The sun., 1908-06-13
ARRESTS AT THE RACETRACK
Continued from First Page.
Louis Bellinger was pinched because he
had a programme marked with prices and
was said To be accanting wagers.

Louis Belinger was pinched because he
had programme marked with prices and
was said to be accepting wagers.
All of these arrests we're made in or near
the big ring. Seven other supposed layers
were apprehended in the field enclosure.
where, it was said by the police, money
changed hands on all of the races. though
it was difficult matter to get evidence.
Each arrest caused much excitement.
just before the third race a pickpocket
was caught by Central Office sleuth who
put on the handouts land began dragging
his prisoner toward the gates.
What is that man arrested for?" asked
a reporter
"For breathing, that's ALL" growled the
detective while the crowd Of bystanders
! laughed in derison.
AS THE SUN outlined yesterday morning,
the layers decided to run the risk of doing
! business on the English credit system.
The result was that layers who adopted
this method refused to have any dealings
with strangers or with known patrons
! whose credit was under suspicion.
A layer operating under the English
system simply held an ordinary programme
with the prices marked, and persons who
knew him whispered in his ear what they
wanted. AS rule the layer nodded his
head and then strolled away. II he did
not make a record of the wagers himself
he repeated the wagers to some other man
in the crowd who either iotted them down
or handed them by word of mouth to third
party.
Most Of these layers were followed about
by detectives who did their best to over
hear the business transacted. but a. no
money was up and no sheets were written
the sleuths said that it was almost impossi-
BILE to get sufficient evidence to make ar
rests.
Under this system 1t is q question of
honor between n layer and n player and
all wagers are settled either by check
or in cash within twenty-four hours out
side of the track. As a matter Of course
the volume Of betting yesterday was re-
duced to a minimum, the layers who were
said to have done business handling very
few bets. Sono of them declared that in
the course of time business wonld improve
but that there would never be public betting
in ring again.
According to the Pinkertons there were
L., 900 persons. including hundreds of women.
at the track This attendance was a big
surprise to the track management, There
is no doubt that many persons went to
Cravesend ont of curiosity, while others
took the trip hoping that some way would
be found to play the horses just the same.
While it was admitted that majority of
tho persons present were unable to make
wagers. the fact remains that the greatest
enthusiasm prevailed during the running
of the races Whether this enthusiasm
was due to bets that had been made or
to the love of racing as sport was a problem
that few could solve; but in day or two,
-. III Ia
evident Just what the attitude of the public
toward the turf under the new conditions
really ia.
Many prominent regulars looked upon
the situation from the dark side. They
said that the vigilance Of the police would
practically kill betting, as there would
be no profit for the layers hampered in srch
q manner. Allan Pinkerton said TINT the
racetrack owners had decided to make
fight TO n finish.
that as far as the Brooklyn Jockey Club
was concerned no application for an in
junction would be made. IL was said that
the Jockey Club would respect the law and
would take steps to prevent any violations.
Few Of the horsemen expressed fear as
to the outcome of the fight A majority of
them said they had no intention Of selling
their horses and that they would race here
all season. James B: Haggin, however.
We're scheduled to be sold at auction at
Sheepshead Bay this summer, would be
shipped to England
In the clubhouse where the biggest bet
tors congregate there was absolutely no
stood around chatting with their friends
and enjoyed an afternoon of. They said
they would not attempt to do any business
, until some of the test cases had been de-
cded. Some of tho big operators said that
before leaving town they had notified layers
+: with whom they usually bet Of the names
of the horses they Wished to back and the
, amount Of money they cared to wager,
/ and that they simply came to the track to
! see the horses run.
| AS far as the operations Of these players
were concerned il was absolutely impos-
| sble to find out from them what horses
| they backed and how much they bet, and
| it was the same thing prac tically with
| everybody who made a wager Nobody
! would divulge the name OF the bookmaker
! that took his bet and few would admit that
/ they bet at all. Several regulars displayed
their programmes upon which their wagers
, were written in shorthand.
Aside from the arrests of bookmakers
the Pinkertons exercised their authority
| over several photographers who tried to
take pictures of the crowd in the betting
ring. One Of these snapshot artists, 1t was
said. came to the track with police in
speotor and was instructed to snap his
camera whenever he saw money changing
hands. He had taken two pictures when
the Pinkertons nabbed him and took away
his camera The photographer made
,, great outcry when the plates were contis-
Gated, but he was led to the gates. got his
admission money back and was put out.
The Pinkertons said that nobody would
be permitted to take photographs except
men representing certain illustrated news
papers.
Magistrate Tghe stopped at the track on
his way to Coney Island after the last race
in order to, see District Attorney Elder, he
said. but the latter had just gone away in
an automobile with Commissioners Baker
and Hanson. State Senator Gilchrist saw
the races, but he declined to talk about
recent events at Albany.
Many of the small fry bookmakers are
said to be making arrangements to open
poolrooms throughout the city. Rather
than run up against the authorities at the
track they say they can operate handbooks
or small rooms and vet be safe