Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-15
.Inspector McAleese Cleans Out a.
Suite of Elegant Faro Parlors
on Diamond Street,
,HALFAsQUAREFROM THECENTRAL
The Bank Well Backed and 1t Was Ex-
pected to Run Successfully During
the Week of the Races.
A SILENT, STRANGER HAUNTS CITY HALL.
Newsy Matters of Interest Collected About Pittsburg
and Allegheny.

L.
finest gambling place operated in Pittsburg
for many years. Last night six men, charged
with running the outfit, were given rooms
in Central station. When raided two faro
tables and one roulette outfit were in opera
tion, and half hundred men were par
ticipating in the three games. The outlay
was of the very best, being worth altogether
not less than 5000. The most surprising
part of the affair was its location, within 200
feet of Central police station, where the
proprietors were carrying it on as II there
were no police within a mile. But any de-
lusive ideas they may have entertained were
promptly dispelled by Inspector McAleese,
who, when he got the first inkling of the
game began an investigation. He was as
sisted by Detectives Coulson, Robinson,
Fitzgerald and Bendel, and soon had all the
evidence he needed.
Raided Early in the Evening.
Last evening the Inspector went before
Magistrate Gripp and made informations
against NJ. Cornelius Sam Shore, J. G.
Croghan, William Reid, John Blake and
John Robbins. The warrants were soon
after served, and at 10 o'clock the place was
closed.
A few days ago barber shop was opened
at No. 81 Diamond street. and the whole
building, which is a threestory brick, was
rented. Preparations were at once begun
for fixing up the second story in palatial
style. Windows were cleaned, blinds put
in, floors were handsomely covered, and
last of all came several queer looking tables,
spiritedin by the back way. Then the three
rooms were fitted with electric lights and
the outfit was complete.
The plan was to run one week, during
which time, if all went as expected a rich
harvest would be reaped. The place would
catch large amount of outside trade at
Mt Homewood. At the close of the week
those in charge would close the place and
move to other fields All this would have
gone well, but for one thing-the vigilance
of the Inspector of the First district, which
had evidently been forgotten by those who
planned the affair.
Only One Day in Business.
The place was opened Monday night, and
games were kept going until daylight The
news of a new gambling shop on the gilt
edged plan spread like quicksilver over the
city to the ears of the numerous
worshipers of the game of chance.
Before the night was over every
thing was going smoothly, with as many
patrons capable of losing Handsomely as
could be desired. Last night there were ex-
pectations of a big crowd, and they were
fulfilled. During the early part of the even
ing Inspector McAleese sat at Central sta
tion and watched dozens of well-known
characters go by on their way to No. 80. To
the unsuspecting it looked as if the barber
shop WAS doing an excellent night business,
but the Inspector knew better.
At 10 O'Clock the Inspector, with Captain
Dan Silvis and Detectives Coulson. Fitzger-
aid and Robinson walked leisurely down the
street. At the entrance of No. 81 they met
]. g. Croghan. alias Jimmy the Crab = who
halls from Cleveland. The Inspector de-
manded the key to the place, and when
Croghan refused to deliver it, he was
promptly arrested and sent up to the station
house. The three detectives then walked
up into the gambling rooms.
The Festive Tiger in Its Lair.
All three tables were surrounded by an
excited crowd who paid no attention to the
officers, although they were known to almost
every person in the room. One or two greeted
the detectives with Good evening""
and then turned to give the tiger one more
poke in the ribs. Each of the detectives
stepped to a table. The one at which De-
tective Fitzgerald stood was presided over
by William Reed.
1--WE want you, Billy" said the detective.
40, guess not" replied Billy, cool as q
cucumber, "not this week; come next"
The other faro table was presided over by
John Blake, alias Diamond Johnny" who |
only smiled and winl1ed at Detective Coul-
son when the latter told him to get ready |
and come along without any foolfng. Buck
Cornelius was holding state at the roulette
table, and Detective Robinson had some |
trouble in making him realize he was not
joking.
Come on, said the officer.
Come OF, said Buck, as he turned his |
attention to the game.
When at last the so men in the rooms be- |
gan to realize that the detectives meant |
business there was a grand rush for the |
door. But nobody was big enough to get |
past the Captain, who held them all in |
until it was decided what to do. |
Tie detectives only had warrants for |
those who were running the game, so all the |
players were allowed to "cash in" their |
chips and depart, which they did quickly. |
The proprietors were all marched to the |
station house and locked up. One of the |
latter had SIS, 900 in his pocket.
A Tiger With Beautiful Skin.
The outfit was one of the finest ever seen |
in Pittsburg, even in the palmy days of old, |
when everything went" One gentleman |
well versed in such matters on looking at |
the roulette outfit said it could scarcely be |
surpassed outside of Monte Carlo. Half a |
pushel of chips at least a hundred of them |
worth 50 cents each, being of solid ivory,
carved, deposited in the |
safe at Central station, with sew
and other fiXings of equal value. The scene
around Central station after the raid was
quite lively. Scores OF men were there eager
to furnish forfeits for the six prisoners and
whom they said had misrepresented things.
The Inspector would release nobody for less
than 81 600 bail.
A number of friends of the imprisoned
men were indignant over the raid. They
that permission had been given
them to run the place for one week, during
the races, without molestation. The au-
thority, they said, came from a prominent
police official Inspector McAleese said he
knew of no such bargain, and he was merely
doing his duty, as he always proposed to do.
HapTrN rsppTTT uyTrT prcourD