The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-08-27
GRAND JURY
INVESTIGATES
Asks Governor Of New York 10
Recommend Better Race
Track Laws
Special to pally Panhandle.

vow AbAAt ANbs eNsAA 'NhFhT
ance with tho call OF Governor
Hughes, an extraordinary trial term
OF the supreme court OF Kings coun-
ty will be combined tomorrow. with
Judge Watson n. Rogers OF Water
town. presiding. The session is call
cd for the sole purpose OF probing
the race track gambling cases. In
the indictments II is charged that
the racing officials entered into col
fusion with the bookmakers TO per-
init the continuance of betting at the
tracks.
Besides indicting the racing off
ckils. the grand jury handed In a
special presentment scoring the po-
lico department for inactivity, and
recommended the repeal OF section
III. chapter 570, laws Of 1898, by
which the penal code Is suspended in
application to the tracks. The pre-
sentiment says in part;
Although the new law went into
effect on June IL, we found that II
had been openly and flagrantly vlo-
Ialhed on the grounds Of the Conoy Is
land Jockey Club. We found bets
wore made on large scale with lit
tle' attempt at concealment, Evil
deilce brought before us convinced rs
Ihad the Same fragrant violations
: eve being repeated at the Brighton
track. Conditions revealed by the
testimony disclosed such serious
situation hat we appointed commit
tees.to make visits 10 the race course.
Reports OF our members showed that
the evidence given In testimony was
aot exaggerated.
rWhile these violations were being
so generally printed the police who
we're detailed at the track, far from
doing their duty, were making no
effort TO enforce the law. We found
that for a short period the police had
been active, but at a certain point
their activity ceased. We found that
the opportunities Tor gambling we're
among the ATTRACTIONS upon which
The managers OF the race course re-
lied 10 attract crowds and also that
a,Iarge percentage Of the receipts
constituting the income OF tho asso-
citation is the result OF gambling on
the courses. II was not hard to dis
cover the reason why the officials
were Inactive In their efforts 10 pre-
vent gambling. 1t was clear that In
the proportion that gambling was re-
dueed the profits OF the association
would be reduced.
"officials of the racing association
had ample authority to suppress
gambling. BY the mere exclusion of
professional gamblers all public
gambling could have been readily
stopped, and the new law enforced
without Interference Of the police.
"Instsad OF using these means the
racing officials sought in every pos
stble way to evads responsibility and
10 give opportunity. without incur
ring liability themselves, to the pro-
fessional bookmaker and other gam
blers 20 ply their vocations,
- The consequence was that each OF
the racetracks became a rendezvous
for lawless persons who assembled
there in large numbers with the
avowed purpose OF violating tho law,
and we're encouraged and assisted by
the racing officials"
The presentment states that fol-
lowing these disclosures the grand
Jury called on the police department
for the proper enforcement OF the
law, with the result that the change
in the police system at the track
was made July 16, since when, It is
stated. vigorous work has been done
and conditions have changed. The
document continues.
I'VE can scarcely believe that the
great body of the citizens Of the state
OF New York are aware OF the extent
TO which these racing associations
have been hedged about and pro-
tected by special laws. SO that they
could dare to connive at the viola
ton OF the law on q large scale on
their premises, and at the same time
escape such police discipline and 9TH
err amsnability to the penal laws as
would apply TO the instance OF any
other cooperation or any other body
Of citizens doing the same things.
Ne think that the attention OF
the governor Of the state OF New
Vs. raght 70 DO called to this mat
'' 'heEo laws may be revised
4 that these racing associa-
hair managers should be
-.