New-York tribune., 1871-12-16

PRICE FOUR CENTS
WORK FOB THE POLICE.
TWO HUNDRED GAMBLING "HELLS" TO BIZ
BROKEN UP.
BLERs. "ROPERs." AND THIEVES TO 'BE
DRIVEN OUT OF THE METRoPoLIs-A LIST OF
NrNErY-FIvE or THE WORST DENs AND
THEIR KEEpERs-wHo SUPPORT AND WHO
PROTECT THEM -REsPECTABLE BUSINESS
HOUSES ANNOYED BY THE PRoxIMIrrtoF
THE "HELLsr-BURGLARS AND THIEVES
RESORTS.
All moral arguments for the suppression OF gam
bling seem to have been wasted the police author
ities Of this city. Below. tho reporters OF THH
TRIBUNE present some practical. business reasqns
why tho numerous gambling " bells" which disgrace
the principal streets Of the city should be at once
broken up, and the criminals who conduct them be
sent to prison or driven out Of the city.
According to the estimates Of several police off,
cals based ON reports and special Information COL
lccted in the discharge Of their duties there are at
least 200 gambling houses in NewYork, and at least
$500 persons Of known bad character make their
lvings through their connection as owners, backers
dealers ropers and servants, with these illegal es
tablishments. The number Of victims who are
robbed Of the means by which this large criminal
class lives cannot we'll be calculated but in view OF
the extravagant habits Of the gamblers, and the
great expense Of maintaining the houses, the victims
arc at least 80 times numerous as the thieves.
Doubtless the aggregate losses Of than 10000
dupes contribute to the support Of these 2,5OO
rOgues.
Of these 200 or more dens 95 are kept with sneh
open disregard Of the police that TRIBUNE reporters
entered them without question: and left without ex
citing suspicion. Every named in the list below
is known to the captains of the various precincts.
and has been known for months past. They invite
strangers by transparent devices, known to every
policeman and thousands Of citizens. The emrloyes
solicit custom at the open doors with perfect impu'
nity COncealment is hardly pretended and there
seems no fear of police interference Indeed in many
houses the fears of patrons concerning descents by
the police are quieted by broad intimations that
the player enjoys the protection Of the precinct
police officers Reporters were told by several
dealers that it is common thing for gamblers, on
opening house, to lend the captain or sergeant OF
the precinct in which it was situated few hundred
dollars, each taking notes or due bills for the
amount which are deposited in tho safe. This com.
pels the policeman thus implicated to send warning
of the purpose to "pulW the house on complaint, IN
order that the gamblers may escape with the para
phernalia of the game. They offered no evidence OF
the truth of this and in most cases it is probably
slanderous, though some of the most corrupt ON
cals without question: take pay from the thieves OF
% ha1l xyall tho Danal- -hOuBe9
their precincts.
Most of the "hells are located stores to which
ladies and children resort for purchases, and In
entering and leaving compelled to lace the
insulting stare of impertinent. fashiy dressed
| gamblers who lounge about the entrances. Thty
are for this practically nuisances In the eyes
of business men, and a. such ought to be sbatsd by
being suppressed Downtown the "hells" arc often
found on the same floors with the offices Of respect
able dealers and professional men, and the customers
of these are compelled, In entering and leaving to
risk having their pockets picked by the frequenters
of the hells"for these gamblers by profession are
thaves by nature, and often desperate burglars by
necessity They ought to be suppressed as suspicious
persons; and the law if New-York had any righteous
judges to construe it, would 80 regard and punish
them.
The keepers Of these houses violate the law in
OtucT TtSpcCUS. AHCy ho PoNhohohOAo 0Au AHNOA-
dealers without license 1t is true they exchange
only chips" for jewelry pawned. and give away in
stead of selling their liquors nevertheless the result
is the same men are made drunk and are advarced
money without payment Of license-fee or tax. ahis
alone would justify the police in suppressing them.
The houses are the favorite resort Of notorious
thieves and burglars. When policeman Is sent to
hunt up wcll.knOwn villain, he is very certain to
look first for him gambling saloon. As the haunts
Of cripipal and suspected pefs"cs the law Will war
rant Summary Proceedings against t'isln and Tor
this reason those who anxious to see nc places
suppressed argue for immediate action by tbs Ru,
thorties.
Old and experienced detectives and inspectors in
formed the reporters that the ranks of the burglars
and like desperate criminals will be largely reen-
forced before the close of the Winter from the gam
blers who will be thrown out Of business. For two
years past the gamblers we'll every other class
Of criminals, have had merry and easy life under
Tammany rule and Tammauy extrsvagance. Now
that the great supply Of money from that source has
been stopped these men will be compelled to resort
to other means to make living. At all these houses
there are always men who hang about the
table like sharks for prey, waiting for
those who stay late or are Inebriated and come in
toward morning to play. whoa there are but tew
l0Okerson; unfair means arc then resorted TO With
impunity, and all share tho plunder. When tho ap-
pliances Of the house fail tho gamblers follow tho
victim and accomplish by violence what they failed
to do by trickery. These men are naturally burglars
and highwaymen. and when gambling fails to sup
port them, they will resort to moro desperate and
secure means Of getting money. vigorous prosecu-
ton Of these fellows will send the worst to prison.
and ghten the rest out of the city as tho emgrant
robbers were driven away.
In tho hope Of securing some such prompt and ef-
fective action Of the police, at this time, Of all
others when these places Of vice and thesa crimi-