New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
MUSTKEEP OUT OF POOLROOMS
IN ORDER TO THE POLICE BY MR.. BYRNES.
MANY POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN LOSING so MCCli
MONEY AS TO LEAVE THEIR
rANrTJFS N WANT

FAMILIES IN WANT.
The police received orders from superintendent
Byrnes on Thursday night to keep out OF pooiroons
in this city, unless they were required to enter 'hem
on police business, and also to Keep away from 'e
race tracks Inspectors Williams, Conln and McAvoy
conveyed the order TO captains at meetings "mch
were called in the three inspection districts 1t was
said yesterday that Inspector Williams called inc
cautaIns OF his district together III the IHth-s''
station while Inspector McAvoy talked to the captains
on the West side Of the city In the Twenueth-sU'
station and Inspector Conlln delivered the order in
the Morisana station. The intention was ~ Keep tho
order from the knowledge Of the public.
since the failure the courts TO hold prisoners VINO
were arrested for violating the pool law In the cty
stopped police interference with the pooSeliera' tie
,oorooms have increased In number ana the pro
pretors have had no fear In selling pools TO members
Of the force superintendent Bymes and the Commits
sioners recently learned that many policemen, from
captains down to patrolmen, went u the pooli"pniS
openly and wagered money on the races Some OF tie
policemen walk, bodily into poorOoms In full un form
IN gamble II was learned also that the craze LOT
betting on the races led many Of the policemen 10
visit The racetracks at hours when they were not on
duty.
Complaints against policemen who failed 10 pay
their debts increased In Number rapidly, ana lh'eA
tiQations showed that In most cases the men got III
debt because they lost money In the poorooms or NJ
the roceracks Ptful stories Of want In the families
az sucb policemen were tod to the Commissioners III
was with the knowledge and approval OF the Co'hS-
soners that Superintendent Byrnes Mt length Issued
the order to ston TIE members of the force from Detuhs
I'm the poorooms and at the racetracks.
Superintendent Byrnes said yesterday. when his or
der had become known to reporters: Hereafter any
policeman, be he captain, sergeant rounnsmah Ut
patrolman who Is caught entering a pooroom, except
on police business or who goes TO racetack outside
of the city without leave, Will be dealt with severely
for violation OF the rules 1t IS intended TO prevent
the members Of the force from openly betting on the
races They may not be prevented from going 10
the racetracks when they away on leave or spehu
ing their vacations, but they have no right 10 leave
the city without permission at other times. Their
presence in poolrooms, even when they are not III
Uniform reflects dscredt tho force and that would
he a sufficient reason for enforcing the order 1hefe
is another reason for trying to prevent the ponce rom
r,sktng their money on the races They pretty
sure To lose money which their families need. The
craze for gambling the races Is causing no ehu Oh
trouble In the city II Is running huhoreue "',.
thousands OF business men and making thieves OF
MANY men and boys who work on moderate salaries.
Most of the harm is done at the pooirOorns IN tho
CITY The police have tried 10 close these PAGES ouu
we were thrown out OF court and scolded Tor arrest
Ing the booksellers until attempts to stop the business
became a farce. II the law protects the PooiscIiere
from poce Interference, however, that Is no reason
why policemen should be included among the Vc'''"s
OF the booksellers"