The times., 1898-11-18
ARRESTED FOR GAMBLING
Charges Against Jockey Club
Officials and BOOkmakerS.
INSTIGATED BY TOBE WALL
Alleged to BE n Piece of Spite Work
Wall and Associates Refused
Permission TO Extend the Season
District Attorney Henry E. Davis
Makes "a Statement OF the Matter.

AT the close of the days racing at the
Benning race track yesterday evening
warrants for the arrest of the members
of the Washington Jockey Club and
number of bookmakers were served. The
charges upon which the warrants were
issued allege that the officers OF the club
and the bookmakers are violating the law
In engaging In and permitting gambling
to be carried on at the tracks. in the bet
ting on horse races.
As this is the third year of the existence
of the Washington Jockey Club. and the
affairs of the track are carried on now
the same as they have been in the past.
it seems strange that these charges should
be made at this time. 1t is suggested that
If the laws are being violated now they
have also been violated at the meetings
OF the two previous years.
It is alleged by those familiar with the
circumstances that Tobe Wall, who has
been for some time identified with the
Pimlico race track at Baltimore, is re-
sponsible for the arrests. II is stated that
Wall made application to the officers of
the Jockey Club TO be permitted to have
twenty days racing at the close of the
present meeting. The officers of the club
concluded that this would be unwise as
IL would extend the racing late into the
season and would be in no wise beneficial
TO the reputation of the Jockey Club.
Wall and his P.,nIico associates seemed
TO have taken offense at this action of the
officials and swore out warrants before
District Attorney Davis. all Of which were
served yesterday afternoon.
The club here could not take any action
in the matter without the consent of the
New York Jockey Club. which is the head
of the racing associations of the country.
The New York club would not permit an
extended season and communicated its
decision to the Washington club.
1t is regarded by almost every one who
is familiar with the circumstances that
II is a case of spite more than anything
else. and 1t is doubtful If anything will
come of the cases more than the impos-
ing of a fine on the officers Of the club
and the alleged bookmakers for permit
ting betting on the track.
While the legal authorities of the D.s-
trict have been aware of the supposed
violation of the law. the matter has been
passed by, doubtless because of the prom
inence Of the members of the Washington
Jockey Club.
The warrants for the arrest of the
Jockey Club officials include S. S. How
land, president of the club, and steward
for the meeting. together with Samuel
Ross, also a steward for the meeting
judge. Clarence Mcdowell: handicap
per. w. S. Vosburgh: starter. Mars as
sidy: patrol and paddock judge C. d.
Mccoy; timer, w II. Barretto: clerk of
course and scales. H. c. Crickmore;
Bookmakers Joe Vendig, G. Wabaum.
G, Wheelock. w. Snow. G. Klein, W.
Connor, G.. Gains, s Lichtenstein. C.
Eversen and NJ Lourman.
The cases will be called in the Police
Court tomorrow.
When asked about the matter last night
District Attorney Davis said:
Complaint was made TO me few days
ago that the law against gambling was
being violated at the Benning track, and
/ was asked to take the initiative in in
stituting proceedings against the persons
who. it was alleged. were violating the
law. This ! declined TO do for the reason
that from time long prior TO my acces-
sion to office, racing under exactly similar
conditions had been permitted without in
terruption by the authorities. and that
the president of the Jockey Club, whom
l at once notified of the complaints, in.
formed me that the relation of the as
sociation to the alleged book-makers was
such that under the advise of eminent
counsel in New York, the association
could not be held 10 be violating the law
81 told the president of the association
S. S. Howland, that whether the associa-
ton was violating the law was a question
for our courts to decide,and so instructed
my assistant, Mr.. Mullowny, whom / told
to Issue warrants against all the partici-
pants in the meeting, provided that they
were brought within the law. But | told
him further that in view of the fact that
the racing had been permitted for so long
a time, and in view of the weIl-knowr
high character and standing of the gentle.
men in control of the association 1 die
not wish him to issue any warrant except
upon a responsible affidavit or responsible,
affidavits showing facts which. in my
judgment indicated a violation of the
law. Wednesday, was waited upon b!
a gentlemen who presented to me draft.
of affidavits which they said would b,
made by certain persons, and demanded
of me the issue of warrants accordingly
Although, in fact, the affidavits were
not signed, / went Immediately to the