The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-03


] ion. decentralization and death from
The racetracks. Homes are being
wrecked. regulations are being ruined and
men and women are being made thieves
by the dishonest gamblers who are per-
mitted TO thrive by the authorities at
Trsleside. The gates Of San Quentin have
closed upon many men who were made
Cduvicts by horseracing and the portals
are open for many more who have lost
honor and home in the dirty pool created
lu our midst by the gamblers. Men
have fee from their homes to hide the
disgrace that came TO them on the race
course Some have found oblivion and
escape trom the sneers of honest men in
suicide The public cannot estimate the
terrible damage that horseracing has in
ficted upon San Francisco and its citi-
zeus."
These words were spoken yesterday by
one of the most prominent police officials
OF this city. The remarks were prompted
by the revelations and scandals which
have found their source in the last month
a. the racetracks. Men and women are
stalking their honor, their homes. their
families and even their lives on the IN
EVEN hazard of a hOTseraCe. When
Captain NeaH abandons his family. dis
g-aCes his uniform and sacrifices his fu-
Jure for a pool ticket the police simply
shCug their shoulders and add another
name 10 the black roll that racing gam
blers are writing for the people OF San
Francisco.
When Bernard Ward is placed behind
The bars and some one whispers the
bookma kers' the police point to the rec
ord Of San Quentin and the Morgue. The
officers are thinking Of the McGIades, the
NortOns the Welburns and the Widbers,
types of hundreds whose lives have been
wrecked or lost in the passion for gam
bling which the race tracks have bred in
this city.
The evil has become Of such terrible
moment that business men have been
forced TO employ spoilers and send them
to the poolrooms and the tracks TO watch
their employees. In public and private af-
fairs the racing habit has played SAD
havoc. Merchants are afraid 10 trust
their own most trusted employees. In
public Offices. such as that of the County
Clerk. signs are Conspicuously posted TO
warn deputies that dismissal will be the
immediate penalty for attendance at the
race tracks. A dread has seized upon the
Custodians Of money and the facts war
rant their fear
The police estimate that in the last six
years over 800 men and a few women
have come under the observation of the
police for crimes committed under the
direct inspiration OF the race track Not
all OF these people found their dishOn
red end in the penitenuary. Some killed
themselves rather than endure their dis
--ace Others fed before the authorities
ID an opportunity TO capture them A
t-w exercised influence and escaped pun
.-ament- Many preyed upon their fami
- and sacrificed every dollar that had
Ceen honestly boarded 10 pay the thefts
that kept the booknakers in business.
StilI others found their way 10 prison and
many are even now in the shadow OF d
COnvict's cell.
There IS no xaggeration in these state
uents. a official records constitute The
proof. The police also estimate that at
least so more men and women have eS-
capped exposure by compromising with the
people they robbed. These compromises
have been accomplished through private
letective agencies, and are therefore not
.flcially OF record. The list as the au-
.hori-jes know il. however. is appalling in
IS evidence Of the crime and misery
which the racetracks have bred in this
city. Murder and suicide, robbery and
=ubezzlement. arson and thefts large and
small may be traced directly TO the evil
nat thrives at Ingleside.
Clerks who were trusted employees are
convicts officers who were honored
servants OF the Federal, State or NUM-
cipal governments are behind prison bars,
fugitives from justice or suicides No
class has been spared. and as each new.
revelation adds 10 the terrifying list the
public wonders where II is all going to
ELll- 4 TELGEt4ltc 70 a lev u NAAN1~ VIZ
have found shame or death in the gam
bling OF the racecOurse Will demonstrate
ne stern seriousness OF the problem and
perhaps suggest a solution
Few have forgotten the sad story Of
Isaac Norton, the cashier in the office OF
the Collector OF Internal Revenue, who
put a bullet into his brain after the gam
tters Of the racetrack had led him TO
ruin His chief. OsCa NJ Welburn, soon
followed in the path Of dishonor that the
horse gamblers have beaten with the feet
Of .5isgraced men and women. Welburn
staked the happiness of his family and the
future OF himself on the bookmakers. He
.7,sr. and and is now a fugitive from jus
lice. his home destroyed and his family
scattered.
The fate Of 4. c. Widber, who was City
Treasurer. is still q. vivid object lesson
TO those who care 20 reflect. he is
convict at San Quentin, and that was but
one step in his progress from the race
course Bled by gambling thieves, be
fuddled by scheming touts and robbed by
INSCRIPTIONS bookmakers. he stepped out
OF his office in the City Hall TO the cell Of
q convict at San Quentin.
Theodore Figel is only an incident in
the long story of shame that records the
existence OF the race course in this city
Figel was a trusted employe IN large
mercantile firm. He plunged on the races,
sent thousands Of dollars TO the book
r7akers. employed touts and bought
horses Then ne awoke one morning to
find himself accused Of murder and en-
bezzIement. He was acquitted on both
charges. but his thousands that went to
The race track never came back TO him.
The scandalous revelations Of the Bot
kin case are too fresh in the public mind
to need repetition. The race course sup
rl!ed a vicious substitute for home, fam
N, and decent living Day after day
Dunnfng and the woman who is accused
of a n1onstrous crime were cheek by jowl
with the motley crowd at the race course.