Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-20
HAD DEAD SURE THING
Alleged Sports Bluff in
Washington Bapaaaess Place.
GAMBLING DECREASES
LAST WIRE nrm&4p FROM ST.
AsAPH's POOL ROOM.
The Handbook Operators Unable to Do
Business-A1exandria County
Citizens Comment.

lis Talk was only Tor effect. He was never
known to have more than So or So in his
pocket at any one time and the hundred he
speaks of is one hundred cents. During the
past three days, Star reporter was told,
big money takers and would-be pIungers
have been unusually numerous, and almost
every one who has INDUCED in the boasting
has proved to be ''piker''
With tie wires taken from the st. Asaph
pool room and the handbook men lodging
the police, the gamblers are finding 1t no
easy matter to place their cash on the
horses Ii there was anything done in the
handbook business today 1t was under COW
er and not openly. The handbook operators
were not in evidence about the hotels, sa-
looms cigar stores and other hanging-out
places today. Yesterday at St. Asaph's
things We're unusually gloomy and the pro-
motors OF the game were unable to give any
encouragement to the few faithful ones who
Journeyed to the resort.
The Boomers in Bad Shape.
There was not bright spot in the cloud
caused ty the officials CT the Western Union
Telegraph Company's action in removing
the wires. Not only were the race track
wires and instruments removed, but the
company also took out what were known as
the Old Dominion wires These wires were
used, 1t is stated, for the purpose Of trans
mittlng the money wagered to the West
Virginia Athletic Association. The taking
out OF this wire left tho pool room managers
without loophole and the closing of the.
pace seemed to them to be the only alterna-
tive When 1t had been announced that
Lhere would be no bets received the few
regulars" left the room and the club saloon
business hardly Melted expenses.
A resident of Alexandria county said to a
star reporter today that he thought the
good people of the county should send a
vote of thanks to President C1owry of the
western Union Company for the action he
fnk ny, yfr
that the place shall remainf closed and the
Objectionable element kept out Of the
county. The county, he STATED, has i'm
proved very fast during the past few years.
despite the terrible drawback, and when it
Is no longer overrun with gamblers Of the
low type the inducements; Tor respectable
people to make their homes there will be
much greater Alexandria county, he said
is one of the best pieces of country in this
section, and with the removal of the dens of
iniquity from within its BORDERS it is des-
tined to become the most attractive place
for Washingtonians to build their summer
homes. u
Thousands of people I'm this city who
have had taste of betting on the races
are simply horse crazy" remarked a de-
tective to a Star reporter this morning.
Its demoralizing effect upon the commu-
nifty cannot be questioned Some months
ago, when the, gambling craze took pos
session of SO many people and hand-books
were started, many people got an idea that
they could get wealthy by backing the
game. and opened books. While many Of
them met with success some Of them soon
went to the wall. Those who failed, how
ever, were the ones who had but small sums
of money and could not stand much when
winners were picked.
Players Become Backers.
81 recall one case in which two clerks in
one of the departments became hackers in
stead Of players, and started out a runner
or agent. One of the first patrons backed
a horse for So. with the understanding that
his winnings were to be placed on horse
in the next race. Both selections won, and
the winnings amounted to something like
S400. A compromise was suggested, but the
winner declined to accept one-half the
amount he had won. This put the clerks
out of business, and they were afterward
satisfied to give up few dollars TO the
other 'bookies when they received their
salaries each month, instead OF being
hackers.
Another man who had lost many dol
lars and who thought he would like to be-
ccme a layer of Odds" said the detective
started out with $500 capital to become
a full fiedged hacker. He had been unsuc-
cessful player and thought he might
become wealthy in the new role. Ills career
as hacker was not much longer than that
of the two clerks. When he started with
his small amount of cash capital he saw
what he thought was an opportunity to
pick up 800 more the first day. 1t was
about 90 Oclock in the afternoon and the
first race had been run. A man who had
received a private wire announcing the
result wagered $50 on the winning horse
and in order to throw OFF suspicion he
selected two horses in later races. These
horses he had been Informed. had been
scratched so that his bets on them would
not stand. His winnings ON the first bet
amounted to almost as much as the back
ers capital.
Handbook Makers Caught.
Several hackers of hand books" he said,
"have been swindled in this way, and I'm
surprised that they permitted the sharpers
to get their money. But the tin horn
ga blers will resort to almost anything In
order to get money from the bookmakers.
Many of them imagine theraces are crook
ed, and are able to ease their consciences
in the robbingr games by saying there is
swindling on all sides. Betting on the races
causes many young man TO go wrong.
A visit to the poolroom at St Asaph IS
enough to convince any person OF the eVlis s
attending the game. There in the crowd
in front of the boards are men or all
ages and conditions. Those who have a
little money are usually tibet ones who get
excited and are most in evidence. This is
probably because they have but little and
are over anxious.
II is not an unusual teibg 70 see clerks
whose salaries must necessarily be small
betting more than a weeks salary on
single race, and it Is unhsdessary to state
that the percentage of winnings Is NOT
large. How some of them. manage TO stano
1t so long can better be imagined than told
Occasionally when arrests are made Tor
embezzlement the truth ctiaies out and the
races are blamed for the downfall OF the
unfortunate. 1t might b9.MsH for employ
ers to visit the pool room when they have
Sf IN hs fas sn and
their employe in q position to redeem
himself" ST II
Gambling Dininishes.
1t is authoritatively stated that there is
| less gambling being done IN Alexandria
county now than there has been at any time
| In many years. 1t is said there Is some
little policy being played at Jackson City.
/ and perhaps the usual small sweat game Is
also in operation. At Rosslyn, 1t Is said.
/ there is nothing going on In the gambling
| line. The recent experience OF some or the
| gamblers in being arrested and heavily
fined. as stated in The Star at the time.
was too much for them. Most of the Ross
! Ign gamblers, 1t Is said, have not much
! backing on the part of influential people In
| the state Despite all that has been done
| the gamblers think their troubles VIII blow
| over In a short time and that they will
again be permitted to conduct business un-
/ mo mn f1.ar farr n