The Washington times., 1903-06-23
ANSWER IN WILDWOOD
POOLROOM WRANGLE
TaKoma Parks Mayor and Council
Present Towns Case.

The mayor and council of Takoma
Park and John B. Kinnear have filed
their answer in the Montgomery county
court to the bill Of complaint of Robert
S. Turner. in No. 2O39 equity. wherein
the plaintiff asked for an injunction re-
straining the defendants from cutting
telegraph wires leading to his gambling
house at Wildwood, in Prince George
county, and within the corporation lin
its of Takoma Park
It appears the plaintiff. as chief. and
others. have been running a poolroom
at the above place, where betting
on horse races is INDUCED in on a
large scale. In their answer 10 his
bill the defendants allege his bill was
fled for the express purpose of deceiving
the court. and. by such deception. pro-
curing the protection of the restraining
order which was heretofore issued so
that he might continue his unlawful
business while the hands OF the defend
ants were tied by the court The wires
in question which we're cut crossed
street in Takoma Park, pursuant to an
order passed by the mayor and council.
Further answering the bill of com
plant. the defendants say the complain
ant is a professional gambler, whose
principal business is the establishing.
conducting and maintaining of gam
bling places known as poolrooms, for the
purposes of therein betting. wagering
and gambling, and the making and sell
ing of books and pools on the result
OF trotting, running and pacing races
of horses in various places in the
United States, within and without the
state of Maryland; that he desires to
have as his patrons the sporting ele-
meut OF Washington city, and being pre-
vented by the rigid enforcement of the
laws of the District against gambling.
the plaintiff came into Montgomery
county. with certain associates, and es
tablshed a poolroom on the Conduit
Road near Cabin John Hotel, which
place was known as River View Turf
Club: that he was indicted by the grand
Jury of Montgomery county for gam
bling. etc, at the said place in July
of last year; that he pleaded guilty to
the charges, and that the court was
lenient in imposing sentence, the plain
tiff assuring the court that he had de-
sisted from his unlawful business in the
county
Certified copies Of the court record are
filed as exhibits TO show the indictment,
plea Of guilty. and the fine imposed.
The defendants also say the unlawful
business at Wildwood is the same as
was conducted in Montgomery county
last year at River View. All of these
facts. with others just as important.
were common knowledge and well
known to the members OF the governing
body of the town OF Takoma Park, and
believing that-under the general pow
ers conferred by its charter TO control
the public streets and highways. to
regulate the stringing of telegraph and
telephone wires. and TO abate and sup
press nuisance with said town-it had
the power and It was its duty so
to do-the respondent passed the ordi-
nance causing the plaintiffs wire to be
cut where 1t crossed one OF the streets /
Of said town.
1t is understood from the counsel for |
the respondents that they are ready to /
fight this case TO a finish. believing thar 1
the complainant has no legal right viz
tually TO tie the town legally so that he /
can carry on his unlawful business 1
against the wishes Of the citizens of that /
neighborhood