Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-08
DOING BIG BUSINESS
Everything Wide Open at
Wildwood Turf Club.
LARGE ATTEN DA NOE
CLUB ACTS AS "COMMON CAR
RIERv FOR A COMMISSION.
Form of. Agreement Between Manage
ment and Patrons-Prosecuting At
torney Lewin's Statement.

tornev Lewin's Statement.
The Wildwood Turf Club is doing rush
ing business Thousands Of dollars change
hands there every day. 1t Is estimated that
the daily attendance of sports has aver
aged something like 300. Everything IL
wide open and in full blast, and there Is no
effort at concealment made on the part OF
the promoters of the club. Despite the
open manner in which the place Is conouct-
ed and the statement OF the common
wealth's attorney that it is In violation OF
law, it is said no peace officer OF the county
has visited the place or started prosecu-
ton The act of 1898 makes 1t apparent
that an act of the town council OF 1ahoiha
is not necessary to reach the persons VINO
are SO openly defying the law. 1t Is stateo
that the law may be interpreted to lnciuoe
the patrons of the place as well as those
who are behind the counters and In 'front.'
of the boards. 49,.
On the backs of the tickets furnished the
patrons Of the club is statement "nlcn rs
Intended to make 1t appear that the person
who wagers his money on race mas the
club to act as a common carrier, ana agrees
to pay commission OF 10 cents. ne
agreement also stipulates
Wildwood Turf Club acts in the premises as
a common CARRIER for the purpose OF trans
ferring the money above menuoheu " 'iAe
place designated.
vision:
mo money forwarded for the purpose Oh
selling or buying pools of any kidd
"Notice-Amount of order returned, less
commission. when failure to execute Is
due to accidental or other unaVoloapie oe
lays in transmission
Provisions of the Law.
The trainers Of the law evidently had
such an agreement in mind when lhe act
was drawn and made the law cover JUST
such provisions as are printed on the
tickets. The law is as follow:
"It shall not be lawful for any person or
persons or association of persons or for
| any CORPORATION within the state or Mary
| land. to bet, wager or gamble, In any man
| ner or by any means. or to make or sen d
| book or pool on the result OF any trottiis,
| pacing or running race OF horses or othef
| beasts. or race contest contingency OF
! any kind. or to establish keep, rent, use or
| occupy or knowingly suffer to be useo'
| kept or rented or occupied, any mousse,
| building vessel ground or place on land or
water. within the state of Maryland, for
| the purpose of betting, wagering or gam
| bling in any manner, or by any means, VI
| making, selling or buying books or pools
race or contest or contingency, or by any
means or devices whatsoever, to receive
| become the depository of, record or regis
| ter or forward or purpose or agree or
pretend to forward, any money, bet, wager,
| thing or consideration Of value, to be pet,
| gambled or wagered in any manner or by
| any means or device whatsoever, upon the
| result of any race, contest or con.lnsehcy.
| ANY person violating any of the pro-
visions of this section shall be ''eemed
| guilty of misdemeanor. and upon con-
yiction shall be subject to fine or not less
| than $500. nor more than $l,OOo one-naIi
| of said fine to go to the informers, and shall
| be subject to Imprisonment in jail for not
| less than six months nor more than one
| wear, or by both fine and Imprisonment IN
the discretion Of the court.
Physically Impossible.
| Even if the law winked at the sending of
money to other points, and the bookmak-
ers really set up such claim. 1t could not be
| a tangible one. 1t is declared. for 1t is physl-
| cal impossibility to convey the money, even
by wire. between the time the bets are re-
ceived and the time the result of the races
| are announced. Under no conditions does
| there appear to be loophole for the gam
| blers so far as the law is concerned.
| The question of failure to properly en-
! force it is another matter. 1t Is certain
| that no such establishment would De per
mitted to exist in the District of Columbia
| for many minutes as this particular
place has already existed days. The law
| goes further than to hold the persons con-
Quoting the game responsible. 1t says
| rent, use or occupy, or knowingly suffer to
| be used kept or rented or occupied any
| house, building, vessel, ground or place on
| land or water within the state of Mary
| land" This clause of the law it Is con-
| tended. is intended to apply to the owner
or person who rents his place for such un-
| lawful purpose.
| The Wildwood property is in litigation
| and the court appointed a receiver to take
| charge of 1t. Under the terms of the lease
1t is stated, it is expressly stipulated that
| the property shall not be used for unlaw full
| purposes. 1t is also stated that should the
present condition of affairs be called to the
| attention of the Prince Georges county
| court the court could issue an order anrull-
ing the lease. This may be done by the re-
ceiver at the next session of the court I'M
| less the sheriff or other peace officers Of
| the county take hand in the matter in
| the meanwhile.
| May Ask for Special Session.
| 1t is regarded as probs BILE that the people
| of Takoma will be aroused to such an ex-
tent that they will appeal to Judge Mer-
| rick to take some action. The next term of
the court in the county will not be held
| until October, and the Takoma people do
not like the idea Of having their section
| overrun with gamblers all the summer and
| the cars crowded with them. They are
| considering the matter, and the judge may
| be asked to call special session of the
grand jury and try the case without delay,
If In their opinion the club cannot he broken
| up in any other way. The April term OF
| the court was not finally adjourned, and 1t
would be an easy matter to convene the
| grand jury to Investigate the gambling
| place.
| MI. Lewin's Views.
! Commemorative Attorney Levin told
| Star reporter that the running Of pool
room where bets on horse races are made
| is violation of law. He did not care to
discuss the matter, unless some move Is
made toward prosecuting the people What
| the duty of certain peace officers in the