The New York herald., 1873-12-14
Underground History Of the Gam.
bling House Raids.
A NIGHT IN THE CELLS.
Gobbling Herald Reporter, Who Now
Plays the Trump Card.
The Prison Pen at the
Police Court.

A gehuinelY good thing aud t!at Is sure TO meet
the hearty approval OF every good citizen Is the re.
cent raid on gambling houses. II IS true there is
a lurking suspicion Judging from past sparodc
efforts in the same direction. that this is only
virtuous splsm destined to speedy elimination
into comatose conditlon-in other words that 1t
VIII prove dead failure as far as accomplishing
the real end so muca desired. The worst and most
painful feature OF all is the possible likelihood that,
instead ofheng inaugurated from Just and earnest
desire 10 strike at the root OF this great eyl, TO
stay the tide its baneful and broadening influence;
mat instead OF doing this under the pure stimulus
or high and conscientious enlightenment, and
with the simple salutary purpose OF advancing
morality and lessening crime; that there is at the
bottom OF IT only political claprap that this SEEM
ing air OF outraged morality IS only the airing OF
high police iunctionarys petty, vengelul spite
against political opponent But the effort to
delve this undercurrent Is not the object OF the
present story. These surmises alter all, may be a
mistake. 1t is to be hoped they may prove so. The
mode OF conducting the war and the abuses
growing out OF II, made familiar from painful per-
sonal experience, are topics now proposed TO be
discussed. These Iacts are OF a character that do
not come under the public observation. But they
are facts that should be stated, and then let the
public judge OF them.
HERALD REPORTER ON THE SPOT
As the younger Pny left TO posterity the record
OF his own observations OF the supmerging OF
Pompeii and Herculaneum in the mingling sea OF
lava and storm OF ashes belched from the crater OF
Mount Vesuvius, it happened that HERALD
reporter was the spot' at the raid Thursday
evening. What we saw and suffered in
reportoral experiences, written necessarily some
what in the ct QtOTdn l)arS magma mi style OF
Virgil, makes up chapter-although far more
briefly told than might have been-tnat viii fully
corroborate the assertions set forth our preia-
tory observations as to the mode OF conducting
this gambling war. Stil painfully smarting under
keen sense of the gross injustice of which,
through vain and arrogant stupidity, we have
been the victim shall keep our still pent up ana
bur ming ire under subectIon set down nought in
malice, and make our narrative, Othello like, "a
plain, unvarnished tale.n
HOW TIE OPEN SESAME WAS OBTAINED.
Meeting a country friend at the Metropolitan
HOTEL pursuant to appointm Mt, he proposed
pleasant way of whiling away the evening, visit
10 what lie chose to designate in polite phrase as
the club house opposite.
as your club house gambling nouse?" asked.
IA regular one, and OF the first Glass; he an
swered; .but you know that to US countrymen,
who not SO used to these things you city
folks, the word gambling has u harshly grating
sound"
asked him il he could get IN the place. He said
"Certanly."
"It would not be at al surprising" l sug-
gested, iii there should be raid there; and
having instructions from the Office to look particu-
larry after this thing would be capital sport TO
be on the spot and describe the scene.n .On your
account would not object to rad, but on my
own, excuse me-" said my friend, and away we
went He proved to have the 'open sesame,n as
the colored CerbeTus ut the door, after pre- latory
peep through an opening, admitted Us inside. We
were now In the club house. alias gamoing mouse,
No. 573 Broadway, Kept by one Mr.. Janree. had
been In club houses, alias gambling houses be-
fore; in Morrssey's, at Saratoga, and IN John
Chamberin's, at Long Branch, ana amid their
luxurious environments OF arcs most expensive
aoornments, had seen men of the very hignest
social aud political rank ..coauetting with tickle
iortune' in the various games oil cnance being
played-laro, roulette, rouge ct nor and so
This gambling house Is on the second moor, and
though, OF course, falling far short IN Its appoint
ments OF the splendor OF the watering place club
houses referred to, was capacous occupying three
rooms deep and tastily though not galdiy iur-
nlshed. NV friend. who has penchant ior iaro
almost as deeply seated that OF a once noted
sport whom ne quotes % s as saying tnat the Two
and losing at iaro, bought some checks aud began
FIGHTING THE TIGER IN HIS LAIR
There were only three other pa, ers, two of whom
subsequently turned out to he also rural gentle
men, Who in their visits to the city, 1t wou mani
testify appear, embrace the tiger their programme
OF .seelng the elephant There was roulette
table and one Tor rouge ct noir, but none OF these
dozen persons In the room, two OF whom were play
ing crbbage and two others INDUCING IN little
Old sedge My friend played sharply, and luckily
won. Alter a time he went to his MOTEL to deposit
his winnings so as not to risk losing them, and lett
lew checks IN my care ] had been simply Il
"looker-on in Venice"
DESCENT nj THE POLICE
suddenly a sergeant OF The Eighth precinct po
lice In civilian attire made his appearance. He had
been admitted as n supposed ha0t,f OF the place.
though 1t seems strange that such mistake
should have been made; but he Immediately
wnisked in sight his snield, and there followed
quickly in his wake several burly policemen
dressed in the fu'l panoply OF reputation blue and
brass buttons and each carry ing those unmistaka-
BILE badges OF brute authonty-a policeman's ba on.
There was very sudden getting up and getting
box into his pocket some one with lightning
Ike IKE rapidly goooled gad the money nom nom the the
money money drawer drawer Zoo ana IN The scramble 'ne
cordial mlngling OF the ''red, white and Dlue'
that but for its wildness would have deeply stirred
the heart OF patriot. did not stir from my seat,
but was congratulating myself on my good luck at
being there. 1t was tue professional "rung pas
sion strong" With characteristic artistic ardor
was taking in the points. This was nut worth
cracking-a beat In special description or all the
other papers.
"Let no one escape" exclaimed the Sergeant in
a tone as majesticaily and herocally commanding
as that of the gallant leader or the bold 600 IN the
famous charge at Balaklava. as Mr.. Janree
here !" he then asked in a more quiet and subdued
tone.
'That is my name, ;" answered Mr.. Janree, walk
ing up TO the sergeant.
'You are my prlsonern replied the Sergeant,
with Napoleon-hke brevity and then, with the
air OF one 'leading squadrons In the fieldr he
signed the various prisoners to the police
men.
'Come with me-" said policeman, taking me
rudely by the shoulder.
'I am a reporter and----
"Come witn me, sir.n repeated this pcrsonation
OF the great majesty OF the law. The smile OF In
credulity that crcpt over tnat seemingly stod and
immobile face was-l can think OF nothing to COM
pare 1t to--but 1t was not refreshing.
event ridGi-but the comparison between
Cpsar's fortunes ana my own here diverge from
their parallel. That triumphal word ''vneyincir
does not ucklessy, give the same crowning
splendor to my narrative.
AT THE EIGHTH PRECINCT STATION HOUSE.
1t was but a br ef walk to the Eighth precinct
station house. and large gang, principally from
"Murderers' Row. followed. simultaneous de-
scent had been made on another gambling house.
The prisoners were being brought In rapidly As
they were ranged In front OF the desk exam
ination, recall that scene in "Macbetan--
DUNCAN-Wnat bloody man is that