Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-24
THE SPORTING MEN.
ms1Ryuws ABOUT THEN WITH
JUSTICE 1IcHARDsoN AND
MAJOR POE.
~. eaxss Card, the "nittledorfer" Let
w and Kindred Subjects Dis
Guessed. o., o., 30.


----------------
A Dispatch reporter yesterday morning
>eked police-Just,ce Richardson: "After
reading Mr.. Pages card, are ycu still In
rllu~d TO think that II was = city cescial
Mr.. Pnge alluded to when he talked with
youtr
Mr.. PAGE said it was ga prominent city
oflcial.c do not know 10 whom he al
suded. I feel quite certain as to his Ian
susgc, answered Mr.. Richardson
Has any explanation ever been given 10
Won nv air Page or any one else rs 10 how
4 cane about that the gamblers were no.
tIfsed Of the intended raid OF the pollcef
No.
Do you know Of any other instance where
atlsmnts al officers OF the law against gam
blers have been frustrated
cannot recall any other instance at THIS
time.
Are you satisfied that the Mittcidorfer
}etttr Is aforgeryy
sm satisfied from what has been told
me by Captain Angle. Mr.. straus, mr.
loyenstein, and others, as well as from
Mr.. Ml.teidorfers sworn statement, that ne
(Nr. Mittcldorfer) did not write the letter.
AZ far as YOU know are the statements
made IN the alleged Mitteldorfer leuer cor
rsctf
believe. from what have been told,
they are correct in every instance.
DO you intend TO do anything to en-
deayor to discover the author OF the Nit
fe,dorftr leiter"?
Tha: matter Is In the hands OF the proper
parties Tor investigation.
What steps viii nov be taken for the in.
yesfigation OF "the S3pPer-month
chpfgssi -,
do not know. As the police have been
exoperstfd by Mr.. Page any investigation
by the Police Board would seem to be un.
necessary. The grand jury can compel
the attendance Of witnesses and compel
them 10 testify. which the Board caRno. do.
I have no suggestions TO make on This
point, however. as Judge Atkins viii
doubtless exercise bis own good judgment
and discretion In the matter.
Are YOU In receipt oil any Information RS
10 public feeling on this subiectf
have received great many letters oiler-
ing suggestions, but containing no inior-
nation which can be used. All who have
written to me, and those who have spoken
10 me on the subject, concur in the wish
that gambling should be suppressed in the
city ~ far as possible.
Nosf OF those with whom i have spoken
GNnrf>e Inc UtlNl tUstl tut Nbu ~ va W.
rup1jon and bribery as against any city Off
ejal,s eroundless. OF course there are some
who think otherwise, but they cannot or
will not state the grounds OF their belief.
Have YOU any information concerning
the location OF any gambling. housesi
Ihaye no personal knowledge on the sub
iect. as have not been in any gambling
house since the war. but have received IN.
formation as TO the location OF such houses.
Ii would be improper for me to give 1t here
Cor o., ,ous reasons. ,
Once or twice y cas- been represented
that you "charged" that come one of the
police force got the "hush money; that
isn't true, Is III
No; have great confidence in the police
force, and believe that they are men OF In
tegrity,
The practice Of the police for some time
pas,-to break up Sunday liquor-selling-
has been 20 watch the houses and summon
the people they see coming out. Is there
INV reason why the same plan should not
be applied 10 gambllng.houses
None that can imagine. such course
would raise the cry OF espionage, &c; but
1t Is lawful espionage to break up unlawful
conduct.
TIE MIrTLEOoRFER" LETTER.
The Mttledorier letter is as follows:
RICHMOND, Va, August 80, 1856.
4" Hon. d. e. Richardson, Police Justice OF
The Gtyof Richmond;
"Dear sir,-I desire TO call your atten-
ton 10 the gambling-hOuses and the IN.
mates and proprietors thereof, and ask VIII
YOU do your utmost to break them up
Also give YOU names OF parties who will
g Il 40 fhig-firSf Tor the
lection OF myself and family and, second,
they are great curse, not only TO myself,
Int great number OF other men who play
,r,r,,s and cant afford TO lose their money.
ON Seventh street between Grace ana
BROAD. over Jobnson's saloon, there Is En-.
nett Depriest, Thomas LYONS, and Dick
Adams; over Mccarthy Il Haynes gro
,cery.store there is Samuel Morrow, Colle
Jordan, and Levy; over Robinson's Barber
shop, Seventh street between Broad anu
Marshall, there Is George Jackson, Myers,
and George Hill; over Selden x Timber
lakes hardwai e-store, Broad street be-
tween Sixth and seventh, there is Preston
Nuckols and William Miller. These men
are all gamblers. aud live on the hard earn
ings Of poor men. n you VIII summon the
following parties they can testify as to my
statement. Here follow q list OF names
/ trust you will give this matter your
prompt attention and obiige, yours very
respectfully.
IsIenedl "MARx MITTLEDORFER,
% Seventh between Grace and Broad"
Justice Richardson enclosed the letter in
an envelope to Major Poe, with the follow
ing:
"Tbis letter is respectfully referred 10
Major John Poe, Jr., Chief OF Police, who
will please cause inquiry TO be made rs 10
the truth OF this complaint, and, II wei
founded, bring the offenders before court
for examination. Preserve tins letter. Re
specifully, ID. e. RICHARDSON T.
Ut is doubtful whether the first name i
intended 10 be signed MAX" or" Marx
probably the former. Mr.. Mtteldorier'i
name is Max Mitteldorier, not Mittle
dorier.l
what major roe Says.
After having the above interview with
Justice Richardson, Dispatch reporte;
called at the Office OF Major John Poe, Jr
Chief Of Police, aud asked: Have you
read Mr.. Pages cards
The Major replied, Yes.
Do you know anything as to its state
mentss
Nothing. said be.
What explanation is there OF the fac, tina
the gamblers were notified OF the polc'
raids
Have no idea.
DO YOU know Of the existence OF an
gambling houses in Richmond?
There are several " poker-rooms," but n
gsmbling-bouses in the city known to th
police.
The present practice OF the police :
break up sunday iiguor-selling is to watcl
the houses and summon the people the
sec coming out. Is there any reason VIII
The same plan should not be adopted agains
the gamblers, II there are any hereY
Years ago, I'm the time OF Major Clai
borne's term as Chief OF Police, | was di
rected by him to get the names Of partie
seen going into such establishments, an
their names were given 10 the grand Jury
who failed TO ind an indictment In ever
case.
What Is to be done about the Mite
dorfer letserf
We are doing our best TO fluid out.
What II TO be done about the inyestig
tion OF the charges published by MIR. Page
See the Mayors proclamation in yestel
days STATE newspaper.
What Major Poe alluded 10 was ii
N Mayors proclamation calling together h
Police Board for the investigation Of IL
subject so far as the police were concern
ed; but upon the publication OF MI
Pages card stating that the party referre
20 was not city official IL was considers
that II would be unnecessary for the Boar
TO act. No doubt Mr.. Witt will bring th