The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-02
THE LONG BRANCH GAMBLERS.
Their Business Carried on Boldly and De
fiantly-A Flaunting Crime.

Their Business Carried on Boldly and De-
fiantly-A Flaunting Crime.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Aug. IA police raid on
gambling house at Long Branch is the first indi-
cation of what is likely to become a noteworthy
fight between the gamblers Of that resort and
the other summer residents The place invaded
was an insignificant keno concern, thronged by
negro walters and rough stablemen and the
move is construed as weak effort on the part of
the police to show mock disposition to repress
the evil. At the same time policeman, detailed
as usual for the duty, was stationed in the hall
way of Phil Days famously gorgeous Penn
svlvania Club, to maintain order and direct
strangers to the tab les The gambling has this
season grown to enormous proportions. Travel
ers say that neither Monaco nor Monte Carlo
equals in amount or garishness the present exit
btion at Long Branch Nine houses, including
two of the handsomest villas along the shore,
and nearly ell on conspicuous SITES among the
abodes of wealth and fashion, are openly devoted
to gaming. Flags flaunt by day the names of
these places, and electric lights advertise them
by night. There is no ceremcnious
ness about admission. The doors are
wide open, and the sounds of the games go out
through the windows The play ranges from
faro and roulette at dollar per cheapest chip to
keno and dice games wherein a dime can be
risked but the bulk of the play is in such style
that the invester of less than $40 is regarded
with open disdain, and man can get rid of
hundred in jiffy.
The largest two establishments, run by Phil
Daily and Charley Ransom, are owned outright
by them and their partners. The rest are rented
by tenants, who, in some instances, declare that
deception was resorted to in getting the leases.
The Mansion House two thirds burned, last
winter, and the proprietor, Mr.. Gawtry rented
the remnant for a restaurant as he supposed;
but it is crowded with keno sweat boards and
other swindling devices to catch the daily excur
sionists who land on adjacent pier pool
selling DOM is another den of plain robbery in
the immediate neighborhood. The races at
Monmouth Park are three miles distant, and on
these events mutual pool-tickets are sold until,
according to pretense, the horses are called to
start private telegraph wire is supposed to
instantly report this fact. and also to an nounce
the winners. BY actual timing, it is found that
several minutes invariably elapse. and during
this interval stool-pig buy numerous tickets
on the right racers, thus decreasing
the amounts paid to honest holders
of winning tickets and proportionately filing the
treasury Of the concern. Experienced turfmen
never waste dollar here, but greenhorns are
beaten out of hundreds every race day.
Even Mcintyre, pillar in the Fifth-avenue
Presbyterian Church, dwells in a fine villa, and
his second door neighbor is Peter Balbach, also
wealthy aud staid while the house between
is owned by R. j. Dobbns, the Philadelphia
millionaire Balbach built his residence closer
to the avenue than any other in the row. and
thereby cut off the breeze and view from Dob
bins's windows. Dobbins has retaiated by
renting his premises to John DAILY, New York
gambler for club. It is from this incident
that the present agitation arises.
The chapel which Phil Daily built in his
resplendent house is another cause of trouble.
Phil is the boss gambler of the place. His
profits have been SO heavy that he felt able to
put $50, 900 into summer homes for himself and
son. His altar, having been read about by most
visitors, has become a show which multitudes
desire to sse 1t was the wish s. Daily to have
daily masses celebrated in his chapel but the
PoSsOA
and presumably acting under the direction of
his bishop, disavows all countenance of the pro-
ject 1.-THE Roman Catholic Church, he says,
will not touch Phil DAILY with ten-foot pole.
No masses will be celebrated in his private
tory, and any idea of his chapel being dedicated
as such is preposterous." Phil is understood to
be chagrined, but he rides out in a four inland
coach all the same and rakes in the dollars of
the Wall-streeters by the thousand every night.
His real estate is reckoned to be worth 5000 600,
while the aggregate of gamblers investments at
the Branch is scarcely less than million. All
this and vastly more has been lost by amateur
players. Women are among the contributors
isolated rooms being set apart for them in three
of the clubs There is going to be fight, but
the probabilities of victory are with the gamblers
whose money has thus far commanded the sup
port of the public officials.