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LOUISIANA LAW WILL BE ATTACKED Leading Turfman Says That Good Lawyers Declare It to be Full of Holes Lexington Ky July 38 While here recently a turfman well known said lie was satisfied that the Locke law would be declared unconstitutional and that there would be racing at City Park and the theI I Fair Grounds in New Orleans next winter The bill has been submitted to five of the best lawyers In New Orleans and two of the best In Chicago and they are of the opinion that it is faulty In more than one respect said Mr Corri ¬ gan The caption of tho bill fails to state the theI I contents of the measure in the manner required Specifically it does not prohibit bookmaklug It says that the operation of a betting book shall be unlawful I never heard of any person operating a betting book There are no betting books in use in this country A betting book as its meaning is understood on the turf in England tho only country in which they are used insofar as I know is car ¬ ried by gentlemen in their pockets for the purpose of making memoranda of their wagers from day to day that they may be able to check up their accounts with bookmakers when settling day usu ¬ ally every Monday arrives There is as much difference between betting books and bookmaklng as there is between day and night or black and white The framers of tho Locke law may have intended to prohibit bookmaking but clearly the bill that was passed by the Louisiana legislature does not say so soIf If bookinaklng can be legally defined as a de ¬ vice then the bill does prohibit the recording of a wager but it 5s the opinion of the lawyers that the courts will not put such a construction on the word device and I have confidence enough In the knowledge and ability of these members of the bar from whom I received the opinions to venture the statement that the law will not hold and that there will be racing under the same general routine as in the past at the New Orleans tracks next winter I am not prepared to say when the law will be tested or what plans will be made for racing but It will not be a long time until we will know definitely what can be done Horsemen will not be required to make the trip to the Crescent City on an uncertainty uncertaintyThe The exact language of the body of the Locke law which was passed by the Louisiana legislature June 23 last is as follows followsThat That any person who cither as agent owner officer or employe shall In any room hall house or any inclosure or upon any track path road or course whether within or without an inclosure in tbis state engage in encouraging promoting aiding or assisting in the operation of a betting book or French inutuel pooling device upon any kind of horse race or races or in selling auction pools upon any horse race which are hereby declared to be gam ¬ bling or shall by any other device encourage pro ¬ mote aid or assist any person or persons to bet or wager upon a horse race or races run or trotted or paced within this state or elsewhere shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than 100 nor more than 500 and imprisoned for a period of not less than six nor more than twelve months
