Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25
Commissioner Vests Statement.

Commissioner West, who has super
vision of the police department. made the
following statement today regarding the
action of the police on Monday and the
refusal of District Attorney Baker TO
issue the warrants:
The effort to secure warrants for the
arrest of bookmakers at the Benning race
track signally failed When, upon complete
information of bets made at the race
track the district attorney informed Maj
Sylvester that the actions which were
brought to his attention did not constitute
any violation OF law. Maj. Sylvester.
acting under the direction of the Commits
sioners. had force of officers at the race
track on Monday with instructions to Sc
cure e-idence of actual bets. so that there
could be no dispute as to the facts. ana
then TO ask for warrants upon which the
men could be arrested. He was also in
structed to make arrests without war
rants If he found any violation of the
code relating TO gambling, which sections
are separate and distinct from the book
making and poolseling law. but he re-
ported that there were no violations of
these sections inaSmuch as the men COM
piled with the decision of the court and
did not register their bets at any eStab
lislled both. The district attorney also
holds that the managers of the track are
not liable under the law for maint aiming
place where Cabling DEVICE is set up
and refused to issue a warrant against
tnem. The track will be kept under police
surveillance. although it is evident. under
the decision of the United States district
attorney. that there will be no change iii
conditions until the law is repealed"
Maj. Sylvester's Report.
The report to the Commissioners by
Maj. Sylvester about the collecting of
this information follows:
In conformity with the directions Of
the Commissioners the chief of, the de-
tective service of this department. ac-
conpanied by ten members of his force,
proceeded to the grounds of the Washing
ton Jockey Club near Benning. ID. c., on
the opening day of the races there. March
%. and gave careful inspection to the
surroundings in the course of the days
events. and found persons betting while
moving about, without established stands
or places for such business.
The foliowin2-named officers We're pres
ent to secure evidence of betting the
races: Detective Sergeants Barbee. Yer
million Cornwell. Baur Evans. ODea,
McNamee Berman, Hewlett and Pratt.
Sergeants Berman and McNamee made a
wager or bet with Sol Lichtenstein,
maker: Jacob Minenger writer; Thomas
Boy: also with III. Henef. maker;
Charles Trotte:. writer: James Riley,
cashier. the horse Call Boy and lost.
and have information i'll hand relative
thereto.
"Sergt Cornwell made wager with
Ben Davis maker: Morris Levy. writer:
John Smith. cashier, on the horse Pllsen
and won. and Sergt. Baur bet with Harry
Hoffman. maker; w. c. Myron, writer.
w ] Harvey cashier, on the horse fama
information
Luck" Varies.
..Sarpt Hewlett made a wager with Dan
Donnelly, maker; Harry Wei.s. writer;
Edward Barney, cashier. on the horse
Bellwether, and Won and Serst. Pratt
made a bet with Robert Mcmahon. maker.
| Charles Fink, writer. Michael Campbell.
| cashier. Oh the horse Smoker. and won.
and this information they have in detail.
| Sergts. Evans and O'Dea made wagers
with Charles Lead maker: Paul J. Reiner,
! writer: Solomon Fink. cashier. on the
/ horse Sugar Pine. and won. and with
/ George Zeller. maker; John Adams.
| writer: Walter Cough. cashier. on the
| horse Servile. and lost. This information
! is in possession of the officers.
| Sergts. Vermlhon and Barbee made d
! bet with John c. Bake. maker; John
| Over alias DWyer. writer. Charles Lewis.
| cashier on the horse. Pocotaligo. and
lost. and with Frederick Vogt. maker;
| Richard March. writer: James Stiles.
/ cashier on the horse. Two Saints. and
lost. and have all information relating
/ thereto.
| Your superintendent and Capt. Board
! man called at the Office of the United
States district attorney this morning and
informed Assistant United States Attorney
| Harvey Given of what was required of the
department. and that. members OF the de-
tective force had collected evidence
against the ,bookmakers on yesterday, and
had come there TO SO state, when We were
informed that it was not in violation of
law. The matter was then taken before
n Doll iStV OF
desired to know the reason for our call
which was explained to him; he Informed
us that there was no violation of law
under the decision of the court and
neither was there a violation of the law
by the Jockey Club.
Schedules Filed.
Herewith inclosed are schedules giving
the names of officials of the club and