The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-14
Doors of Poolroom Thrown
Open Despite the
Dynamiters.
PLAY AGAIN GOING ON
Races Received and Large Crowd In
formed that Everything is All
Right-Police Not Present.

Chicago, Aug 14.-Undaunted by the
supposed bombs of alleged envious
rivals big Jim" OLeary, king of the
gamblers" threw open the doors of his
poolroom at ABB Halsted street as
usual yesterday afternoon and invited
the passing throng to come in and back
it's choices.
The crowd that accepted the invita-
ton was large. O'Leary was prepared
for crowd however, and had installed
full corps of sheet writers, cashiers,
telephone operators, touts and cappers.
The king" sat in the midst of his
lieutenants on a dais in the center of
a large room leading through a wide
open doorway from the billiard hall.
OLeary himself handled the bank
roll" and after each race went to a
cage in the rear of the room, where
he superintendent the payments of win
ming bets.
Big Jim II be open as usual was
the word passed out early yesterday.
| The explosion in O'Leary's billiard hall
Monday night was generally supposed
to be due to the efforts of his rivals,
although another explanation attrib-
uted it TO a leaking gas main. but his
cappers assured the regulars" that
everything would be all right.
Crowded for First Race.
Fully 500 men were crowded into
the room before the first race was
called. Cards were hung on the walls
giving the entries and prices of horses
at Saratoga. Empire City (Yonkers)
Fort Erie and Seattle. Other cards
conveyed the information that the
weather was clear and the tracks fast
at the four places. The customary
ragged dope sheets" could be had fol
the asking.
The hum of conversation In the big
room was so loud that it could be plain
ly heard on the street. Cappers stood
outside O'Leary's saloon four or five
strong all afternoon. The striden
tones of the announcer. as he called
each race from start TO finish, some
times could be heard in the BARRON
downstairs.
Owing to the telegraphers' strik,
some difficulty was experienced in get
ting returns on the races. The cashie
did not begin to pay off until nearl,
o'clock. because no bets were pal,
until the first reports of the races wer,
confirmed. This delay caused uneasi
ness among patrons Of the room. ant
the "touts" and "cappers" continual.
worked their way through the crow,
assuring everybody that there was n,
danger of police interference. Ri:
jim" himself frequently told timid bet
tors, Everything is all right"
Four Sheet-Writers Busy.
Four sheet-writers were busy at
long desk in the center of the room
taking bets. A big-voiced announce
urged the crowds TO hurry and get thei
bets down. Wagers of 81 were taken
but many running into the hundred
were noted by the nimble pencils o
the sheet-writers.
Merchants and their clerks I'm tn
neighborhood Of O'Leary's saloon. re
tanned the belief yesterday that the ex
plosion in the ballard room Monda
night was not due to the bursting of
gas pipe" as OLeary had maintained
The explosion, ii was said was s
loud that it could be heard for block
and the conclusion so violent that
was plainly felt in adjoining building:
O'Leary informed his patrons whe
the day was over that he would ope
today as usual.
, How about the police?' he wa
? asked.
/ Never mind. The room'n be ope
r tomorrow"