Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-15
GAMBLING AT LONG BRANCH.
A Philadelphia Doctor Wins Small Fortune in One Night-The Card Sharps Given Practical Immunity.
 Recent Long Branch Dispatchl

A Philadelphia Doctor Wins Small
 Fortune in one Ntght-The Card
 Sharps Given Practical Immunity.
 Recent Long Branch Dispatchl
 A Philadelphia physician, who is a personal friend of Gen. Grant and as well known in the fashionable society of New York and Washington as he is in that of his own city, is the hero of the biggest bit of gambling done here so far this season. He had little poker party in his private parlor at the hotel where he is passing the season night or two ago It had been raining hard all day, and the party played without interruption from noon until Il o'clock at night The physi- clan was then in s3,70O. He was made dar- ing by success. Although it was so late he had a carriage called, and was driven over to one of the fashionable gambling, by courtesy called club, houses. He played high. Luck was with him until his winnings at roulette amounted to $5, ,0O0. Then it turned. When his gains dropped to B, 700 he said: 'Tm out,'' and he had the strength of will to re- main out. So his winnings that day were $7, 400. He celebrated his victories by giv- ing dinner party to seven friends. He re- garded himself as so assuredly the favorite of fortune that the fact that the number at table was an even one did not phase him. The cost was $22 cover.
 Gambling here is still carried on with striking boldness. The most fashionable place occupies a site directly opposite the West End hotel It is surrounded by well kept grounds, graced by the most beautiful made uniquely charming by profusion of rare and costly exotics. A half dozen men are constantly employed in keeping the grounds in order. A broad carriageway leads up to the splendid restaurant that forms an ante-room of the tigers lair and gives a ready excuse to those who have not yet reached the point of taking pride in encoun- ters with the treacherous beast. Entrance may also be directly gained by footpath leading through beautiful shrubbery to broad steps. The rattle of dice, the whir of the roulette wheel, and the voice of the crier may be heard on the greensward outside.
 But, though the laws of New Jersey bear with extraordinary severity against gambling, no earnest effort has been made to interfere with the business of this gorgeous establish ment. Until that were done it would be ab- surd to make any movement against the four smaller places that have sprung up in the wake of the giant. Since the collapse of the pretended official crusade against the club houses at the beginning of the season and the exposure of it's shallowness, public opinion has forced the subject upon the minds of the authorities. The commissioners at 8 secret meeting considered the question as to whether something had not better be done at once. They could not, however summon courage to face the opposition that vigorous policy would certainly awaken, and so they endeav- ored to turn the attention of the public away from the subject by directing all their ener- gies to the suppression of another sort of evil and the arrest of thirty-one women, none of whom, it is to be presumed had much money or any political influence.
 A person whose sympathies and affiliations are with the gamblers informs the Times cor respondent that the keeper of the chief place is constantly the victim of "squeezes," and that immunity from the rigors of the law are largely to be ascribed, apart from his politi- cal influence, to the fact that he pays gener- ous tribute. As long as these conditions ex- ist, it is declared, there is no likelihood that the gamblers would be disturbed if den were to be erected in front of every church at the Branch. That the tribute" may easi- ly be made generous may be inferred from the fact that the profits of .Daly's Pennsylvania club amounted last season to more than $50, 000 The gains this summer will not be so large, owing to the backwardness of the sea- son and the fact thatthe recent disasters inWaI street have left the New York speculators, who form a large part of Dalys patrons, with less money to spuander than formerly. All the same, the business considered in itself, is larger. Last night the house was full of players, as it generally is on Saturday and Sunday nights during the season, and the play was constant.