The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-17
KENTUCKY GAMBLERS ROUTED.
How the Keno and "Faro" Dens of Louisville
Have Been Closed-The Game" Up and
the "Proprietors" Sell Out Emil
CRATE and Become Farmers.
LOUISVILLE. KY, Feb. N, 18Th

| LOUISVILLE KY, Feb. n, 1s7a
The raid against the Louisville gamblers in the
| complete and triumphant success attending the
efforts OF che authorities, has BEEN perhaps one OF
the most remarkable in the history OF the country
Louisville, since beyond the memory OF the frat
living settler, has been tangled jungle, where the
tiger has had his lair unmoIested, except by sp0ra
die and me-serving outbreaks OF police morality.
In nearly every square In the central portion OF the
city blazing windows and hosptabe DOORS guarded
only against the intrusion OF the bankrupt wrcsch
and never against onslaught or the authorities in
vited the passer-by into the alluring recesses
within. King "FarO" has ruled supreme since the
city was city. Gamblers have played importanr
parts in city politics. the richer and better class
hsve never been regarded social pariahs-- the
cOEtrary, several Of them scioas Of the
''drst.famfes' OF the State and South The war
left many Confederate soldiers stranded with their
fortunes wrecked and ne capacity to gain livehoods
by labor. To this class several larger propretorsn
belonged These were not looked upon with any
extreme disfav0r by society in general, ana asso-
ciated on terms of good acquaintance il noe OF in
tmacy, with the large element composed Oe city
officials, lawyers, merchants, &C, who are not al
the strictly religious class so-called. Indeed. IL
was more than limited that part OF the capital en-
ployed In these establishments was furnished by
10 appear for the world Moreover the general
prevalence of gambling in ONE shape or another in
Louisville, rs in all Southern cities contributed to
she almost perfect immunity from interference en-
joycd by the professionals Hardly yet has'the old
sentiment passed away that manswhO cannot
"raise" thousand on ''nary par" without
fazing is not worthy the name Of bravs
fellow and Kentucky gentleman But all this
has changed Where every square had its
linn hons tn
Gus operation three weeks ago, to-day there
Is not an open establishment in the city-nay. 40
that there is not a game" to be had within the
city limits, and yesterday batch OF ten OF tho
eaaing gamblers sold OUT tns,r larnitn s,a anu
and have betaken themselves to more congenial
haunts. The result achieved is astonishing; and, as
the means employed to effect this end wore very
peculiar, will detail them at length.
HOW IT WAS DONE.
AS have said nearly every new Chief OF POlico,
for ten years past has made q feeble--perhaps in
tentOnaily ieebe--attempt to break up the gam.
bling houses. Perhaps they were closed for two or
rate, 1t was always an understood thing
that this quadrennal raid was to be sub.
mitred to as concession to the more moral
element Of the community, and that by Il
immunity for four years more was to be purchased.
serious Intention OF closing the houses permaL
nently seems never to have been ENTERTAINERS until
the accession OF the new Chief OF Police in January
last. He occupied the first week OF his Official life
In getting well settled into the groove OF his new
duties and them without previous warning or even
commenced And this was the way OF it. Raids
have been demonstrated to be inefllcacious. The
officers may seize the implements, but they have
always been returned after the first flush OF the ar
fair was over The Grand Jury might find indict-
ments, but they could not find witnesses to testify.
But the plan adopted by Colonel JOhnson--the new
chief-was both simple and effcacous. He stationed
a trusty policeman at the door OF every house IN
which faro, keno the lesser games were playec,
with book in hand, with instructions to take down
the name OF every person who entered or departed
and report the same to the Court, to be summoned
| at
sudden and totally unexpected and crowned with
absolute success. A number OF names were
secured before the alarmed prOprietors closed their
| games. There was no gambling in the city that
night or the next, or the next. The policemen
were relieved at intervals or six hours, but neither
front side nor back door was leIt for a moment
ungarded Then sporadic games were opened at
lOcations-in the hotels, at Dewly-hircd
rooms, &c. but one was not opened an hour before
LO THERE WAS POLICEMAN AT THE DOOR,
bier as the red volume OF the French Revolution
The vigilance has been so complete that 1t Is not
believed there Is an open game OF faro or keno
played in Louisville to-day and the familiar faces
OF the neutrality-suspicious., cappers, 'mechanics''
and ropersin alikc-have disappeared from the
streets. "Othelo's occupation IS gone" Three
weeks have elapsed ana, as wrote you above,
the last batch OF wcll-known ''sportsmen" have
cleared out for good. The largest proprietor in
cleared $50 900 last year, has bought himself farm
in the lower part OF the state and Is living on It
and il really seems now that this, one OF the great
est social evils, has had its dcathblow Tor year or
| saws that during his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES lasts
| three years yet-no game OF faro shall be PLAYED
within the city limits, and he seems to mean what
he says.
| The HERALD writer interviewed him the other
| day-the new chief Is just now suffering from .
| slight attack OF varolOid-as to MIS- intentions.
| Colonel Johnson expressed himself as absolutely
| fixed in the course he has inauguratcd. 81 want
to be properly understood in this atte1," he said,
| al have no personal enmty against the gamblers;
but it is my duty TO enforce the law, and intend
| TO do it, The Keepers OF these houses may well
understand this at once that they cannot carry ON
their business in Louisville II can help 1t, and
and then, which may escape detection for day or
two, but my arrangements are such that Me police
will know about 1T within rty-e9ht hours at
most after the first card Is dealt. They had better
90 into some other business. one thing Is sure;
they cannot carry on gaming houses while hold
ONCE. AT least 1t will not be my fauat II they do,
and the public Will be apt TO ind out whose ault II
ISL
And the new chief looks like the man, and has
war record TO show, that he means what he says.
Public opinion has sustained the new move with q
striking unanmity several sad instances OF the
fall OF trusted employees friends, had intensified
the popular sentiment against the means and the
crusade and altogether there has been very clear
sweep OF the whole business. Meanwhile, however,
everybody, high and lcy play poker, and neither
police anything but the force OF public opinion
will ever stop that "gantlemans gamen south Of
the Ohio River.
Colonel Albert s. Johnson came to Louisville and
obtained position superintendent Of the street
RAILWAYS Last month, after sharp rivalry Tor the
position, he was appointed as.Chef OF Police, and
has already sgnaliZed his administration By u
remarkable victory, taking all the facts into con-
sideration, than was, ever achieved by him while
wearing tine Confederate gray. He IL quiet, un-
assuming man, little given to- talk or display. but
the rectitude of hts acts ana inten mons which
promises well Tor the civil order Oh the city during
the remainder OF his term.