view raw text
JOCKEY CLUB WILL PROTECT PATRONS. Courts Will Be Appealed to in Event of Attempt at Intimidation at Gravesend. New- York. June 1. — Matters have progressed so smoothly at Belmont Park that oral speculators are hoping there will lie no trouble at tiravosend. It is said that the police department will follow- its policy of a year ago. tlmt of respecting court decisions and enforcing the law as interpreted. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ruled that oral wagers can be made and paid and that persons can accept as many of them as they wish providing the transactions are not recorded. If the police department swiftly goes after persons who may record l ets no fault can be found by reputable lay rs and players, who see no good reason why the law- cannot be olieyed without causing Ini-onvenience. Just what will tie the attitude of the Kings County district attorneys office is puzzling many turfnion. Recently several men who said they were detectives in tlie employ of Assistant District Attorney Robert H. Elder of Brooklyn visited Belmonr Park and asked Sheriff Foster of Nassau Countv to give pointers as to persons who were inclined to violate the law and therefore needed extra surveillance, but Sheriff Foster had no information of this kind to impart, saying that the law was strictly enforced and that arrests were out of the question. From this it was assumed at once that Mr. Elder intended to resume bis anti-lntting crusade at Jravesend but race track attorneys say that they do not see how Mr. Elder can proceed, in view of Unlaw as it stands at present. "If there is anv attempt at Intimidation or oppression." said a big man in the Jockey Club, "we will appeal to the courts for protection. We do not intend to permit the outrages that were perpetrated upon race track patrons last year to be repeated. We have rights and we shall nrotect them." With the freedom enjoyed by the Belmont Park patrons continued, it is believed there will be some big crowds at tiravesend. particularlv for the reason that tiie track can be reached in various ways an.l at anv time for a nominal fare. If there is no friction it will not be at all sm-prising if extra days an- providi-d by President P. J. Dwver.
