Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-15
OFFICERS CUT WIRES
WILDWOOD POOL ROOM AGAIN
OUT OF BUSINESS.
District Authorities Take a Hand in
Silencing the Tickers-Mayor
Nnnear's Action.

The Wildwood pool room is again out Of
business. This time the tickers were ST.
fenced by direction of the District COM
missioners. w. c. Allen. who has charge
o. the District electrical department, today
superintended the work of cutting the wires
which connect with the pool room. which
was done by three linemen. The two wires
connecting those of the Western Union
Telegraph Company with the pool room
covered distance Of about 300 yards with
In the District limits. The wires during
this entire distance were taken down. They
are now in the store room Of the District.
where they will not be exposed to weather
conditions.
directly responsible for the work done to-
day, as he called the attention Of the local
authorities to the presence Of the unlawful
wires some days ago. An investigation was
made and the wires were finally removed
by order of the Commissioners.
Policemen Kennedy, Speer and Weeks
were sent from the tenth precinct to &C
company Superintendent Allen and his line
men. 1t was thought the gamblers might
appear upon the scene and cause trouble,
but not one of them appeared until the
wires had been removed and taken away.
Point Where Wires Connect.
The pole where the connection was made
is near the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
tracks and the Blair road. where the Wild
wood electric road passes beneath the
tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio road.
From the pole to the railroad bridge there
was duplex or twin wire, and from this
point all the way to Wildwood two wires
were strung on the trolley poles. Soon after
the work OF removing the wires was COM
menced the report of a pistol-shot alarmed
the lineman on the pole, and he narrowly
escaped an attack of heart disease.
Il thought it was an electric shock" the
man on the pole remarked.
The shot was fired by a man who was
looking for frogs.
=, Superintendent Allen pointed out to a
Maple and Willow avenues near the BaItf-
more and Ohio railroad tracks, and again
at Magnolia avenue near the District line
w nat Will be the next mover" inquired
one or the sports on his way to Wildwood
this afternoon. "Will they 20 to Chesa-
peake Junction.
Surprise to Managers.
The action Of the District authorities took
the managers Of the gambling establish
ment by surprise. They knew that the mat
ter was being considered but they had no
idea that it would be acted upon so prompt.
ly. What they will now do Is not known.
This afternoon they were discussing the
ana1r, and they about concluded that thew
Will have to give up the attempt to remain
IN business on the border OF Montgomery
county, whatever they may be permitted to
90 IN another section Of Prince Georges
county.
The gamblers realize more forcibly than
ever that Mayor Kinnear Is in earnest in his
crusade against them. and it ia more than
likely that they will seek place in Prince
Georges county, where they have reason to
believe that they will not be interfered with
Immediately.
Mayor Prefers Request,
Mayor Kinnear of Takoma Park Md.
called upon Commissioner Macfarland yes
terday at his home. He apologized for TAX
ing the matter up on Sunday, but declared
that the people of Takoma were anxious
to have the Western Union wires leading
to the Wildwood pool room taken down
where they are strung within the District
OF Columbia. Mayor Kinnear wrote to the
commissioners several days ago asking If
a permit had been taken out for the string
Ing or the wires. and was informed that
none had been granted by the Commits
sioners. Mr.. Kfnnear told Commissioner
mcfarland that he understood statement
had been made to the effect that the wires
within the District are on private property
and do not run over or on streets. Mr.
kinnear brought with him a map showing
that the wires do run in the public streets
Tor considerable distance. He asked that
such action be taken by the District au-
thorities as would render assistance to the
town In its effort to close up the pool room
Early this morning Commissioner Mac
farland requested the electrical engineer to
at once investigate the matter. The Com
misstoners all approved an Endorsement by
the Engineer Commissioner that the wires
should be taken down Immediately, If
found on public space.
Saturday was the first day for about two
weeks that the sports who visited Wild
wood were able to put down their money
on the races but the break in the gam
bling business was not caused by the coun-
ty officers. 1t resulted from trouble with
the telegraph company about the wires
The manag gers, 1t is stated were assured
that there would be no more trouble of this
kind experienced and they were in a happy
frame of mind over the prospects for this
week. The events today put them COM
pletely at sea and thwarted their plans.
Many Were Disappointed.
There was every prospect of large at
tendance Of sports at the pool room this
afternoon, and many of those who did not
know of the cutting of the wires journeyed
to the resort, only to be disappointed.
Should the managers of the pool room open
for business in another section of the coun-
ty Sheriff Hardisty will be asked to make
a raid and break up the game. The matter
of prosecution will rest entirely with the
sheriff and constables. unless they force
the law abiding residents Of the county to
take steps such as were taken by one of
the residents few days after the room
was opened
Persons who are in a position to know