The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-17
NORFOLK vs.. VIRGINIA.


Norfolk, Poor Norfolk: Once again the fair
city.by -the-sca has brought dishonor upon the
cscutoheou Of Virginia,
The dismissal Of the indictments against the
bookmakers nov operating al the jamestown
track is disgrace To the entire State, stencil
in the nostrIs OF al respectable people in this
Common wealta iegallzation Of lawlessness,
and judicial miscarriage which makes the Old
Dominion the laurhiugstock Of the remainder
If The Union
Bookmakug oil horse races IS specifically pro.
Aibited in the Virginia code. vet bookmakers
have been licensed by magistrate To continue
their gambling, which means that lot of loaf
ers who never did an honest days work in their
lives, and vho play a game which is all in their
favor, are permitted to trample the law of Wiz
glnia under their feet and laugh defantIy in
the face OF the Governor and Advertisement
Of this State
The indictments against the bookmakers were
qusshed on the ground that the eyidense was
Insufficient and no overt act of violating the Law
vas proved. The evidence was exactly similar
New York. Washington, san Francisco New Or
leans and numerous other places where book
making has been outlawed. It proved sufficient
IN those cities and 1t should have proved ade-
4uate in Norfolk The best evidence in the
world that the law was being openly violated at
The jamestown track by the bookmakers is the
fact tina, Attorney J. Sidney Smith. a reputable
lawyer OF Norfolk. refused admittanee to
The race course because he suspected Of be
ng In quest of evidence Of open and fragrant
violations OF the law Had there been no viola
lion OF the Law in progress on the track
there would have been 10 reason for barring
Mir Smith, who offered the price asked for a
ticket.
They all speak the same language in Nor
foiks The dismissal of tie indictments against
The bookmakers is "all fours' with the judi.
tiaI farce which followed the hideous diseo-
sureg in the congressional primary Of last Au-
gust. Jimmy" Prince. Boss of the Second
Ward of Norfolk was conspicuousiy identified
With the pollution Of the primary ana be is
the president Of the jamestown Jockey Club,
which believes bookmaking is necessary FOR the
success OF the spring race meet. Those who
know Norfolk and Norfolk politics are at no
oss to understand why the indictments were
dismissed
Norfolk continues to make strong bid FOR
Grst honors as the most corrupt city it's size in
The United States For the pollution of the pri-
saary last August scores of raeri~ should have
been sent to the penitentiary Vet no one has
been punished. For the open operation OF gam.
bling houses, where every game Of chance ever
Invented be played. is disgraceful. but when
The chief of police made raid and captured
vohsfdefaoie gambling parapneFnara. i, was
returned to the gamblers b order OF court.
Twelve indictments were found against VIC
lators OF the and-bookmaking laws of Virginia,
and all of them have been dismissed and the
offenders told TO go their way and continue to
defy the Law
When the next Legislature Of virginia meets
one Of It's chief duties will be to further protect
the primary from the Norfolk debauchers write
the anti-gamblng laws in large and blacker
type so as to AFFORD no loophole for the book
makers and those in collision with them and
thereby protect the honor Of the State of Viz
finia from the dssolute element In the City-by.
the-Sea which respects no Law except that which
II wishes