Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12
ARRESTS AT WILDWOOD
SHERIFF. AND HIS DEPUTIES
MAKE EXPECTED VISIT.
Five Parties Taken Before Magistrate
Cross and Subsequently Re-
leased on Bond.

BENJAMIN NJ Hardisty, sheriff of Prince
Georges county, Md, went to Wildwood yes
terday with warrants for the proprietors OF
poolroom and others, and made five arrests
The sheriff was accompanied by number
of deputies. Their appearance caused nc
surprise. for the proprietors OF the place
had been expecting visit OF this kind on
the part of the sheriff since last Saturday.
benjamin Andrews. Robert Turner. John
Farrell and two others connected with the
place met the party of officers at the front
door and went with them without Offering
any resistance.
For some reason the warrants for the
men had been obtained from Magistrate
Cross at Seabright, instead Of from one To-
Gated nearer the scene Of the alleged viola
ton Of the gambling laws. This necessitated
a long ride across the country to the magis-
trateS Office.
1t was nearly 4 o'clock in the afternoon
when the sheriff and his deputies reached
the place and made the arrests. The action
Of the officers did not constitute a general
raid, and the taking of money on the races
at Morris Park, st. Louis, Louisville and
Worth was not interrupted 1t is stated that
the affair was managed so quietly that
many of the visitors to the poolroom knew
nothing of it until after the party had
started in the direction of the 'sQuire's Of
flee.
Arriving at Magistrate Cross office the
five defendants made known that they were
DESTROYS of entering pleas OF not guilty in
order to protect their rights.
Released on Bond.
There was a short preliminary hearing.
and Magistrate Cross held the five men for
the action of the grand jury. Bond was
fixed at $500 In each case, and the bond
offered by the defendants was promptly &C
cepted. Then the five men were released
and the first chapter in the matter of break
ing up the place was brought to close.
What will the gamblers do now?" was
the inquiry made after the case had been
heard.
Just what they have been doing hereto
FORE" was the response
Edward T. Benton, jr., was an interested
member Of the raiding party. He Is out for
the republican nomination for the legisla-
ture this fall and has interested himself in
the effort to break up the Wildwood resort.
Two days after the opening OF the pool
room he visited the place and announced
himself as being opposed to such an estab-
ishment being in the county. The people
in charge of the place. as well as some OF
the patrons, referred to him as "reformer
and an "informer," and he was uncere-
moniously elected.
Mr.. Benton's Statement.
Mr.. Benton went to Upper Marlboro, the
county seat, this morning and could not be
found by a Star reporter. He is reported
to have said that he heard Of the pool room
from Detective Horne of Washington and
set about seeing what could be done to
close the place. The next morning Blad-
ensburg politician informed him, he said,
he had been put on the payroll of the re-
sort. He told him, he stated. that his
name might as we'll be scratched OF the
roll. That day he went to Marlboro and
saw Sheriff Hardesty. Wednesday, he said,
he went to Wildwood to get evidence
against the place.
ANDREWS knew me-" Mr.. Benton con-
tinued. He accosted me at once. and told
me that he had paid for protection In
Prince Georges county, and that If wish
ed to get the nomination for the legislature
1 would better drop the case against him
at once. I told him that did not want
his support. He then ordered his people
to put me out of the place. was hit sew
eral times and left, but not until l had got
all the evidence I needed
Mayor Kinnear's Views.
Mayor Kinnear of Tokoma was we'll
pleased when he heard what had been
done. News of the action of the authorities
came as pleasant surprise to him. he said.
He is satisfied the pool room will not last
long. He visited the resort Saturday and
was assured that gambling, in no form
Otner tIdn Inc DoohHldhiii6' 10 pei hhieecu
upon the premises He was shown through
part of the place, but was not taken into
the pool room, as he did not care to comply
with certain formalitieS concerning club
membership. The people of Takoma were
surprised Sunday when they found the
place was closed. and that there was no
s'side-door' business done by the proprie-
tors of the saloon there.
There are q number of interesting rumors
afloat concerning the place and some lively
developments are promised. One rumor
has it that the sheriff will continue to make
arrests until the doors are closed, and there
is nothing doing in the way of putting
I'D money on the horses. The opposition
to the pool room Is not confined to the law
abiding people and county officials. Graft
ers" it is stated. are numerous and people
who are engaged in similar business else
where are anxious to break up the Wild
wood resort. In this combination. 1t Is
stated, are a number of Washingtonians
and residents of Maryland.
The Political Tinge.
It is stated that an effort is also being
made by some of the people to make politf
cal capital out of the affair, but the older
politicians are apparently giving but little
attention to the matter Many street cor
ner conferences about the Wildwood pool
room are held in this city, and members
of the different factions are seen every
morning in groups discussing the situation.
There is more alleged "wirepulling and
meeting of wise men, in connection with
the gambling joint than the local Police
have known in connection with any case
in q number of years.
The arrests yesterday did not seem to
put damper the patrons of the place,
for they seemed to be as numerous on the