Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-19
WILL NOT CLOSE DOWN
Pool Room Promoters Undis-
mayed by Deprivation.
LOSS OF WIRE SERVICE
BUT NO ODDS POSTED ON THE
BOARDS.
Plan Adopted of Betting on the Events,
With Long Wait for
Results.

Nothing doing at ST. Asaphs," many
patrons of the pool room were told yester-
day afternoon when they reached the sta
ton of the electric car line and wanted to
buy tickets for transportation to the sport
Ing resort.
1t is true that the Western Union Tele-
graph Company had put stop to the send
ing of the information upon the races, but
the promoters of the game had no idea of
closing down because of so trifiing mat
ter. They had no reason to fear trouble
with the county officers. for they had been
running nearly ten years with but little eff
fort on part of officials to suppress them.
1--WE are not going to disappoint you,"
one of the men in charge told the audi
ence of men who were anxiously awaiting
to hear the tickers and see the odds posted
When the hour arrived for the odds on the
first race to be posted and no odds had been
put on the boards the small gathering be-
came tired and questions were asked. There
was nothing coming over the wire, but 1t
ceived and telegraph odds paid. This re-
duced the business Of the big pool room to
handbook methods and did away with more
or less excitement which usually attends
betting. The names of the horses entered
In the races at different points were posted
as they had appeared in the mornings pub
LEGATIONS, and those who were willing to put
up their money on uncertain odds were told
that the winnings would be paid today.
With the gamblers who had unlimited funds
at their disposal the new scheme did not
interfere, but 1t was rather hard on the
'pikers" with their two or three dollars.
They were put at great disadvantage II
they managed to pick winner early in the
game for they could not get their winnings
in time to back the ponies in another race.
But Small Crowd.
There not as much of a crowd on
hand yesterday as usual. and many of
those who journeyed across the river
failed to become interested in the new
method of gambling and returned to the
city early. Those who did not go over to
Virginia and had money to wager went in
search of the handbOoks In the city as
such betting, they thought. would be more
satisfactory and they would get their win
nings so much sooner.
The action of the telegraph company In
refusing to furnish the racing news was
surprise to the managers of the pool room,
and came upon them so suddenly that they
were completely at sea, not knowing which
way to turn. They had heard it stated on
other occasions that something would be
done to wind up their alleged unlawful
game without result, and they had no rea-
son to believe yesterday that the reported
trouble would be reality. They have as
sured their patrons that they are not down
and out because of the telegraph company
action yesterday, and asserted that they
will make some satisfactory arrangement
to get the desired news by wire. The re-
assuring news delighted the alleged sports,
and this afternoon some of them were
making anxious inquiries concerning the
prospects.
Excites Interest.
Local gamblers, handbook men and others
read with interest the article in The Star OF
yesterday concerning the plan OF the ponce
in reference to the handbook business, ana
so also were a number of saloonkeepers
and other business men who have been per-
hitting this class CT gamblers to frequent
their places. The sports gathered TINS
morning about their accustomed places and
discussed the situation, but there was no
outward showing of doing business. Many
bets were refused by those who have been
doing business on large scale, and the
mere mention of a bet to most of the sa-
loon men and cigar dealers was met by the
statement, There's nothing doing 1t Is
more than likely that there was some busi-
ness done by the handbook men today, but
IL was done quietly and in a manner not to
attract attention.
At several places where there has been
no effort at concealment the hackers or
agents were not to be found this morning,
and hundreds of men were deprived of an
opportunity to wager their cash on the
horses. While the chief headquarters of
the handbooks has been In saloons and
cigar stores, some business has been con-
Quoted in barber shops and upon the
streets. 1t is stated that one man in the
handbook business has been doing business
openly on the street near the navy yard,
and that another had an office fitted up in
7th street building. Many of the patrons
of the latter place, 1t is stated, were gov
eminent clerks.
One man who acted as the agent of
bookmaking concern and was paid a COM
mission it is stated, had been In the bust
ness only a few days before his weekly
commissions amounted to something like
800. This money comes, 1t is said from
money wagered by people who can Ill afford
the loss, and, 1t Is argued. shows that the
game is decidedly one-sided affair. In
number of cases in which arrests for al
legged dishonesty by trusted employees have
been made by the police 1t was shown that
the dishonesty was caused by desire to
play the races.
Confession of a Patron.
II wish the police would put stop to
this handbook business, said an employee
of local establishment to Star reporter
today. I'll confess that / am fond Of
gambling on the races and have not the
moral courage to stop. Because of my
business it is not possible for me to go
over the river very Often and 1t has also
been impossible to keep away the hand
book men from my place OF employment.
IL the ponce Dreak up the game IN the city
1t will be blessing to me, and / know
thousands of others will also be benefited.
Speaking from experience, l can say that
the pool room across the river and the hand
books in the city have had terribly de-
moralizing effect upon thousands of young
men in this city,.
1t was stated this afternoon that efforts
had been made to get the racing news
from press associations for use at st.
Asaph's, but without success.
a