New-York tribune., 1909-09-18
RAID ON B0OKMAkERS
NINETEEN ARRESTS At
GR4VESEND TRACK.
Warrants iS7corn ont by District
attorney Clarkc's Men Serred
UithOut Disturbance.


Gravesend racetrack yesterday. when nineteen
men, charged with violating the Agne"-Hart
law against bookmakng. were arrested just
after the first Warrants which had beeh
sworn out by detectives connected with District
Attorney Clarke's office and signed by Judge
Fawcett were served quietly 10y Detectives Lam
gan Van Wagner and Murphy. There was
little or no excitement disturbance AFTER
the arrests everything went along as usual
though fewer oral wagers were made thah
would otherwise have been the case.
The prisoners gave their names as Joseph Ven
dig Bertus Squires, Samuel Frank. John H. Nc
Tighe, John Mcpherson. Orlando Jones' Johh
Simpson. Charles Wilson. Albert Krauss. Henry
yelling. Walter J. Cough, William Snow sig
mund Ashman, Mark Reardon, Jerome Reardon
Harry Cohen Michael T. Campion William
Meyers and Henry Ginzig.
The men were taken before Judge Fawcett' IN
Brooklyn. where they pleaded not guilty. They
were released under 81 900 bail each for trial on
September ~.
Inspector O'Brien. who has been detailed at
the track I'm charge of a number Of detectives.
expressed the opinion that nothing could come
of the arrests. I'm view OF the fact that his men
had reported to him from day to day that no
evidence could be obtained that tine law WAS be-
ing violated Arrests would have been made
long ago. he added. il there had been any
ground on which to base complaint for book
making,
Under the system Of oral betting which has
been in force at the tracks this year person
must wager with some friend or establish credit
I'm some way. as cash cannot he passed. II was
the gossip about the track yesterday that detec-
tves In the guise Of casual racegoers had heen
going about in the last few days establishing
credit with men who we're willing Ia accept
oral wagers by deposting certain sums before
yraa
for the charge that cash had been accepted for
the purpose of betting and led 10 the arrests
EXPECT MORE ARRESTS TO-DAY.
A rumor vas current last night that warrants
had been issued for other men and that they
would be served az the track to-day.
The arrests made yesterday were tho first
since the season opened AZ Belmont Park on
May H. although a number Of persons have
been warned on the track and admission has
been refused TO others ~ the Ptnkerion men
for overstepping tho bounds of the law as IN
| terpreted by the courts. II MAS held that oral
betting and settlement was not violation Of
| the Agnev- Hart law. passed by the Legislature
| in June 1905. and that Interpretation more
or iess>betting has beeh going on az the various
tracks all the season without interference from
the authorities
Two weeks ago Governor Hughes addressed
/ telegram 10 Police Commissioner Baker. sheriff
| Hobley and District Attorney Clarke advising
them that il had been reported to him that the
Law against bookmaklng az the tracks was being
/ violated This led Police Commissioner Baker
10 send an extra detail OF policemen in plain
clothes To sheepshead Bay, while Sheriff Hob
ley ordered more deputies to the track TO look
out for violations of tho statute. The District
| Attorney also detailed a number Of detectives
| to the track
| The Rev. Walter Laidlaw. chairman Of tho
| Citizens, Anti ti-Racetrack Gambling Campaign
Committee. when asked last week il his commit
tee had Informed Governor Hughes Of the con-
dltions OF the tracks this summer. said,
| Not 10 my knowledge. 1t may he that men,
bers Of the committee in their capacity as pri-
waite individuals have informed the Governor
! Of the situation. I presume one or two Of the
members had something TO do with IT,
''The committee continues its existence to pro-
| tect the law from emasculating amendments, ."
/ work for its enforcement and to supplement u
| bv further legislation II this shall be found
| necessary when the courts have given their
/ final decision concerning the laws "f lMH. II
| the Supreme Court hands down decision that
| n layer Of odds is not bookmaker. there Will
be an effort made To- bring the statutes of the
state into conformity with the fundamental idea
| Of the constitution.
SHERIFF WITHOUT EVIDENCE
There is vast difference between arresting
| a man and conyicting him" said Sheriff IIobley
| last night '.Now. when / arrest man ] am
| personally responsible ana if I do not obtain
| enough evidence To convict him will be rest-
| sonably certain of being sued
| - member of the Police Department or of tho
| district Attorneys office can make arrests. and
the city viii be suod if tho mans character is
! injured bv it
Il was informed 10y Governor Hughes that in
formation had reached him that there We're
violations Of tho gambling laws at the racetrack,
but reported 10 him that could not obtain evi-
dence Of the same. There is betting going on AT
tho tracks but the courts have held that oral
betting is Illegal that it is the recording Of a
bet that is a violation Of the law.
81 have gone to the racetracks every day TO
see that there was no violation of the law
have had to guide my actions by the decisions
Of the courts. II there is any charge brought
against me in this matter ! ready ana willing
To meet IT.
"I will call attention To the fact however. that
ont of all the arrests that have been made NJ
the racetracks since the passing of the anti
Gambling law there has been only conyic-
| ton have suit pending against me for
| $4,000 brought by man in connection with a
prevIous arrest In consequence am compelled
by personal reasons to go carefully and be sure
| of nv evidence to secure a conviction"
l
DEAD AFTER LOSING AT RACETRACK
Son Rushes Policemen to House Too Late
vifa does Not Believe II a Suicide