The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THURMAN LOSES AT SARATOGA
AND REFUSES TO PAY.
Proprietor Of tho Gambling House Puts
Case In Lawyers Hands-loser Says
lie Dih Not Know What Ire Was Doing

OF the most honorable as well as one OF the
wealthiest turfmen in the United States
The man made large fortune in Western
city in the manufacture of a certain kind
OF locomotive and added to that for
tune when his plant was absorbed by a
trust. whose capitalization was so heavy
that not long after its organization it had
to be reorganized.
After retiring from active business no
gathered together a rather formidable
stable Of horses, some of which won for
the owner SC me of the classic events of the
Eastern turf He still has a large stable
and he is a stakeholder in one of the leadir &
racing associations Of the country
He arrived in Saratoga the day before
the races began. Shortly after he got
here, he learned that one Of the gambling
houses was doing business on the quiet
He and two friends went to the place on
the evening of Aug. 5 which was the last
night the house was open. The party
walked into the club about Q O'Clock.
stiff game of faro bank was in progress
and there were few players at the roulette
wheel
The tUrfman watched the turning wheel
on one Of the colors He played with vary
ing fortune for some time, finally winning
5000. What is alleged to have happened
afterward was told to THE Sun cores
pondent this evening by a man who
watched the play from beginning to end.
This man said
after Mr.. Blank had won 500, two
chips, each representing 500, were placed
in front of him. These he lost, and there
after he put up markers for some time,
betting always on the even money hazards,
$500 at each turn of the wheel. He won
81 500, cashed in 800 OF his chips and KEEP
$500 in chips in front Of him.
Then he asked that the limit be raised
to $500, which request the house refused d.
After the refusal, Mr. Blank said: Well,
l don't care much. These chips only
represent so cents apiece anyway One
of the proprietors of the place fastened
to inform the player that he had made a
serious mist axe, that the chips were 500
each and the croupier was directed TO stop
| the play until an understanding was arrived
| at.
"One OF the players friends assured
the proprietor that everything would be
all right and play was resumed. Mr..
Blanks luck turned soon after that and he
ran up a loss of 81 900, which he reduced
after little to $4,000, Luck turned again
| and Blanks losses mounted to ST. 900.
| At that point he made another request
| for a raise OF the limit, which WAS again
refused, to be followed by repetition Of his
former statement that the markers stacked
up along the rim OF the wheel represented
! only so cents each.
This time the senior partner in the bust
ness, one Of the best-known gamblers in
the country, who had been watching the
play, but had said nothing, stepped TO the
wheel and said: That is the second time
| you have made that statement, Mr.. Blank,
| and before there is another turn of the wheel
| there must be de finite and final under
standing between you and the house. These
markers represent 500 each and you now
owe the house 81, 100. / would like you
to count them on the basis Of 500 each
and see if your total agrees with mine
THE player counted the markers and his
count agreed with the proprietor's. Then
each of the players two friends was asked
to make the count. They agreed with the
house and one Of them, when appealed TO
said that the contention of the house az to
! the value of the markers was correct. The
other friend would say nothing for some
time, but. finally. and after much urging,
he said he thought the player was con-
fused and that the house was right.
"The attitude of his friends seemed to
nettle Blank and he said to the proprietor
Well, you may as well understand that
shall not settle on any such basis. Here 6
S7OO OF your money, which I'll give you and
get out
You cant give me anything, remarked
the elderly boss. That money is yours,
because you won it. If, however, you
want credit for that amount on what you
owe, shall be glad to give you the credit.
The money was turned over and the
| player and his friends left the place the
| proprietors contending that he owed them
| SIG, 400. They looked for him the next
day, but couldn't catch him. They tried
| again on other occasions and failed but last
night the man met them by appointment at
| his hotel He told both gamblers fatty
that he did not purpose to pay them what
| they said he owed them, first, because he
/ denied their contention AZ to the amount,
and, second, because he alleged that he
did not thoroughly understand what he was
doing while he was playing.
The elder of the two partners then said
that if the man took that stand he Cthe
gambler) reserved the right to take such
action as he saw fit.
Thus the matter stands, except that the
gambler has consulted lawyer, a former
District Attorney of Kings county, and the
| lawyer now has the case under advise
ment What tho out come will be ! don't
| know"
The man who refused to settle is at the
track every day and is in good standing
! with the hookmakers. Among those who
know him well he is highly esteemed and
! his word has always been considered to
be az good as his bond II has been said
that he Is not as wealthy as he once was.
but he is still, so far as any one knows, a
man of large means. His horses, however
have done little or nothing all the year.
Near the close Of last season this man
played roulette one night at Canfield's
betting $500 at every turn of tho wheel
IN was about ny high play as ever was seen
in the house. He won a large sum Of money
but it was said that before the night was
over he lost heavily If he did. he made
good his losses.
His friends say that there is some mis-
take somewhere, which will undoubtedly
be adjusted to the satisfaction of all con-