The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
RID OF GAMBLERS
LEXINGTON KY. THEIR MECCA
 IN A PECULIAR CONDITION.
A War Between Gambling Bosses Results in Closing Up Every thing-Row Between
 Officials.
Lexington Special.

| Lexington Special
 | Lexington ha sa gambling king. One man bere has gambling under his entire control. This city has long been noted as the Mecca of gamblers, but never be- fore within. the century of it's history has one man'ruled the gamblers as su- | premely as does John B. Mclaughlin at | mayors. preachers. commonwealth attor- neys and police departments have att | tempted or pretended to attempt without success-shut up every gambling house | in Lexington. What they have been trying to do for years he accomplished in few months.
 It is not to be thought that McLaugh- lin Is a reformer,@ for he Is not.
 He Is a gambler and desires to gam ble. The trouble is that other gamblers, who thought they held the situation in the palms of their hands. did not want Mclaughlin to operate in opposition to their own interests and attempted to squeeze him out. A fight was on their hands and in this fight they have lost small fortunes. Mclaughlin, too. has spent some money. He had friends among the magistrates of the city and warm friend for a lawyer which made his fees light as compared with those Of his opponents. who. it Is believed, have sunk $5,000 in cash and their da- monds in the fight, which is now at standstill with Mclaughlin master of the situation.
 In preventing gambling Mclaughlin has antagonized the police force and the city authorities. He has had no assistance from the sheriff, which makes the-feAt all the more remarkable. but it IS nevertheless a fact that Lexington has not even a decent crap game, and all of these moral results are due to Mo- Laughlin.
 Mclaughlin came here from Paris many years ago. He Is mild-mannered, blue eyed and has the courage of a Boer patriot. His opponents, William Welsh and Richard Gentry. are also products Of other places. Welsh comes from a noted family of lawyers and doctors in Jessanine County, and was himself a lawyer, serving for some time as county attorney. Gentry came from Athens in the edge of this county, place chiefly noted for It's production of bad men. Gentry, however, is not of the bad man type He Is fine looking clever fellow who has the entire confidence of his as- sociates.
 Recently Gentry and welch opened a poo! room for betting upon the races in various parts of the country. Me A war between the two houses was be- gun which resulted in consolidation Soon Mclaughlin declared that Gentry ana Welsh had broken their agreement solved. Trouble broke out anew when Mclaughlin declared that he had been paying for police protection and asked for an investigation. The City CouE- Gil started an investigation last sum- mer, but the end is not yet. A special committee was appointed for the pur- pose of taking testimony. Why the committee has not reported to the gen. Aa l. of the members say that all of the evil dence is not yet in and that until Mayor H. T Duncan has given his testimony the investigation can go no further. mittee and told how he had been closed by the police after the partnership was dissolved. and how he had to swear out warrants himself before he could get ponents. He said that he had been forced into partnership with Gent-y and Welsh because his room had been closed by the police" and that when in S5OO a month for protection. He said in addition, that he had their word for It that no crap, faro. or roulette games should operate but that after little time such games did start in which his partners were interested. He declared that the other gambling hurt his bust ness and that the contract made by Gentry and Welsh had been violated.
 
 refused to pay for protection that he did not get McLaughlin's room was raided and when the opposition opened for business he swore out warrants against them 1t was a pretty little game while it lasted but when Mc Laughlin continued to open whenever the opposition did. and to swear out warrants against the others when his own place was raided, the matter as- stunned a serious aspect and the efforts to run pool room was abandoned. Then Mclaughlin turned his attention to noon he led the officers into an upper bursting through the door pointed to layout. at the same time exclaimng to the gambling you couldn't find" Ross but he did not coniiscate the parapher Commissioners dismissed Ross from the force, but tremendous efforts are being made to have him reinstated. ever resort is opened. he pounces until court fees and retaining fees to lawyers nave sapped tfe finances of his opponents and they are crying enough. police department is almost disrupted ordinance abolishing the detective Police and the detectives bet on races RA, NIN