Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-11-15
BETTING DECLARED sLLEcAn-

BETTING DECLARED 1lEEssAa@
A verdict Of guilty in the case of
William Davis. the New York book
maker charged with taking bets on toe
races at Benning last April 10 violation
of the gambling law of the District OF
Columbia, was rendered in Criminal
Court No. in Washington yesterday
afternoon The fate Of bootmakipg as
it has been conducted at BenDing within
the last few years was decided snd The
verdict OF guilty means that the fell
racing meeting. which begins on Friday
at Benning and lasts until December /.
will be tame affair where no bookmsking
or betting will be allowed. The sentence
yesterday of two hours in jail, "a Judge
Stafford announced, was only nominal
one, because the case was test one and
the Judge merely gave nominal sentence.
The case was at once appealed to the
Court of Appeals and Davis gave bail.
The Law provides penalty of i've
years in the penitentisry aud line 10
view of the verdict OF guilty TODAY, iii
not likely that any bookmaker will run
the risk of sach sentence, by making
books at Benning during the coming
meeting. The sporting fraternity and
officials of the Jockey Cub relied upon
q verdict of acqniisl in view of the
decision of justice Bradley 10 the
Klein case that the law passed by
Congress did not apply 10 Benning,
bu. Justice Stafford in his charge
to the jury overruling the motion to ac-
quit, held otherwise, aud decided that
under the Miller case, which went to the
Court OF Appeals. and was sustained. that
the setting up and carrying on bookmak-
ing in any way was the setting up Of n
gambling table and came under the law.
Alter this decision the defense. to ex-
pedite an appeal to the Court of Appeals.
consented u the rendition of verdict OF
Just how far-reachiug the decision is
regarded by the club WAS indicated IN
the following statement given out Tor
publication last night by 5. I. Walton,
secretary Of the club.
1.-THE meeting of the Washington
Jockey Club, scheduled to commence on
Friday next, will be carried through &C.
cording TO programme. While bookmsk
| ing has, BY the decision OF the cont, been
declared illegal, betting between iudigi-
DIAL, is not punishable oteasc. The
Washington Jockey Club will strictly
| carry ont the courts decision in ihs
matter pending the settlement OF the
question on final appeal"
Secretary Walton added that certain
kinds Of betting had been carried on
upon the grounds of the club since 1899
tupon authority of decision OF Jndgs
Bradley Of the Supreme Cont OF The
District. The decision yesterday only
went 10 the manner of betting heretofore
prevailing.
IL was held to be no ofTense, he added,
Tor q person to make bets, that for this
purpose he might have sheet or pro-
gramme and even q number In his hat.
although he might not have fixed
place assigned him 10 which 10 DO bus
ness.
District Attorney Baker will issne Il
statement this afternoon defining what
can be done as ''indiyidusls" in making
a bet. For instance man can 60 To any
one, accept the odds offered verbally ard
make bel. But the bookmaker cannot
use any psraphernalia whatever, nOF can
there be sheetwrters who record the bet
Immediately The bet is recorded tho law
Is violated. Ia tact IL Ia man 10 mao. d
pending on each persons honesty to carry
out the obligation, excepting that you
can lawfully give the person you are bet
ting with the amount you care to bet.