The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-27
EXPOSES RACING FRAUDS.
Horseman p. j. German Enters Suit
to Close Ascot Park Track

HorseTnan p. j. German Enters Suit
to Close Ascot Park Track.
Suit was brought last week in the
superior court at Los Angeles, which
has as its object the closing of Ascot
Park. The matter came up under an
application for a temporary injunction
asking that the defendants be ordered
to show cause why the relief sought
for should not be granted. This
means that the men responsible for
the nefarious gambling maintained
just outside the city limits may be
compelled to answer for their acts be-
fore the bar of justice; to answer di-
rect charges, which are made in the
complaint, and which will be sustained
by the proof, that they have entered
into conspiracy to defraud the pub
not ION the square," that horses are
pulled" and that the result of every
race practically is known to the book
makers beforehand. Carnival of He'll
is the term used in the complaint to
describe Ascot Park as at present
conducted; and in light of the charges
made the expression seems to be apt.
P J. German, racing man, appears
as plaintiff in the case, and is repre-
scented by A. D. Warner as his at
torney. German recently was ruled
off the track on what he claims were
trumped up charges. He declares that
he discovered crooked work on the
part of the management, and that his
threats of disclosure were met by re-
fusing to allow his horses to partici-
pate in any more races. Briefly, he
says that he refused to run his horses
to suit the "bookies,' insisting on win
ming races when he could, and that for
this reason he was ruled Off All this
is outside the case at bar.
In the complaint, to which Mr.. Cor
man has sworn, and which he expects
to prove, the management of Ascot
Park is accused directly of having
robbed the public, in the last 80 days,
Of fIao ON, 1-ro1r IONS am
the result of which is described in the
complaint as follows:
Hundreds of homes have been, and
are being, made desolate; wives are
made widows, honest men have been
made thieves, and it has caused more
than a dozen suicides, and nearly a
hundred men have been sent to the
prisons and insane asylums. The pub
lie conscience has become benumb bed
and dulled. Society has been de-
graded and peace, contentment and
happiness have given place to misery
sorrow, shame and dishonor because
of this frightful infamy carried on by
the defendant in open violation of
law
In addition to the bookmakers who
are made parties defendant to the ac-
ton the following men are held re
sponsible for the disgraceful conditions
at Ascot. suit being entered primarily
against them, as directors and trUs-
tees of the Los Angeles Jockey club.
the cerporation now operating the
park: Epes Randolph William e.
Kerckhoff. John F. Fay, jr., J. M.
Hale. ]. w. Brooks and w. E. Dunn.
Among the exhibits to be intro
duced when the case. comes to trial
will be $1,000 in bookmakers, tickets.
the money for which went into the
abookies' - pockets and, presumably,
remained there. The complaintin the
case takes the form of a bill in equity,
and asks that the so-called racing be
stopped under the provision of the
state constitution prohibiting lotteries
or similar devices"