Evening star., 1909-08-29
TIRED OF LAWS DELAY
Chief of Police Wants Hand
book Cases Tried.
DEFENDANTS NUMBER is
All of These But One Are Out on
Bail.
ONE WOMAN IN THE TOLLS
Accused With Her Husband of Vio-
lation of the Statute Against
Gaming.
DEFENDANTS NUMBER is
ONE WOMAN IN THE TOLLS

Mai. Richard Sylvester. superintendent
of police, is wearily waiting for the Po-
lice Court trials of persons accused OF
making handbooks on the races.
What has become of all the cases. he
asked last evening. Il have spent much
time i'm the effort to break up the bus-
ness, and have given the question much
thought. but It's been a long time since
any of the cases were tried
The summer recess of the Police Court,
fl is explained, has a good deal to do
with the slow progress in bringing the
cases TO an issue, some of the arrests
having been made during the recess. But
unless speedy trials can be had in such
Eases, Maj. Sylvester says, the p 4.e are
at disadvantage i'll their efforts to
remedy the evil. Sixteen of such de-
PENDANTS are waiting the courts action.
Some of the offenSes, 1T Is alleged, were
committed as far back as January, al
though the accused parties were taken
into custody later.
In each case the defendant demanded
jury trial. Such a demand in Police
Court always means a postponement OF
from a few days TO many weeks or
months, and in some instances the cases,
it is stated, have hung fire SO long that
they had to be nolle pressed. The jury
teen defendants were able to furnish
bond in the sum of $1,000 each, there be-
ing more than one offense charged against
some of them.
Woman in This Case.
In one of the more recent cases wonl-
an was named as defendant, being the
first instanct of the kind in the District,
the violation alleged being of section 500
of the code, which reads:
1t shall be unlawful for any person
or association of persons in the cities
the District of Columbia, or within said
District, within one mile of the bound
aries of said cities, to bet, gamble or
make books or pools on the result OF
any trotung race or running race of
horses. or boat race, or race of any kind
on any election or any contest OF any
kind, or game of base ball.
Amy person or association Of persons
violating the provisions of this section
shall be fined not exceeding $500 or be
imprisoned not more than ninety days or
both"
The lone woman accused of having en-
gagged in the handbook business was Mrs
Julia Lyons. wife of William Lyons. Her
husband was also accused. There are
two counts against them. the police al
1eging that they accepted bets the 10th
and Goth of this month.
Former Policeman, Also. !
Ezra Collins, former member OF the
police force. is awaiting trial on two
cases. one of them containing two counts
June % last and August is and 20 are
the dates upon which he is alleged to
have accepted bets.
John Mcconnell lis charged with having
done similar business with Patrick j.
Daley, March I and Is. 1t is the allega-
tion that on the latter date Mcconnell ac-
cepted a wager of $225 from him. Daley
a nd hic
grievance will be told in court.
Frank Bozzone. Is alleged to have ac-
cepted a So bet from Frank Johnson
about the middle of June, while there is
also a count against him to the effect
that he engaged IN the handbook business
with persons unknown to the police about
April /.
April II is the time set out In the in
formation against Clifton Harrison The
claim of the government Is that he ac-
cepted bets from persons unknown to
them.
Charles f. Senfff will have three counts
to defend when his case comes to trial.
John Daniels and Benjamin Thomas are
alleged to have made bets with him
early in July.
There are two counts against Frederick
Ribinitzki. In the first he is charged
with having made a handbook about the
first of the year, while the second count
contains a charge that he was in the
business about the middle of last month.
w. ]. McGill will have only one count
to defend The charge is that he dis
played an interest in the gambling busi-
ness August 16.
One Charge Against Each.
Frank Foster. Ossie Klinger. Arthur
Langley and Jerome A. Collins are
charged with having made handbooks on
the ponies between April II and the mid
die OF July. There Is one charge against
each defendant.
Thomas c. offutt is the only one of
several defendants who is not under
bond for his appearance He has been
detained in Jail since the middle of June,
and is probably of the opinion that 1t is
case of punishment before trial. There
are three counts against him. Elijah
Johnson and William F1tzhugh are al
legged to have played the races in his
book.
In the charges against Charles E. Wiles
and Charles Scott, johnson Is alleged to
have placed money with them on the
races. 1t is stated that he bet s. with
Wiles and 81 with Scott.
Assistant United States Attorney Ralph
Given. who is away on his vacation, is
expected to return In time to be in court
early in September when the new jury
is organized Talesmen for fall jury
duty are to report the first Monday in
September, although it will probably be
three days later before the panels are
completed and the jury trials are taken
mp. 1t is stated that there but few
trial by Jury, and that the handbook
cases will be taken up probably about
the middle of September.
Wants Cases Disposed OF.
Mr.. Given discussed the handbook
cases before he went away on his vaca-
ton. saying he was anxious to have
them disposed Of at an early date There
is no likelihood that much preparation
will have TO be made in order to get the
cases considered. as the policemen who
made the arrests have been instructed
10 be prepared to go into court at short
notice.
Judges Kimball and Mullowny ex-
change courts October ]. and the change
will probably mean that each judge will
try some of the handbook cases. Should
any be heard during the month of Sep
tember, which seems probable, they will
be tried before Judge Mullowny. those
later coming before Judge Kimball. In
all probabiliay the case of Offutt. who
was unable TO give security, will be call
cd first, the custom being to call the Jail
Eases and dispose of them before hear
ing the cases of those who are out on