view raw text
JAMESTOWN RACING SAFE MAGISTRATE RENDERS IMPORTANT DECISION IN CASE AGAINST BOOKMAKERS. Representative of State Announces After Accused Layers Are Discharged That Attempts to Stop Betting at Jamestown Will Be Abandoned. Norfolk. Va., January 24. The racing folk won i decisive victory today when Magistrate It. T. Powell -of Ocean View, ruled that four men accused of bookmaking during the Jamestown .loekey Clubs nn-etiiig list November had no violated the anli-gainbling laws of Virginia. The canes were pros. rated by Assistant Attorney General Havis and Commonwealth Attorney u. 1. Marshall, of Norfolk County. The trial took place in a store at Ocean View. After the decision was aiuioiinceil. Mr. Davis stated I" newspaper men that he thought there would be no rarther efforts to prevent r.icing at the .fanies-towu Jockey Clubs track except through legislativei eni.imciit. ■•The cases ban been before three magistrates of the county aad all have decided that the method of betting on races at the Jamestown track is in -t it violation of the law." said Mr. Darts. "1 told th" governor before I cause to Norfolk that I thought it was useless to try to stop betting at the. Jamestown track. The people here apparently want racing and are l terinined to hare it." Magistrate Powell said, in rendering his decision: "It has not been clearly demonstrated to me i.v the evidence that Hie statute has Im-.-ii violated, la deciding cases, I waul direct evidence. The wit-acauen who were heard were there, but they dont seem to know exactly what took place. I was there myself. I had a few dollars that I might hare be. but no one came and asked BOB to bet. The evidence is not sufficient and 1 dismiss the cases."
