The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-07


by the Recorder . the Gran Jury, the subject Of
lotteries, gambling, intemperance, and diserderly
houses reminds rs that received few weeks ago,
. communicates from one Lucian Burleigh, who
deGgnasss himself Corresponding Secretary to the
Association for the Suppression Of Gambling" in
which he states-and no doubt wishes to mako us
bclieve-that the recent assage Of the Gambling
law, procured by them, has closed nearly all the
gambling houses and lottery policy Offices in this
oity They also denounce the idea that any imputa-
ton should be cast upon their association, init
mating that any one in their employ, or concerned
in the suppression Of gambling, should indulge In
"levying black mai' on gambling houses, TO stop
threatened prosecutions -
Mr. ET,1oswln your paper Of the 10Th find an arti
dead letter In this article you have made several
statements not fully warranted by facts which are
calculated to miflead the public mind and injuriousy
Affect parties undeserving such q course Of remark.
The law in question has been in operation seven and
h months. 1t has closed the gambling houses in many
localities and It's faithful execution the part Of sworn
public officers would prevent but the more secret gam
bling practices throughout the city and State Hundreds
otpocy Offices closed within few days of the first
inception Of the law and while few Of these
trned again to their unlawful business the great majo
hty OF them have found other employment. Many pro-
Gcutions have already taken place against voators Of
the law and others will be commenced evidence be
| obtained.
j
bling aud managed the passage of the law, the
Association for the Suppression Of Gambling and they
would sincerely thank to reveal any facts you may
have In your possession in relation to the leyyng OF
black mail on the gambling houses, to stop threatened
prosecutions" by any parties like those referredto
Th opening of any facts Of such nature, concerning
erons in the service Of the association will confer
on item important favor, and merit their warnes
COMMUNICATION.
Thy have sought and will seek, by all lawful and pro-
means TO suppress the fatal vice Of gambling in all
it's but they would be no less solcitous
IN ho and tO1nnp tinno
evyng Of" black mail and doubt not, will cooperate
with you and all other friends Of honesty and integrity,
''i IU IS5 S'I BuRLR1oH,
corresponding Secretary 70 the Association for
the Suppression Of Gambling
Nov, We can assure this worthy secretary of .
WORTHY association, that we are in possession Of
manyfacts relative to the management of their
Germ, md the modns operamdi by which all the
wires are pulled, whereby to raise money for the
suppot Of the same. There may be some very
worth. and honest members belonging to the A.
sociatbn, and we trust there are; but at the same
time tits possible they may have q black sheep or
two inhe flock, who nibbles outside the enclosure,
without the knowledge Of the others In such case,
it might reasonably be construed rs pointing to-
wards tlack mail.'
As IL "levying black mail'' on the gamblers, or
the keeers Of gambling houses, we certainly acquit
them, fom the fact that the attempt would be vs.
less, rs it is well known they would not pay them
one cent The "black MALL if made at all, is from
other solrces. For instance, a short time ago, .
merchant doing business down town, received let
ter from one Of the prominent members Of this
"anti-gmbling association" requesting him to call
and sec him. The merchant examined the letter,
pOnderel it little, and concluded not to notice
it. ew days AFTER he received another letter
from tn, same party, which he treated in the like
manner, and took no notice Of either A week or
two aftG, a merchant who held promissory note
for several hundred dollars, given for merchandise
by the frs merchant mentioned, sent for him, and
requested an additional security on the note. The
debtor looked with astonishment and asked tho
reason for such an uncalled for request, such as
never had oeen made before. The merchant then
told him that he had been informed by the gambling
association that he was in the habit Of visiting
gambling houses, and for that reason he wished
some extra security that the note would be paid.
The debtor at once comprehended the motives
which adjusted the request made to him by o mem
Der Of the angamblng association, to call and see
them.
As to this method Of doing business we do not
pretend to express an opinion at present. 1t
is enough fe US to state the facts Many instances
Of the samt character We could name, oil going to
establsh he same facts 1t was but the other week
that o,e Of the attaches Of the association called on
merchant in Cortlandt street, and requested him
to subscribe ten dollars towards the Association for
the Suppression Of Gambling. The merchant, how
ever, did not possess much faith in the association
, and accordingly refused to subscribe.
<h.s a int;
attempt abolish gambling, they have ample
means in their own hands, even under the recent
law Clam. it is in many Of its features) to break
the wholeof them up, if they feel 50 disposed. Why
don't they 20 to the Mayor or Chief of Police, and
ask to see tie quarterly returns made by the police
captains zach ward In those returns, the gam
bling house, policy Offices, and all other suspicious
places, are given. From these returns, any attache
Of the anti gambling association could select out the
houses freqmnted and kept by gamblers, and, in
addition, coud obtain from the police captains many
important fats which would aid them in the under
taking, and n the procurement OF such evidence a.
would, when aid before police magistrate, justify
him in issuing warrant, not only for the arrest Of
the occupant T keeper Of the house, but warrant
to search the Premises, whereby the apparatus and
implements uad in gambling might DO found,
thereby perfectng the evidences Of guilt.
Neither the Mayor nor Chief of Pelice considers IL
legitimate police business to compel policemen to
act as "stocl pigeons" by assuming disguise to
enter these gambling houses, and thus obtain test-
mony to convc. propnctors Of such houses; but the
anti-gambling association, we arc led to believe
are sworn to abolish all species Of gambling, are
associated for that especial purpose, and actually
collecting, at least calling upon merchants and
others to subscribe sums Of money for the suppress
sion ofgambling. andto support the assocation-why
don't they nave in tho matter7 1t is their legiti-
mate business. 1t is what they profess to be doing
Yet what have they done? Who have they convicted
during the last seven months7 Why, no one. The
law they tell you has been in operation for seven or
eight months past, and has closed the gambling
houses in many localities Well, so it did; for