The Evening critic., 1884-01-21
OFFICIAL SAFE BURGLARY.
The Police Methods I'm Raids, and
the Efforts TO Find Evidence.

THE CRITICS laxative old citizen stood
shlvering in the cold at the corner OF Fifteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue this morning
when the reporter approached.
"Gone up, amt itf'' remarked the old man.
what" ,sTl gone upfo aueried the reporter;
Joke"
"Any news to-day2"
"No, no particular news. / want to have my
say, however, about the manner in which the
detectives invaded the alleged gambling house
at No. 41b Thirteenth street Friday night.
You know am dead opposed TO gamblers and
gambling. Tho law on tho subject should be
enforced TO the letter, but It should be done
according 10 law. THE CRITIC OF Saturday
stated that the detectives, upon gaining access
the colored waiter and entered tho
rooms occupied by the Ameri-
Gus Yacht CLUB. There they found
Ing and reading. There were no cards, no
chips, or any parahernalia belonging to a
gambling house, and yet the men wore
marched on 20 the station house aud were
compelled to leave collateral for their appear
ance when wanted on the charge OF being con-
cerned In gambling"
opened and lot OF cards and checks found
there" said the reporter.
"That may be true, and great many store
safes may be searched and cards found there,
but IL Is no evidence that gambling IL con-
Quoted. Ibelieve, as said before, in enforcing
the law on this question, but ~ the same time
don't think II is the square thing 10 arrest
man or n set OF men, as was done In the case
mentioned, unless they have indubitable
proof that an offense was committed, that's
How the Safe was Opened.
Detectives Ran and Block Saturday night
again visited the rooms OF the Americas
Yacht Club, No. d15 Thirteenth street, which
were raided Friday night on raiding paper
on suspicion OF being gambling rooms, for the
purpose OF securing evidence against the nine
men charged with keeping gambllng-house.
They secured the assistance OF come lock-
smiths and forced tho safe open with the hope
OF finding something that would indicate
gambling. The result Of tho investigation was
the finding OF about 1000 chips and two
that while they were IN the rooms with tho
doors locked opening the safe several on
slaughts were made on the doors from the
outside by persons trying to force their way In.
The Law for the Raid.
A CRITIC reporter inquired OF Major Dye,
the Chief OF Police, this morning as to the law
under which the raid on club room and the
breaking open OF safe had been committed
by the detectives.
Major Dye referred the reporter to section
dO2 Of the Revised Statutes, which provides
that
'if any member OF the police force, or II any
two or more householders shall report In writ
ing, under his or their signature, TO the Major
OF Police that there are good grounds, stating
tho same, for believing any house, room or
wihia tho dsI6S To pc hep
house, common gamlng-room, or common
gaming premises, for therein playing for
wagers Of money at any game OF chance, It
shall DO lawful for the Major OF Police 10 au-
thorlZo any member or members OF the police
force to enter the same, who shall forthwith
arrest all persons there found offending
against law, and seize all Implements of gam.
ing and convey any persons 80 arrested before
the proper courts and bring the articles so
seized to the office OF the Board OF Police"
"The law authorizes mo-" said Major Dye,
''to issue a raiding order IN case OF this
kind and to seize and destroy property. 1t
makes no reference TO opening safe, but We
are supported by the courts In considering
that when we know evidence Of guilt 10 DO
concealed In a safe 1t is our business to get at
IT,"
The Owner Of the Safe takes Legal
Measures.
MA. u. Williams, as attorney for william
i. James, OF Baltimore, Md, to-day entered
action IN repleyin against Chief OF Police Nc.
EDye and Detective Block, TO recover an iron
nrO.proof safe and contents, aud, in addition,
claims $4,000 damages. This suit grows out
OF the raid made by Block and the police on
the rooms OF the Americus Yacht Club, on
Thirteenth stree, above Pennsylvania avenue,
on Friday night last.
MIR. James arrived here yesterday, ana
discovering how his property had boen dis
troyed, took legal action TO recover the safe,
and proposes TO see II the parties ordering the
destruction OF his property cannot .be mqla8e
pay damages.