The midland journal., 1917-04-27
The Racing Game.

tan Citizen puDlISned at Anna polls,
contains among other articles,
partial record of losses by bopding
companies that are directly trace
able to race track gambling, that is
permitted to be pulled off at Havre
de Grace and other tracks in Mary
land on payment by the gamblers in
control of the tracks, s,-and State
politics. of a license fee, which
amounts to about the same thing as
a bribe.
The list is a long one. Among
the cases we quote from the article
the following:
Case No. IA" employed as
Cashier and Teller of private bank
ing house, New York City; bond in
the sum of $10,000.OO. In Septem-
Der, 1915, admitted shortage of $5,-
10000. Subject was interviewed
and confessed that he had stolen this
entire sum of money, and that he
had sent it to Havre de Grace Race
Track; that his bets were from
$1,000 to $4,000 until the last two
or three days, and in his desire for
recoupment, he bet as high as $500.
Says he only won once or twice in
small amounts.
At the time of discovery of loss,
subject was suffering from tubercu-
losis of the lungs in advanced form
and is at present in health resort,
being maintained there Dy MS broth
ers. No prosecution.
Case No. 2.-Boy, age 10, employ
ed by Telegraph Company, Washing
ton, D. c., as Cashier Bonded in
the sum of $5,OO0.OO; stole s17,-
100000. Subject, when interviewed,
made written confession that one
half of this money was lost betting
on the races at Laurel and other
Maryland Race Tracks and the bal
anoe went toward the purchase of
race horses which he was induced
to make by certain race horse own
er.
Boy was only support of his
widowed mother and he was convict
ed and sentenced to Atlanta for five
years in 1915. Notwithstanding
that the officials of the Bowie Race
Track had knowledge and were given
knowledge of the acts of the race
horse owner in debauching this
young man, he was still permitted to
9reuuent the track and make bets.
Case No. 3-This Company is
surety on schedule bond covering the
employees of a large Washington
Bank. About November last, and
while the Bowie Race Meet was in
session, we were asked to call at the
Bank to discuss very important
matter.
The conference with the Cashier
of the Bank disclosed that fact that
one of the principal tellers and
bookkeepers had been seen dailv
talking to other clerks and taking
money from them. Further inevsti-
cation showed that he was making
handbook and collecting certain
amounts from the employees of the
Bank and sending it to Laurel and
Bowie Race Tracks to bet. Employe
was discharged and his books show
ed shortage of $1,70O.uo. He was
able to do this by abstractIng cash
from deposits and changing the de-
posit slips.
This Company sustained !o1s o.
approximately one-halr of the
amount above mentioned
The balance of the employees in
the Bank were examined and a
shortage amounting to about $500
was found, but which could not he
traced to any particular person. The
result was that one employe was dis
'harged and every other employe
who had contributed to this fund
was carefully watched by private
detectives for long time until the
Bank was satisfied that they were
not, or at least, were not continuing
the practice of betting on the races.
Racing in Maryland was the cause
of debauching the entire force of
young men in this bank, and from
my experience, l feel certain that
had it not been taken at the time ii
was, several careers would have
been spoiled.
Case No. "a" was employed
as driver in Dairy Company, Balt-
more City. Lost $600.o0 OF en-
ployer's money by betting on races :
paroled by Judge Sopher. Subject
confessed to having stolen the money
and sent the same to race tracks by
his brother to bet on horses.
Case No. GA" employed by
Dairy Company; stole $6OO.OO
Case similar to Case No. 5, except
ing that he took money to track and
bet it himself. Also paroled.
All of the above cases are in Mary
land or have to do with Maryland
fracks