The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-27
SEEKS DAMAGES.
Ben Levy Sues Rival POOlroOm
Keepers for S5s,S75.
Kansas City, Kan, Officials
Alleged to BE in the Plot.
rs AN OPEN SCANDAL.
Tells a Story of Political IN
fuence Used WrOngfully.
Claims City Took His Money,
Then Turned Him Down.
is AN OPEN SCANDAL.

Kansas city. Kan. Oct. 27-Ben
Lew. q bookmaker. wants damages to
the amount of $53,3T5 from Ed A Nc
Carren and Thomas Carey, rival pool
room keepers. whom he claims used
their alleged influence with the city
officials to legislate him out Of bust
ness.
The suit was fled with the circuit
clerk, and in his petition Mr.. Levy al
leges that he consulted with the city
officials of Kansas City. Kan, in refer
ence to the opening of a poolroom and
was assured by them it would be all
right. Then he paid into the city
treasury the sum of IS, 600 for the priv
ilege of running a poOlroom and was
given q receipt for the money and a
permit TO do business All of which
occurred June q, 1905. Then he fitted
up a poolroom and prepared to permit
the public to place its bets on the
Rivals After Him.
About that time BdcCarren and Carey
got in on 1t. MIR. Levy alleges in his
petition that they learned he was to
be a rival in business and they declared
they would drive him out of Kansas
City Kan. that they possessed great
political influence and could control
and influence legislation in the city and
in the courts; that they consplred with
the city attorney and other OfncldlS to
draft and pass an ordinance prohibit
ing the conducting of a poOlroOm In
district which embraced Leyy's place of
business and that this ordinance was
passed through the inStrumentalfty Of
the defendants and an alderman who is
a clerk In the Doolroom conducted by
the defendants.
After reciting his arrest for conduct
ing a poolrOOm in the prescribed dis
~ Ice
he concludes with an itemized state
ment of the damages he claims he has
suffered by reason of the alleged con-
splracy of certain Kansas City, Kan,
officials and the defendants to drive
him out of town.
First he asks for 1915 actual dam
ages; then comes for loss of time, $3.50;
loss on account of Improvement to
pooIroom, $4,000; loss on account of
value of license. 81 500 loss in hiring
attorneys, $4,000; loss on account of
expenses in looking after prosecutions,
and defending himself against acts of
defendants. $1,000; injury to reputa-
ton. mental anguish humiliation and
disgrace and loss of profits in business,
$4,000; punitive damages, $4,000.
Defendants Deny Charge.
Tom Carey, one of the defendants in
the suit. returned from Excelsior
Springs last night He knew nothing
of the fling of the suit until told of it,
and then expressed much surprise.
After thinking the matter over he an
nounced he had decided the action was
taken wholly for the effect it might
have on the case which is already in
the Kansas supreme court
It's all a bluff he said 81 have
not paid any attention to pooIroom
matters since disposed of my interests
I'm the Derby poolroom on Ewing
street. I am surprised that Levy is
named as the plaintiff in the case.
shall take it upon myself to let the
public know at an early date. who the
real proprietors of the Levy poolroom
are. AS for me- I have quit the pool
room business"