The record-union., 1892-01-12
ALL ABOUT A DIVE.
The Casino Proprietor's Demand for a
Hearing
Chief of Police Drew Thinks the Place
Respectable One, But Says He
Was Never In 1t.

c. n. Post appeared before the Board of
Trustees yesterday in behalf of George
Schoerling, proprietor of the Casino sa-
loon. He asked that the board consent
to grant a rehearing in the matter Of the
revocation of the Casino license. The
proprietor felt that he had been dealt
with too harshly, and would be able, if
allowed, to show that his place should
not be classed with the dives.
The Mayor thought the Police Com
missioners were the proper persons to
first hear Mr.. Posts argument.
Mr.. Post thought this was too round
about way, and suggested that the Trus-
tees and Police Commissioners hear what
he had to say in joint session.
This plan was agreeable to the board,
and meeting was called for 230 o'clock
IN the afternoon. At the Mayors re-
quest it was ordered that Police Captain
Lee be invited to attend.
In the afternoon the members of the
board met in conjunction with the Po-
lice Commissioners to hear Mr.. Post s
argument.
Police Captain Lee, in reply to ques-
lions asked of him, said the Casino had
been the resort of a very hard class of
men, but the proprietor was himself a
good and peaceable citizen and probably
dad not know the character of many of
those who frequented the place.
Chief of Police Drew said he did not
personally know anything about the
Casino as he had never been inside Of it.
1t had never given the police any trouble
and was simply one of those places found
IN all communities where idle and pen
nlIess men are found to congregate. All
men cannot stop at the Golden Eagle or
French Restaurant q Of
son why the Casino should not be allowed
10 remain open as we'll as many other
places in the city.
Mr.. Post quoted from the saloon ordi-
nance and held that both the Police Com
nliSsioners and City Trustees had acted
hastlIy-the former in requesting that the
license be revoked and the latter in max
ing the order Of evocation-without first
having given Mr.. Schoerling a chance to
be heard. He knew of no evidence hay
ing been laid before the Trustees to
warrant their action.
Police Commissioner Cravens said that
when he, as such commissioner, COM
planned to the Trustees of the character of
the place he did so with full knowledge
OF what he was doing and had nothing to
take back. The men taken from the
Casino the other night We're the toughest
looking set that ever came before him in
The Police Court.
Mayor Comstock said that he, also, as a
Police Commissioner, would stand by his
action in requesting the revocation of the
Casino license.
Trustee Conklin said he did not see as
the Board of Trustees lad anything
further to do in the matter. He for one.
was satisfied with the report of the Police
Commissioners, who should know what
places were proper to be allowed to run.
Judge Post continued to argue the case
at length, and made an earnest plea on
behalf Of his client, holding strenuously
to his position that the Trustees had no
right to do as they had done without first
giving the applicant hearing. This, he
held, was what the law and justice re-
gUlTed should be done.
In response 10 a statement that it had
not been shown that the Casino was a re-
sort for thieves and dissolute characters, a
REC0RD-U UNION reporter called attention
10 the fact that the men recently arrested
in a camp in the brush near the city, all
admitted that they had made their head
quarters at the Casino. Everything in
their camp, from the tent that sheltered
them to the beds they slept on and the
provisions they ate, had been pIundered
from the people OF this city. Ii this did
not prove that the place was the resort of
thieves, what would prove it?
Mayor COmstock intimated that at the
meeting Of the Police Commission to-day
the matter might be taken up for dis
cnssion, whereat the board adjourned
without action.
After the adjournment Of the board
Chief of Police Drew was very emphatic
in his declarations that the Casino was
one Of the most orderly places in the
city. In his opinion the Trustees should
have made a clean sweep, instead of
bouncing on four saloons.
When asked if he did not consider it
good and commendable act for the Trus-
tees to have made a beginning toward
correcting the dive evil, he still main
tanned that the board had shown par
IialitV