The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-14
GAMING AT'IONG BRANCH
THE GORGEOUS CLUB SHUT TO
THE PUBLIC
For the First Time In Their Exist
ence-HOw the Law ls
EVaded.

NEw YORK, August 12.-The gor-
geous gaming clubs at Long BrapchlaIe
shut TO the general public for the nrst
time in their existence. Amusement
Is expressed in the eyes that see the
doors, heretofore invtingly wide open,
now barring free entrance. The domi-
nance OF the professional gamblers has
not before been disputed, and the
summer visitors find 1t hard to com
prehend that an earnest effort has
been made to enforce the law.
The Long Branch Commissioners, a
body which constitutes the Mayor and
Common Council, found that its or
dinance providing penalties for gam
ing wss probably defective, and 30 II
made q new enactment clearly con-
signing gamblers to imprisonment up
to possible period OF six months.
Hitherto 1t was an open question
whether the criminals could be pun
isbed except by a fiue not exceeding
300 on each conviction. That was
happy situation for the proprietors oil
the PENNSYLVANIA and Ocean clubs,
he ause IL drove out small competitors,
while they could we'll afford to pay
auch a fine every week, or daily, II
required, for the vital protection al
forded. But successive terms OF I'M
prisonment are to be dreaded, and,
peipg formally notified that the COM
missioners meant to enforce the new
ordinance, the clubs are closed.
This is the first August night In a
ouaIter of n century that the sounds
of gambling have not gone through
omen windows, and during the last hall
Of that period the clubs have been a
garish feature Of summer lie ~ the
Branch. 60,
OF course gambling is not abo ished,
even temporarily, but tits forbidden TO
strangers, for the wary doortenders
will admit nobody whom they do not
DO itively know is not de ective in
disguise. They players are few, and
they belong wholly to the habitual
class. They are the sort who prefer
poker, which Yields to the club only a
certain price for faci tiles, or faro, al
which careful players can keep the OPP
posing chances down to something
near equality. The multitude OF nov
ices, who submitted themselves ex'
pensively to the dangers OF unfairly
dealt cards, the tremendous odds Of
roulette and the outright swindle Of
red aud black, and whose los es made
up the immense prof OF the dens
are necessarily shut out. Even before
this final closure, The fear OF being
caught in a police raid kept the crowds
away, and the bueinees was ruined iol
the season.
The disaster that has oVertaken the
gamblers is a result of the o'erleapinE
ambition OF Phil DAILY, commonly
known as the King Of Clubs, aud the
wealthy proprietor Of the Pennsyl
vania Club. By a snIewd policy o
liberality with the resident villagers
spending money freely in local I'M
provements, aiding in charities, EN-
blowing citizens exclusively in hi
building operations, and never LETTING
one of them lose q dollar in his club
he built up much popularity. Year pY
year his influence grew, and at lengl
he felt that no was strong enough Il
become political boss. He would N
| longer utp6uu Oh P'lNo'S 80 D.
immunity, but would WELD a. powe,
that would not only defend his clu|
against interference, but drive on
competition. In the last munic'pa
campaign he had ticket for minis
siontrs, Thereupon the opposition
made the issue against him and he wa
beaten, commissioners being chose
who we're committed 10 his extrrmtnts
j ton. Their leader, Heisley, was mad
) President, or Mayor, and the tight be
gan with the opening OF the sun
, mer season. Mayor Heisle
, used the police to make raids, and To
: pamesters we're repeatedly fined, Nov
} comes the threat OF imprlsonment,s n
. its teIrora ave sufficient to compel OBJ
| dience. Phil DAILY is set down to los
100000 in expenses and the ial
, urs Of profits. Meanwhile minort
: Of the seashors people are indignal
) at the interruption Of their favorii
amusement, while the majority 81
delighted at the abatement OF vic
that was becoming luxurious to tn
I reputation of Long Branch.