The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-31
LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE
REPORT SECRETARY THRASHER
 MADE YESTERDAY.


 the Past SIX Months Reviewed tm Re-
 port Submitted to a Meeting of tho
 Directors at Hartford Yesterday.
 The uarterly meeting of the directors of the Law and Order League was held in Hartford yesterday. The report sup- mitted by Secretary Thrasher was in part as follows: .... ''To the Board of Directors of the Law
 and Order League of Connecticut:
 nMr. President and Gentlemen:-lt IS my pleasurable duty. to report the Worh of the Law and Order League TOT the six months following June 1, 1899. AL that date the league had just emerged from a great legislative contest. All inc elements of lawlessness and disor- der in the state had banded together ih n second and desperate attempt 10 de- stroy us. Aiding them, strangely enough, were some persons Of undouot- ed character and responsibility, more conversant with theories than condl- lions. A great wave of public senti- ment swept over the state and the re- actionary proposal was overwhelmingly +hwarted by the votes of our represen- tatiyes. Mindful of that victory, we need not fear the threats of doom at the hands of the next legislature, alreauy nredcted by those on whom the league has lately brought justice.
 CHESTER.
 Tt will be remembered that at lne time of my last report the long anu suo cessful war against liquor dealers III Chester was closed, except that thele ware suits for malicious prosecutloll nending against Judge Pearne, oheriA Tones John s. Hardy and your secreta- rv. Judge Pearne had sentenced EAi" e Church to jail for contempt. lhe 1atter was released on writ or naneas corpus and discharged on techhlcai srrn,1nds. Hence, the judge was prose cuted for issuing the warrant, the sher- sfe for serving it, and the others for 1n- atipating the action of the local court.
 "A demurrer was argued before Judge Prentice, who ueCiueu ~ was legally justified, since ms author izing papers were in good Iorm' anu that Justice Pearne, whether III error oi not. was not liable to civil prosecutioil t,n account of his judgment There was at no time any case against Mr. Haroy nr myself. While not formally closeu thus practically terminated contest which should be an encouragement to every town in the state that is plagued with disorder.
 CHARTER OAK GAMBLING.
 sShortlv before the opening of the races at Chtrter Oak Park Ill Septeih- her citizens complained that the prac- tices of the past in relation to pool sell ing there would certainly be continued. The services of the league were lnVokea and the necessary expenses guafanteeu' What response were we to make? oh tne one hand to interpose would prop ably rouse official jealousy Again. many persons of standing and of lnflu- ence were interested, in one way or ah- nther. in the races, so that an attack mon the pool-selling would be con- strued as an attack upon the races. lt WAS clearly foreseen that storm or criticism would fall upon the league ana that many would withdraw their f1nan- cia1 sunnort from it's work. On the oth- or hand. the acts complained of were undeniably gambling gambling or 1oost nernicious chafacter; gambling on a gigantic scale; gambling In exphclt defiance of the statute framed to checK it in 1893. To declare the call would De to announce that the Law and Oraer League exists to crush the petty o1Iense and let the colossal one flourish, 10 smite the poor law-breaker and pass py the one who has means and pull. IL would be to wink at a violation that ln- yvolved more money in one week than all other gambling in the state TOT month.
 "Prudent or not the league did not hesitate. Its detectives attended the races and mingled in the crowd of gam 5blers that thronged the betting ring Fourteen men conducted the pool-busl- mess in three separate booths. They would have been apprehended on the first day had league agents the power to make arrests on sight. AS 1t was all those men must be fixed in the memory of the detective for future identification and all the evidence of specific acts got into shape ready for court, pefofe the first complaint could be drawn and signed by the grand juror. This neces- sitv and various circumstances prevent ed the raid taking place before Satuf- day Unfortunately, too, heavy storm came on the night before, so the races for that day were declared off. Still, nur officers arrested six men, five opera tors and the banker of the business The last escaped justice by strategem The rest were put under $2,4oo bonds each by Justice Day and later appeared before Judge Thayer pleaded guilty and paid fines and costs.
 .sThe books of one of the three gam hing stands were seized and showed that the money handled at that stand alone. during five afternoons, was $23I,- 900. It is estimated that the amount which would have been handled by the three in the entire six afternoons IS not less than half a million dollars.
 HAYDEN POOL ROOM.
 "The New York packers of the illegal business ventured to open pool room inst across the line in Hamden, at Schuetzen Park, which was maintained for some time under the plan of admit ting only known or properly vouched- for patrons. In connection with the Bridgeport investigation, however, we .1.1a 4a ~.o+ n,,y- dateativa in here