Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-20
LONG RRANcn GAMELERs.
A Determined War Made Against
Them by the Authorities.

A special tc the Philadelphia Tines
gives a very interesting account Of tho
war that is being made on the gamblers
at Long Branch, the famous watering
place on the Jersey coast. The dispatch
SAYS that the Mayor is determined to smut
the gorgeous gambling houses that nave
for years been chief feature OF summer
life at this seaside resort. Hels actuajed
by desire for revenge against fhi paiy'
the keeper OF the Pennsylvania cub, the
biggest ut these notorious hels, AUG so ID
Is thought that no compromise can De ell
fected. Several raids nave been maze Dy
the funny rural police and to-day the Org
gamesters-men of enormous Iocai I'M
portance-appeared before justice Oh
the Peace.
MAYOR Wilbur A. Heisley il a lawyer
and belongs 10 an old New Jersey FANNY.
Al the last election OF Village trustees
he was opposed IN his candidacy by Day,
who had man OF his own whom ne
wished 10 elevate to the May0ralty. Inc
tribute paid annually by the gamblers tor
official tolerance had been heavy and he
was resolved to be more secure IN his I'm
lawful business at less expense. Inc
canvass was bitter. Heisley WAS elected
and the Beard OF Trustees chose him Ire-
sident, which is the equivalent OF Mayor,
as he is called.
THE NEW MAYORS STRONG STAND.
ltis said that DAILY then sought to make
the usual bargain tor the present session
and was ast0ni-hed by Heistey's reply
that there were no terms on which ne
could Keep his Pennsylvania Club open.
Phil DAILY is wealthy beyond any other
gambler in the United States, and all his
fortune has been made out OF the summer
residents at Long Branch within ten
wears. He owns not only the beautiful
gaming house and grounds, on the most
conspicuous corner along tne beach, but
his private residence, with lis famous
chapel attached, is one OF the wonders
OF the place. He lives there
the year round and spends money freely,
being careful that every stroke OF work
done for him is by citizen of the Branch.
BY that shrewd system he has made MIN
self popular with the villagers, and ma
jOrty of them are on bis side. Against
him are all the summer cOttagers, VINO re-
gard the club as a disgrace to the resort
and sustain the Mayor earnestly IN his
crusade.
The movement is against all the bells,
from the ine Pennsylvania and Ocean
Clubs TO the meanest keno den for negro
walters, but DAILY, as king OF the game
sters, stands the brunJ Of the assault. 1t
Is in his place that three different sets Of
heavy players leave their money in I'M
mense quantities during the season-the
turfmen, vino are numerous at the Branch
during. the Monmouth Park races; the
Wall street brokers. who bring down from
town every night an appetite Tor taking
the chances which has not been satated
in the days stock operating, and the null
titude O. prosperous Hebrews, who are in
a majority at the tables il the Pennsyl-
vania's gaudy halls.
AN EVANGELIST AS A DETECTIVE.
The curious figure in the warfare is an
evangelist, VIM. q. Wimpfelmer,0 Jealous
rehgiOnisJ, who is spending the summer
at Ocean Grove, the great resort OF the
MethOdlsts. He is theological student,
has labOred at times with the Salvation
YArmy and is not suspected of any selfish
motive. He is STRIPPING, with "a mild
1Ace and a gracious bearing, but in a mid
night raid by the police on the Pennsvl-
7sAnia Club he tiercely waved a revolver
as he dashed In among hundred players
] and cried: ''Surrender, sinners, surren-
derv' like any valorous leader of for
Torn hope on a battle field. lie and his
Blind were beaten then by the gamblers,
professional and amateur, and they made
mo prisoners at the time, but DAILY was
heXt day arrested for assaultIng an officer,
and that was one OF the charges TO be
Dealt WIN IN court to-day.
Wimpfneimer was an authorized agent
of Mayor Helsley, who had paced the pO-
lice officers under his command. The con-
sequence of the raid was that the Penn
sylvanla Club has been lonesome of
nights during the last half of this week,
for the accustomed players feared an
other incursiOn and stayed away. AS
they are said to usually lose fully 81, 00O a
day more than they win during the short
two months season, the loss to DAILY is
heavy. Cajolery and intimidation have
alike been tried on Wimpiheimer to make
him desist in his crusade, but he has re-
manned firm. Mayor Hershey, TOO, has
steadIastly refused TO ease up.
HOW DAILY WENT TO TRIAL.
Phi Daily disports in the only four-in-
hand drag now seen at the shore. Tne
cOaohman is amarYel in uniform and a
bugler blows mis- horn high on the rear
seat, 1t was in this equlpage that he rode
from the dazzling architecture OF the
Pennsylvania Club this afternoon to the
mere little charter jail over which Police
Justice Morris sits in dlnGy chamber.
The room was already jammed with peO-
pie, mostly parusans Of the gambler.
Gamblers then began to cheer their chief,
but were Quieted quickly by tue police.
On Justice Morris desk lay an envelope
containing $3.50 and across it was written
by him ''nanded to me by IA messenger"
The messenger would not tell from whom
il came. TINS money will be banded over
to the Mayor, who will keep IL for any DOS
sihle claimant and eventually turn il into
the public treasury.
YOUNG. WIMPFHEIMER'S TESTIMONY.
Lawyers discussed technical legal
points for three hours, but at length the
trial itself was held. 1t lasted only halt
an hOur and consisted OF the testimony of
Evangelist Wimplheimer, with the usual
Interruptions. lie was a clerical Young
fellow, aged 10, and he swOre that he saw
club house. Days counsel questioned
him as To his history. He had been a
bookkeeper in several large New York
dry goods houses and then secretary ut
the Young Mems Cnrlstian Association,
from which position he was discharged
because his private conduct did not IA
one particular accord VITA his
Christian professions. He refused
TO describe his sin, and the court
did not compel HIM to. lie Is now u stu
dent in the Pennington Seminary, and Is
70 become preacher. He went into this
crusade cOnscIentOusly, and was not
paid. The ouly money he had taken was
50 Tor expenses. There was no defense.
Justice Morris decided DAILY guilty, AS
be did another gambler, named Dunham,
and fnen them 800 eacu. lie said that
the Long Branch Commissioners were
resOlute in their determination to close
the gaming houses and that imprisonment
HH H..