New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-22
q,p c,vpiFPg SJGNtL SERVICE


II MIGHT be well for the authorities at Wash
ington to study the system OF forecasts In use
among the gamblers of New York and seeif they
cannot gather some hints for the improvements
of the United States Signal Service. Noth'ng
can surpass the completeness and efficiency OF
the service controlled by our professors OF the
faro deck and scientists OF the roulette wheel
The gathering of q storm centre in the Mayors
Office or at Police Headquarters is followed IN
stanty by the appearance of danger signals III
every faro bank in town, and when Inspector
RvrDes's blizzard bursts upon the gambling
dens the proprie,Ors are safely sheltered from
the fury of the blast.
There is something extremely mysterious
about the working of this perfect system OF
warnings. Ii is well known that there is not
man in our Police Department or in the District
Attorneys Office or in the police courts or ut the
CITY Hall who feels the least tenderness of heart
for the gambling fraternity Or hrlds any rela-
tions with the light fingered coTectors of
chance. There must be something in the air
that warns the gamblers whenever raid is
projected. When Mayor Grace or General
Porter or Inspector Byrncs begins to think of
a crusade against the faro banks the agitation
in the gray matter of the active BRAIN that con-
ceivcs the thought must communicate Itself III
some subtle way to the atmosphere. An air
wave is set in motion that gathers volume ~ 1t
rolls, until it dasheS against the doors OF the
gambling houses and prompts the occupants to
fiji xht. Only in this way can we explain tn our
entire satisfaction the success of the gamblers
in setting up swift alibis when tho detectives
arrive.
Nov. if there's this marvellous atmospheric
connection between the contemplation OF
raid and the perceptions of the keen -wittcd
Spectators on the green cloth, why Is II that
there are no reflex waves which VAIN the
authorities when gambling is IN progressf To
make things even every fall of II card. every
whir of Il wheel, every shout of " keno should
set in motion an atmospheric billow that would
rcvcrbcratc through the police stations, through
the marble building in Mulbcrry-st.. through
the police courts and the City Hall, in tones of
thunder. But Mr.. Oncy when he was in Office
could not hear even the least little whisper of n
wind of that sort and hc served his term and
went out of Office with the comfortable convic-
tion-good easy man-that he had scared the
gamblers into inactivity. How his eyes must
nave opened when he read in yesterdays morn
ing papers the list of gambling houses entered
10y tie detectives. But even before he retired
from office, Mr.. Olncy got a good deal of in
formation from newspapers which he should
have got earlier elsewhere.
There have been limitations that the Police
Board intended 10 remove Police Supcrintcnd-
ent Walling. on the ground that he had not done
his duty in supprcssing gambling. But there
can be no truth in such suggestions. OF course
if Mr.. Walling were To he removed for that
reason, Inspector Thornc and Captain Williams
would have to go. too Neither OF them IL III
danger. Captain Williams has way of doing
his work To snit himself. and he would be n bold
Commissioner or Inspector who would dare To
interfere with him in his precinct. He has made
the streets in his charge rs safe To IA pcaccablc
and law abiding citizen at midnight as at noon
That is no small thing to do in that part of the
town, and none of his predecessors in Thir-
tieth-st. ever did rs much. But the hon
hearted Captain has not concerned himself
much about what went on behind closed doors.
Never was II more indomitablo and imperial
autocrat in II police precinct Even Sullivans
and Ryans tremblc at his nod. But 50 long IA
no man ventures To brave the terrors of his club
in the streets or public places the Captain loses
no sleep in detecting lurking violations of the
law. His district is the headquarters of
gambling in Ncw-York IA il is the headquarters
of other forms of vice. Perhaps ii would be
impossible to find police captain who would
keep so good order in the streets and squares
of the Twenty Precinct a. does Captain
Williams, and would also break up the gam
bling dcns, dance halls and concert saloons.
Anyway, the Police Board is not likely totry it.