Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-15
Fine Piece of w ork.

New Orleans, Mafcn l4.-Inefe was piece of fine work done at the race track here this evening, by which every pool room in the country was hit hard. The sixth and last race of the day was won by Plug, but the official result was changed by the telegraph operator at the race track to read that Royal Nettie had come under the wire first She was a 10 to 1 shot, and this deliberate fa1s- fication of the result by the operator was no doubt the consummation of careful ly laid plan by himself and confederates at various points.
 It is stated by telegraph experts that the wire was not tapped, as the wire to the race track is what is known as a duplex wire and an intermediate set of instruments could not be put in without attracting instant attention. The of ficials of the Western union of this city are very reticent about the matter and will not make a statement, but the above is gathered from an absolutely reliable source.
 The local pool room was scene of wild confusion yesterday afternoon when the result of the sixth race, referred to in the above telegram, was announced. vorite and nearly all who held papers" on him were calling for him in the stretch But, according to the operator, he didn't hear 'em.
 There was a one man in the crowd, however who seemed to have "bug in his ear" and awaited the results with the air of a person who seemed to know.
 Chicago Cookies Touched.
 Chicago, March 14.-One of the most extensive and successful swindles in the history of racing in the United States was perpetrated on the pool room keep CTS of the country today. The conspira- tors had agents in every city where gam bling on races Is carried on, and the mon ey was rlaced with freedom which indl- cates that the schemers were backed With all the capital necessary to make the fraud gigantic success. That their plans were carefully laid is evidenced by the fact that money was distributed by tele- graph from New Orleans and Chicago twenty-four hours in advance
 The last race at New Orleans was se- lected as the medium for the fraud. When the race was finished the news was flashed from the track all over the coun- try that Royal Nettie had won. Soon after the bets had been paid the suspic- ions of the bookmakers were aroused, but it was more than an hour after the race had been won that they learned that Plug had come in first.
 Tn Chicago Royal Nettie was placed heavily in every pool room in town, and it is believed that the agents of the con spirators secured from $15,000 to $1s,00O. It is said that $50O0 was sent to Louis vile from here last night to play on the race, and 5000 was telegraphed from New Orleans to be placed here.
 The first odds quoted Royal Nettie at 12 to 1, and she was nibbled at by the pikers When the second betting came in giving Nettie at to 1. showing that she was being played at the track, the agents of the swindlers began putting their money on her, and kept 1t up until the hoi $ were off. One of the large rooms here took all the money they could get, but had to cut the odds to to 1 at the post.
 The conspirators are not known here, and it is not believed that the rooms will recover cent of the money paid.