The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-30
LITTLE TIGER LIARS.
Where Policy Fiends Pur-
sue Fugacious
Figures.
MORE SOLID INFORMATION.
Shops, Dealers and Backers Located
for superintendent Smiths
Especial Benefit.

the city end it is presumed that the cap
tains of the various precincts are directly
responsible for his inactivity. Superin-
tendent Smith apparently does not know
of the existence of these dens, and ii he
does not. the blame cannot be placed upon
his shoulders. The neglect of duty of his
subordinates in not reporting to him their
location keeps him from taking the action
which public sentiment requires of him.
The immunity of policy sharks is COM
mented upon by every law abiding citizen
in this city and all eyes are turned upon
the Superintendent of Police. Through
him the desired relief must come, and the
public In general feels confident that the
Superintendent will soon show his hand
and suppress an evil which has now as
sumed gigantic proportions. When policy
sharks become SO daring as to invade the
homes of poor people. 1t is quite time that
the police officials should lnterpose some
objections.
superintendent Smith is the man who
is being openly detied by these rascals,
and the probability is. If any credence
can be placed in the rumors which
are afioat about Police Headquarters,
that policy shops will be closed by the
first of the year, and as many of the oper-
ators as possible. brought to Justice. The
arrest Of the shop operators will probably.
result in the disclosure of the names Oh
the bacKers of the game, meter about
which the public is somewhat curious
The disgrace of having policy shops in
operation under the noses OF the police Is
only equalled by the disgracefnl rumors.
which are presumed to be without toun-
dation, that the backers are working un-
der police protection. This imputation
alone should stir Superintendent Smith
to immediate action.
Inasmucn as Superintendent Smiths
suboroinates have failed to locate these
policy shops for him, THE JERSEY CITY
NEWS takes pleasure in locating u lumber
for him, with the hope that he will lose
no time in closing the doors of these
holes.
WHERE THEY ARE.
The first and one OF the worst In the
whole city is run in the rear of Joe
Lentz's saloon on Washington street near
Essex. Lentz, learned from good author
ity, made the book, AMI the employees
of the Sugar House are his victims. Not
many weeks ago the residents OF that
section of the city threatened to wreck
the place. Not only do whole families
suffer because of its existence, but mer-
chants feel ats effects, ana from one man
who had been an habitual player,
learned that many of the unsuSpectlng
Polocks were openly robbed of their money
and oftentimes induced to pawn
their household effects SO as to continue
their playing. Lentz runs the game in a
dirty, dark, dismal room, and makes one
of the largest books In the city. Supertn-
tendent Smith would be spending few
hours advantageously il he would locate
himself in spot where he could see the
class of players who frequent Lentz's
place. Children of all ages are permitted
10 make plays. Women play the game,
ana men employed in the Sugar House
dodge into Lentzs place and deposit their
money. for which they never receive
anything but bit of dirty paper bear
ing three or four numbers.
Merchants who have given credit to
some OF the players from week to week
week their payments become less. The
game run by Lentz has already wrecked
several homes, and has kept famtlie 8
from having food enough to eat.
The officials OF the Sugar House have
endeavored by all the means in their
power to prevent their employees from be-
ing drawn into the game, but their efforts
have been without avail, and 1t now
alone remains for Superintendent Smith
TO make Il record for himself and aid
suffering and wronged community. That
such place should be permitted TO exist
is pubic disgrace.
TWO OF KIND,
The filthiness of Lentz's shop is
equalled in SHOP run by a
man whose name sounds something
like James Solomon, ut No. 340 Hender-
son street. Solomon's place is about on
the same order as Leniz's, inasmuch as
1t is patronized by the laboring men. wo-
men and children who are employed In
Lorillard's tobacco factory, and men who
earn their daily bread by the sweat of
their brow, saw men and women enter
the place with hopeful expressions on
their countenances that they might make
s'hit," but money once placed in the
hands of these sharks never comes back.
l have also seen men emerge from this
place cursing and swearing and threaten
ing to complain to the police that they
had been robbed, but the fact that Solo
mon is still running the nefarious game
is proof positive that superintendent
Smith has been given wide berth and
that no complaint has ever been lodged
with him.
In Barrow street, in little shauty in
the rear of McGinnis' saloon at Newark
avenue and Barrow street, is located an
other shop, in which, to all appearances.
a big book is made. This shop is backed,
it is alleged, by one Charles Weber, who
is said to be financially interested In
policy playing. A young man with whom
| am so unfortunate as sto be acquainted
was in charge of the shop. When
/ entered | remarked that 1t was a mean
and contemplate business for him to be
engaged in.
LOTS OF SUCKERS.
"Well," said he, there are lots of suck
ers who think they can beat this game. IL
is a hundred to one against them, but the
more money they drop. the larger my
commission is. see? | won't stop them
from playing. because | make big money
and am not afraid OF the police; i'll fact
some of The 'coppers' often drop quarters
here, and it all goes to swell my commits
sion."
His statement rather surprised me as,
If it is true that policemen, who are paid
to prevent crime are encouraging 1T. 1t is
time Captain Farrier investigated the
matter and reported to Superintendent
Smith, who would lose no time in bring
ing these offenders to the front.
It's an insult to the Superintendent to
lave it rumored that his suOordinates are
gambling in this manner, and one which
he should prevent by breaking one ortwo
of the offenders
Another shop of this character is To-
Gated in a little shantv in the rear of
saloon called the volunteer" which
stands on the northwest corner OF Coles
and Sixth streets. The police should ex-
perience no difficulty whatever in locat-
ing this shop as IL is frtquented by
Italians aud colored people, who stand
outside the door and discuss the proba-
bilities OF certain gigs coming out.
Children also carry money to the place
and Captain Kelly would do well to as