New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
EXCISE COMMISSIONERS At ODDS.
DIFFERENCES OVER LQUoR-DEALERs ACCUSED W
KEEPING GAMBLING DENs.

KEEPING GAMBLING DENS.
Edward S. BessOn, of No. SIS Sixth-ave,
August /. Sailer OF No 526 Sxth-avc. ana Henry H.
Slate OF No SO West Thrieth-s, appeared before INC
Board of Excise yesterday They had received notices
directing them to show why their liquor licenses
shond not he revoked on account Of the seizures OF gam
bling tools in places Similar notices had been sent
to william Mcmahon, Of No. 5o west 1hh-
ueth-st, Thomas F. Parker, OF NO oo
West Thirty first st.. and James j. McCumm
of No $50 Sxthavc but those prOpretors OF rcputeu
gambling dens did not appear. Commissioner Morris
offered resolution revoke the six licenses because
gaming implements had been seized by the police IN the
houses Mr. Mitchell objected He said that he was sur
prsed at the resolution because the board had no evil
dence except what was given in newspapers leV'er
from Police Commissioner Porter was READ py
the clerk. General Porter wrote that he couid
not furnish the Board of Excise with the evidence
of gambling because such evidence had been collected
for the Grand Jury He expressed hope however, 'ha
the Excise Commi>s coud possess themselves o
sufficient proof to justify them In revoRing the
Mr. Mitchell said the Board could not proceed to try
the cases without evidence, and the licenses coud not
he revoked without trials. His colleague. Mr. Morris
had tried to get into two of the houses before tney
raided by the police and nad alitu; NJ ne Noi
thought his testimony would be sufficient evidence OF
gambling Mr. Morris declined to testify on the ground
that he had evidence to present His suggestion nat
the three defendants present be examined was Ignored
Thomas j. Creamer counsel to the Board, sn ,e n
that the holders of the licenses also also
.orrisd Pon President IlaughtOn accused
Mr. Morris attempting to gain newspaper notoriety,
and Mr. Morris reOrtcd that he was not aflu Oh any
attacks which might he made upon him III the news,
papers Mcssrs. HanghtOn and Mitchell then y0ted
against the motion revoke the licenses 1hey also
voted To dismiss the six complaints The proprictOrs
weht away smiling ut the evident disgust oil Cohmis
sioner Morris ~, ,- a., ,,.,..
There is a welfcunded rumor that when the Excise
and Police Commissioners met IN the Office OF Mayor
Grace to consult about combined attack on ,he Vo
lators the law, Mr. Morris free expression 10
doubts which he had regarding his colleagues The Mayor
had been asked To appoint committee OF TWO COMMITS
sioners, one from each Board, 10 arrange details lie
Ind appointed Police Commissioner Porter a. one mem
Der Of tho committee, and the other three fohcc
commissioners had said that they would stand by Cen
era Porter in any which he thought nj 10 ro
commend for the strict enforcement OF the law
At that point Mr. Morris said in the pre- of the other
two Excise Commissioners that they differed from nm
so widely regard To the character OF places whlCl
ught licensed that he could not express any conn
dence their intentions. Messrs Haugiton and Nit
chcl IL is said, did choose 10 reply 10 tue pointed
remarks their colleague and they did not promise to
"stand by him when he named by Mayor Grace as
the second member of the committee.