California Law Put to the Test: Arrests Made for Violation of Walkers-Otis Measure at Coursing Park as Originally Planned, Daily Racing Form, 1909-07-10

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CALIFORNIA LAW PUT TO THE TEST. Arrests Made for Violation of Walker-Otis Measure at Coursing Park as Originally Planned. San Francisco, Cal., July 9. The followers of racing and other pastimes that were affected by the Walker-Otis anti-betting law should know soou whether the framers of the bill left a loophole or whether the bill is a hard and fast affair. Jerry OSliea. or, as he is better known, the "Mayor of the Potrero," has provided, a bona fide test of the new law. Acting under the advice of attorney Carroll Cook, who has been retained by the racing men to test the validity of the law. OSliea arranged a coursing match at his Ingleside Park and three arrests resulted from the betting that went on in connection with the coursing. Corporal James J. McKntee and R. II. Reamer of Police Captain Tobins command had been detailed to make the arrests and were on hand when the tirst comers arrived at the coursing park. Jerry OSliea was selected as judge, his son Frank as poolseller and stakeholder and John McKeon and Joseph Jones as bettors. S. F. Smith of Carroll Cooks office was in attendance to see that all the proceedings were in proper form. "There is a question of superiority about these two dogs," announced Frank OSliea. when he had taken ids place in a poolsellers box; "There will now be a race. Who wants to betV" McKeon bet on one dog and Jones covered the bet with a dollar on the. other. The bettors placed the money in the poolsellers hands, who gave them tickets therefor. The policemen stood by the box and witnessed the making of the bet. After the race had been decided, the poolseller paid over the money to the winner. Then Corporal McKntee said: "Frank OShea. John McKeon and Joseph Jones, you are under arrest for violating a state law." The "prisoners were taken in an automobile in charge of policeman Beamer to the Seventeenth street police station, where they were booked for violating the anti-betting law. Later on Jones and McKeon were released on 5 bail each and OSliea remained in jail. His release will be sought on habeas corpus proceedings, in order to get the case before the higher courts at once. The test is in pursuance of plans which were formulated by the racing Interests immediately after the passage of the Wlalker-Otis law at last winters session of the legislature.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1909071001/drf1909071001_1_7
Local Identifier: drf1909071001_1_7
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800