The Jersey City news., 1890-02-14
HARRISON POOLS.
The Swindling Dens
Again in Operation
in Hudson
County.
LOOKS LIKE A SKIN GAME.
One Of the Operators Has a Pull
and Keeps 0pen--0ther Gam
blers Wrathy.

The raid on the pool rooms in Harrison,
due to the exposure of the dens in THE
SUNDAY MORNING NEWS, it was thought,
would drive the gamblers to more con-
genial climate, and the law abiding citi-
zens of the pretty little town were
exuberant with joy when the pests were
driven from the town. The tradesmen
whose clerks would avail themselves of
every opportunity of giving their money
to the gamblers were highly elated, as it
was impossible for their employees to bet
and still retain their situations. On all
sides were heard expressions commend
ing the good work done by q good news
paper, and it was thought that the Pamb-
1ers would not dare to return to their old
haunts.
But they have
Dave Mclaughlin, the boss gambler,
who was formerly located in the old foun-
dry, mas opened den in an empty house
which was formerly occupied by a saloon
keeper named Taylor. Yesterday he did
that he has no opposition, the other gam
blers being afraid toopen owing to their
lack of pull" The other gamblers are
very sore and threaten to open today.
THE OLD FOUNDRY DESERTED.
When visited the old foundry yester-
which crowded it daily before the raid
was conspicuously absent. / was begin
ming to think that | had been wrongly in
formed about the reopening of the rooms,
but soon discovered my mistake. On the
first floor Of the building is the saloon
which once did thriving business, but
yesterday it was deserted. A couple of
negroes were in the place, and the barten-
der leaned on his elbows in listless sort
of a way putting vigorously at a huge
cigar.
''Can you tell me where I can get bet
on the Gutenberg races?" asked.
straight down two blocks, on the cor
ner," was the curt response.
why. | was told that this was the
place to bet, / added.
We'll, it was once, you see" said he,
sbut these ID newspapers got pound
ing the pool sellers and drew the atten-
tion of the authorities to us, and raid
was planned and the Jig was up. 1t
means loss of about Sl90 a day to me-
he added.
Just think of it. This mans revenue
was 500 day, and the bookmakers do
not work for pleasure. Who are the vic
Tins? The natural answer is, Those who
are foolish enough to give their money to
these daylight robbers.
A vILLAINOUS DEN.
followed the instructions of the bar
tender and had no trouble In locating the
den. The building is dilapidated frame
structure. 1t had been formerly occupied
by saloon keeper. There was gang of
the hardest looking citizens have seen
In long time on the stoop of the build
ing
Inside everything was hustle and con-
fusion The room was packed and the
atmosphere sitting. / looked about tor
the usual paraphernalia, such as black
boards, telegraph instruments, ETC., but
they were missing, and all that could be
seen besides the crowd was a lunch coun-
ter, on which were spread several pies
bearing the date Of the year in which
they had been baked and a stale keg of
beer. A sign over the lunch counter in
formed the crowd that pie could be se-
cured at ten cents slice and a schooner
of beer for five cents. The proprietor ap-
peared to be doing rushing business.
There was young man sitting in the
corner of the room at table. He was
not busy at the time / entered. In
another corner of the room there was
seated another young man. He was very
busy; in fact, the crowa surged all around
him. Above this young man was small
slip of paper, on which were printed in
lead the names of the horses and the odds
in the different races at Gutenberg.
POSSIBLY A SKIN GAME
AS soon as about $25 had been taken
from the suckers it was transferred TO
another individual. / watched this indi-
vidual and he went upstairs and re-
turned again and got $25 more and so on
until it was announced that the horses
were off, when the betting was stopped
The information of the horses being off
was furnished by an operator who was
said to be located upstairs. The doors
leading upstairs are barricaded and the
poor dear little innocents who play in
this den can be swindled in grand style
bv this arrangement.
For instance, the operator who is pre-
Sumed to be upstairs receives the an
nouncement from the track that the
horses are off. What is the matter with
withholding that information until the
winner is announced, then laying big
odds against oil the other horses In the
race and catching the poor victims?
Nothing could be easier and it is an
open question whether it is not prac-
tised
But of course the gamblers keep the
stuff and the paraphernalia UP stairs in
case of another raid. There are spies
stationed outside of the building who
are supposed to watch everyone who
enters the place.
After the winner of the race had been
announced, thick set individual came
down stairs with huge roll of bills in
his hands--not as much as went up in $25
Jumps, however-and gave the money to-
gether with a sheet to the young man in
Glo OtQeF corner VINO WAS HOW Il SfeAb
source of interest to several of the crowd
He paid off the winning tickets.
CLOSE 1T UP.
Such is McIaughlin's den as it was
found yesterday. Unless appearances are
deceptive he intends to stay, as the build
ing is receiving complete overhauling
and telegraph wires were being inserted
yesterday.
Several of the people in the neighbor-
hood whom | conversed with in regard to
the place were loud In their denunciation
of the character of some of the frequenters
and said that it brought the scum of
Newark aud New York to the town.
The building at present occupied by
Mclaughlin is owned by Mr.. Stanley,
and Mcdonald, a real estate agent, has
the letting of the premises.
A Family Sent to Prison.
John Stratton, who aided his father,
watchman, to rob the Boston clothing
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