porting to be ons OF the Electric News
and Money Transportation Company. His
message foI instance will read: III you
can secure as good as 10 TO on India
Rubber for first place, do 80 and draw
on J. d. Butler q Co.. Newark, N.
H., (signed) j. d. B." De then hands
over his money, from 81 up and gets q
receipt showing that j. d B. has placed d
a certain amonnt on India Rubber fol
first place When the returns come In
he hands In his receipt aud gets bis
money, providing IndiA Rubber comes Ii
first on the stretch II India. Rubber
breaks he tears up his receipt, mutters
d. and tries It again on another
horse. He pays a commission on his
winnings OF [ per cent. II over $25 and
% cent II under that amount.
The recsipts held by winners arr
cashed At once and no pretense Is made
OF receiving orders from Newark. Th'
only pretenso made Is In sending th'
message placing the bet.
This morning Hubert Cassidy. thu
landlord aud agent Of the building, haC
warrant issued by Magistrate Daley
requiring the ipool sellers to vacate the
rooms at once. This was PLACED
In Constable Smiths hands and
will be served this afternoon
/ 4lfs Oue5luy olhlch Nuab AAahakoIILN ohult
hired the rooms for brokers office, ant
as the law makes the party who owns Of
, let's the rooms factor In the violation
he does not propose to render himsel
liable
It is also understood that the state
through Deputy Attorney Genera
Cooper swill sWesr out warrants for thu
arrest OF Nerbstt and his assistants thi
afternoon before g. s. Adams, clerk Of
the Municipal Court. Up to tn
, hour OF going to press Mr.. Adams
/ stated however that no such step hac
been taken. In the meantime those VIII
are tempted to test the goddess fortun
and who do not desire trouble will d,
wisely to steer clear Of the interdicte,
place,