New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-25
6UNKO GETS AN AIRING.
The Police Commissfoners Investigate
and Find the Superintendent Blameiess.


Commissioners adopted a resolution in
structing Superintendent Loan to suppress
the game called bunko and to chase the
ropers out of this city The Superintendent
declares that he took every measure in his
power to end the scandal, but the game
continued to 20 on, and occasionally
''sauealer" would tell his tale of woe. Mer-
chants called On Commissioners Ryan and
Murdock and complained, asking for relief, |
as their customers were feeced almost |
every week. These compliments signed
document protesting against longer toi-
Grafton of bunko, and the communication
was published in daily city paper. Even
after that, it is stated, tricks we're taken IN
bunko, and the aforesaid merchants made
another effort. Commissioner Ryan asserts
that he was repeatedly called on to DO
something, and finally concluded to make
charges against the Superintendent tor
failing to perform his duty. Yesterday the
case was taken up and proved rather in
teresting. Mr.. Luzenburg appeared for the
prosecution and Mr.. Dalsheimer for Mr..
Loan, but Mr.. Luzenburg was called away
before the examination had proceeded far.
Commissioner Ryan did not take his seat
as member of the board.
Commissioner Ryan made formal state
ment to all concerned, declaring that in
instituting these proceedings he was not
aettlated by any malice. He knew Mr..
Loan as the chief executive officer of the
Metropolitan Police, and was therefore
responsible for the existence Of bunkO
games.
Mr.. Dalsheimsr produced three docu-
ments, one of them the petition of many
merchants.r to show that they were all
| written BY the same hand. This will be
explained further on.
The following testimony was taken:
E. Bartel-Reside in Vermont; came here
about five weeks ago; lost my money in
| bunko twO weeks ago; lost $lOo in No. "a
| St, Charles street; q well dressed young
man on St. Charles street suddenly called
| nv name, and pretended to know me in
| MiddletOwn; he said he was going back
| home soon; invited him to my room. out
| he was in a hurry to get q lottery price,
| We went into an office.
| Witness narrated how the handsome
] Young man had inveigled him, and how the
men had beaten him out Of his wealth, and
his memory was very clear as to the pro-
GEES, but he says he did not make single
bet-loaned his cash to his supposed friend
| to assist him to get even by making a sure
\ bet.
told the fellow, when l saw the sell,
that he was in it, l went to Chief Loan and
told him; he said bunko troubled him and
he wished he could break it up: ! told him
if he would get my money back would
give him half OF it; he sent fol the bunkO
money back; was offered $25, as that was
all the parties would ever give up.
Cross-examination - The chief said he
wished he could break up the game; he told
me could have the ropers arrested on the
streets, if sa them; saw one and told
peeler to arrest him, but the fellow escaped;
had conference with Officer Walsh; Loan
requested me to remain and give testimony
in this case; have no special complaint to
To Nj. Lewis-I told Loan that had
been robbed; nobody asked me to make an
affidavit against the parties.
To Mr.. Dalsheimer-Loan's manner was
very decided when he said that he wished
he could break up the game.
To MI. Bray-l did not settle with Mr.
johnson; he had nothing to do with the
game, ss far as l know.
To Mr.. Gaudet-The policeman did no,
make any attempt to arrest the roper when
, | l pointed him out; did not tell Mr.. Loan
about the attempt to arrest the roper until
last week.
Mr. Ruttkay-Residei in Iowa; last Thurs
dav week was met by q nice looking young
: man, the same one who tackled Mr.. Bartel
Witness related details, the same as did
previous witness. The roper using the
name Miller, by his plausibility and per
sistence induced me to bet $500 on bunko
which they called lottery; informed Chiel
Loan, and he sent for person; he ordered
the mar to give me back $50; Loan told
me he did it out of regard to my friend, DR.
, Beard; did not say anything about prose
cutting the parties; I thought that Mr.. L0ar
acted in my interest; Mr.. johnson was the
person who was sent for, but had not seer
him before that; l received half of th'
money back through the fundamentally O.
the chief; promised not to prosecute in thu
matter.
S, Steadman-Reslde in San Francisco;
lost money in the house No. 81 st. Charles
street; was induced to bet all my money
breastpin, watch and chain, and wanted Il
! ! bet nv coat. This witness related his eX
perience, about the usual story.] l in
formed Chief Loan of the robbery, and {
man offered to compromise by giving bacl
5000; my watch and chain and pin were re
= turned to me soon after lost them; Chic
! Loan tried hard to make the fellows Civ
up my money; Loan told the men that they
l were grand rascals and would yet land IL
> | the Penitentiary; johnson gave me bacl
$500; Loan did not arrest johnson; neve
saw johnson before; l recovered all m.
property; in my opinion, Loan did all h
could to assist me.
William Johnson-1 know that Superin
tendent Loan placed officers at the doors o
Nos. 10 and 81 St. Charles street, where i
l was reported bunko was played; LOAF
{ | never got dollar from me, and he neve
| had any interest in the game; he has hat
bunko men arrestedsnd sent out of the city
persons who received money back through
nv hands have told me that they Offered
E money to Loan, and that he had refused it
one of the witnesses here to day swOre b
lost his money on bunko, but he was mis-
, taken; it was another game; co not know
that any police commissioner ever got an.
bunkO money.
P. Duffy-I do not know that Mr.. Loa1
: has permitted bunko to run since tn
boards order was issued, but / know tina
he has tried to stop it.
This witness was asked if he owned I
bunko game and Mr.. johnson was aske'
the same question. Mr.. Duffy said that b
did not, and Mr.. johnson was told by al
attorney not to answer the question.
| Captain Gray, of the fret precinct, test
fed that he had been directed to place Oft
GERS at gambling houses, and that officer
{ had been instructed to look out for bunk
ropers.