Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-22
uAND BOOKSDISAPPEAR
BECAUSE ST. ASAPH'S IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS AGAIN.
Other Pool Rooms May Be Started
Commemorative Attorney Says
"thO More the Merrier."

books on the races Is not necessary" was
the remark made to a Star reporter this
morning by a man who Is identihed In
sporting circles. IAN that Is necessary is
little time and they will all be out OF busi-
ness. There are only three or four OF them
left now and signs of prosperity are disap-
pearing from them. Many Of those who
were in the business a few weeks ago have
stepped down and are now engaged In leg1t-
innate pursuits. All of them lost what cap
ital they had. 1t is practically impossible
for the hand book people to keep ahead OF
the game when they have to do business
under cover. and sports are afraid to wager
their money on the books because Of the
many persons who have played winning
horses and then did not get their money.
Frequently" said The Star informant.
men who conduct these books will accept
wagers and then refuse to pay the winnings
or the ground that the money was received
too late, but nobody ever heard OF money
being returned because it was too late In a
case where the cash was placed against q
racer that failed to show. The reason SO
many hand book men have been forced out
of business is because they were unable to
stand being hit SO frequently. People who
patronize these men usually play tips or
favorites and the result is that many of
them win. At the pool rooms 1t Is an en-
tire1y different matter When there are SO
many persons 10 wager money and so many
races upon which to place the odds prac-
tically every horse is backed to some ex-
tent and 1t resolves itself into the losers
paying the winners, with the odds largely
In favor OF the promoters of the game.
St. Asaph's Operating.
Since the Virginia authorities and resi-
dents of alexandria county generally ceased
their crusade against the st. Asaph's pool
room the place has been frequented by
the former large number of people from
this city. and thousands of dollars are
being lost there by people who can i'll af-
ford to give up so much money from their
earnings Club or no club, the business
Is demOralizing and 0dEht to be stopped.
While the few men interested in the bust
ness are getting wealthy there are scores
and perhaps hundreds of homes being con-
stantly made unhappy because Of the
money that Is taken from them by the
pool room people. And it does seem sin
gular that such place is permitted to
exist almost within the shadow of the
national capital. There are laws suffl-
cient to punish the gambling crap shooter,
whose gambling must necessarily be done
on a small scale. and it does seem to me
that it ought to reach those who are taking
much money from families and causing
suffering to innocent women and children"
Since the raid made at ST. Asaph's some
weeks ago and the victory gained in court
by the alleged gamblers the pool room
across the river has been permitted to
run wide open without any restriction be-
ing placed against those who are willing
to part with their cash on wagers on the
races. So fourishing a business has been
done that other people are making ar
rangements to open Il similar place and
expect they will meet with no more oppo-
sition from the authorities than have the
owners of the st. Asaph's room. The new
place, it is stated. is to be opened at either
Rossyn or Jackson City.
Another Pool Room.
1.-The more the merrier, was the remark
of Commonwealth Attorney Mackey at the
time the St Asaph's cases were taken to
court.
He said at that time that II he failed in
his efforts to get rid Of the gambling ele-
ment in the county he would encourage the
opening of a number Of such places, in
order that the law-abiding people of the
county might get good idea of the harm
done by such places. Should the second
place prove success the county will prob
ably have other gambling places of the
kind to contend with, and trouble, 1t is
believed, is bound to follow.
In this city Major Sylvester did what
he could in the matter of breaking up the
hand books, and several arrests were made
Bond was given for the appearance of
the defendants in the Police Court for
jury trials These cases have now been
pending several weeks and have not yet
neen put upon the court assignment for
trial. 1t is thought that the trials of these
cases will be hotly contested If they are
brought before the court The claim will
probably be made that the making of such
DOCKS Is not violation Of law, but is
On par with the brokerage or commits
sion business