The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-19
HAND BOOKS GO ON
IN SPITE OF POLICE
Bets on the Ponies With
Peripatetic "BOOkies."
OLD DEVICE DEFIES LAW
CDsing of st. Asaph Expected to
Develop New Crop, But Au-
thOrities Will Watch.
OLD DEVICE DEFIES LAW

No hand bookies are recorded as hav-
i1g gone out Of business since war has
ben declared on them by the Washing
TN police. but their transactions are
clrried on in a much quieter way.
This morning bets were recorded in
1any places. and at noon today the PEN
alers paid their customary visits TO sa-
looms, bought their little drink, and sly
; y took money which was handed them
oy their clients.
oh. by the way, I owe you So" said
one client this noon to a man with whom
ne had regularly wagered his money,
( AZ the same time handing him an en-
Yelope. Inside Of that envelope might
aaye been seen note TO this effect:
Dolly Spanker. fourth race, 50 straight
md 50 place"
Betting in hand books is mainly car
'.ed on in barrooms and cigar stores.
and by persons who travel around the
: hty and take bets. Probably more
money Is wagered in the navy yard than
n any other place IN Washington For
years a joviai person has regularly Wis
tied the yard and collected envelopes
from the bettors.
Cannot Close it Out.
1t Is determined to stop this practice,
however. and while it is an utter i'm
possibility for the police effectuaIIy TO
1 stop gambling on the races as long as
horses are running, there will be less
Of it. and this will be carried or IN an
underhand manner.
The closing of St Asaph. it is
thought. will cause the springing up of
a new crop Of handbook men, and it is
known that a number Of Sporty indi-
vidusls who have been playing against
the races are marshaling their bank
rolls to play the game from the other
end and become bookmakers in a small
way. There was some talk this morn
ing To the effect that the St. Asaph
crowd VIII get together again and run
handbook on an extensive scale.
No definite information could be OBJ
tanned about the plans of the ST.
Asaph hackers, but the report was
that even If the moneyed men behind
that resort did not go into the game
a number Of the employees and lesser
lights had such a scheme In view, and
would start out on their own hook.
o-her big handbooks were also talked
and 1t is possible that a handbook
syndicate will be formed
Varying estimates were made this
Washington. The figures given by those
In a position TO know ranged from Is
70 $50. There Is practically no way of
determining which is nearest the mark
Books in the Departments.
With SO many books conducted in such
quiet way, there is practically no
possibility OF the police entirely
Graduating this form of gambling.
In the navy yard. Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing, the Government
Printing Office. and numerous other
Government departments there are
morse players who form small hand
books among themselves and take bets
only from those they know Bets are
paid on the opening and closing odds in
the New York papers, according To-
which odds the player selects. These
close associations Of players are impos-
sible TO detect except when some one
has reason 70 "squeal," and that hap
pens so infrequently that it must be
eliminated. for the 'squealer'' would
be almost sure Of losing his job for hav-
ing been party to the booking about
which he makes complaint.
Outside books also do a big business
with the department employees. There
are runners for two well-knCwn books
who meet the Government Printing Or
fee employees at the lunch hour on cor
ners near the office. and daily go away
with punches Of money on alleged good
things that the printers have "doped
out" or received a tip on.
There IS a probability thc.t the police
may be able 10 punish a few Of the
more open and fragrant bookmen. who. |
made over-confident by long immunity.
have been taking bets carclessly. but
those arrested or driven out of business
pared with the number who VIII con-
tinue as serenely az ever when the !
convicted ones are doing time"
Persistent Woman Customers.
For years there have been men and |
women playing the races and conse-
ouently separating themselves from |
their money, and it viii be hard for them |
to break the habit The racehorse poison !
is as strong as love. and in nine cases
out OF ten. it is not so lci1Ie. once !
fascinated by the ponies" the average |
man or woman is IN the game to stay.
II is an interesting. but sometimes a /
sad sight 20 stand around cigar store
where women elect to squander their |
money. A particular place has been |
pdlIDElZtu ADE many 1AAoDl4S Dg a woman
Of about flfty-fiVe years. Every day |
that she can scrape up dollar she may |
be seen in her little poke bonnet going |
into her favorite resort 70 place a bet |
From the looks OF her hands. she is a |
washerwoman. Try as she can she can |
not shake the habit" even though IL is |
daily eating up what little money she |
earns.
Several Of the more chicken-hearted |
LAYERS OF odds are becoming nervous |
over the threatened prospect of being |
prosecuted. but they have not yet shut /
down their business. Others Of the /
more venuresoroe class laugh at the at /
tempt 20 prosecute them. They have /
conducted their business in such a man
ner that they say they cannot be con-
victcd.