Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 245, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1910 — ROBY GAMBLERS DEFENDED BY JOHN B. PETERSON. [ARTICLE]

ROBY GAMBLERS DEFENDED BY JOHN B. PETERSON.

Democratic Candidate (or Congress Opposed Claud Matthews In Getting Bid of Objectlonables. Most citizens of Indiana old enough to remember when Claud Matthews was governor', will recall that he started the fight against the race track gambling at Roby, in Lake county, after the city of Chicago had run the gamblers out of that city. They will remember that- Mr. Matthews was a democrat and that he encountered all sorts of trouble by the determination of the gamblers to maintain the Roby hovel. Of course, the gamblers were arrested and had to have legal council and they employed John B. Peterson, who is at present the democratic candidate for congress. The class of clients Mr. Peterson had were the worst sort of law breakers there were in Chicago and that city had exiled’ them, but John B. Peterson caused the state a lot of trouble in getting rid of them. The records of the circuit court at Crown Point, show that Mr. Peterson, during the years 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901 represented three different classes of clients, namely the Columbia Athletic club, which club owned a large arena at Roby, Indiana, wherein prize fighting was held, and which was closed with the militia by Governor Matthews, the Indiana Racing association, John Condon, of Chicago, and other who owned and controlled three race tracks at Roby, Forsyth and Sheffield, Indiana, respectively, where horse racing was conducted and pools were sold thereon, and the various persons who acted from time to time as principals in prize fights, as book makers, and pool sellers and as common gamblers engaged in making bets upon such games. The proportion of determination shown by the gamblers will be Well remembered and the practice was not broken up until the gamblers had had several clashes with the police and Governor Matthews had threatened to send the militia against the race track adherents. Almost a hundred of them were arrested for riotous conspiracy and Mr. Peterson, who had schemingly advised the gamblers during their fight against the law appeared for all these defendants. Here is a sample case: No. 1919, State of Indiana vs. Martin Costello, charge riotous conspiracy (prize fighting), December 19, 1893, jury trial verdict of guilty, two years in state prison, bond $5,000.00. Peterson secured the dismissal of a large number of the cases but he made a hard fight for his clients, who were the worst body of conspirators against the law that ever entered the state. In number 2532, State of Indiana vs. James O’Leary, John Cello and Nick, the operator, a jury trial on December 30, 1898, resulted in a disagreement and on February 6, 1901, the jury returned a verdict as follows: “Finding James O’Leary, John Cello and Nick, the operator, guilty of public gaming and fixing their fines at $200.00 each, and on February 14, 1901, the court rendered judgment against these defenders on the verdict of the jury. In number 2490, State ex rel Willis C. McMahan, Prosecuting Attorney vs. Columbia Athletic club on April 23, 1895, the court appointed a receiver for said club, issued an injunction against its holding prize fights in its arena and afterwards ordered a dissolution of the corporation. On this judgment Mr. Peterson perfected an appeal to the Supreme court of Indiana and the same was afterwards affirmed by said court. In number 3804, State of Indiana ex, rel Julius Dunsing vs. The Indiana Racing association, John Condon, et al., the court on May 8, 1895, enjoined the defendants from holding races on their tracks twice in any racing period of sixty (60) days. On May 24, the injunction was made permanent. This judgment was also appealed to the Supreme court and afterwards confirmed. In number 3837, State ex rel Claude Matthews, Governor of Indiana vs. Indiana Racing association, John Condon, et "al., the court on July 10, 1895, issued a restraining order against the defendants holding races at the Roby Race Tracks. This also was made permanent on July 17, 1895, appealed by the defendants to the Supreme court and afterwards affirmed by said court. A complete record of these cases may be seen by any one who cares to call at the Republican office.