New-York tribune., 1894-01-08
BARROOMS IN FULL BLAST.
THOSE POLICE ORDERS TO CLOSE UP
TIGHT MEANT ALMOST NOTHING.
ALL THE LIQUOR STORES DID WAS TO PULL
DOORS SIDE ENTRANCES WIDE OPEN
PLENTY OF CAROUsING-ii2
EXCISE ARRESTS
EXCISE ARRESTS.

EXCIsE ARRESTS.
Another papable police bluff made
on Saturday night when 1t was reported that
Police Superintendent Byrnes had issued per-
emptory "orders' to captains Of precincts that
all liquor stores should be tightly closed
promptly at midnight, and be kept closed
throughout Sunday till the regular hour for
their reopening. at a. m. to-day. 1t was
said that the "orders' were to be impartially
executed. and that the captains should not
make fish Of and flesh of another" but
treat all dealers precisely alike. 1t was believed
that the drag-net was at last TO be used for
all 1t was worth. and, taking the police at their
word the newspapers yesterday morning re-
ported that the "orders" had been strictly en-
forced and the liquor stores all duly
closed
Investigation has shown. however. as a matter
OF fact. that the alleged "orders' Of Superin-
tendent Byrnes were interpreted in an almost
wholly Pickwckian sense and were enforced in
a comparatively insignificant number Of cases.
and then only against dealers with a weak
pull" or ones who had in some way fallen
der the police ban for offences other than vio-
lating the Excise law. 1t is true that patromen
did visit many. and perhaps all Of the 5000 or
more liquor stores In the city on Saturday even
lnE. III some k1lOW1l 1lSldHceS lte 'ilI'etS
quietly called the dealers or their bartenders to
the door and told them that orders had been
issued as aforesaid but counteracted their effect
by intimatrg that the dealers would only be
required to keep their stores a little quieter and
darker than usual and then they would be
80. X" The dealers were also cautioned to
look out for strangers who might prove to be
"Parkhurst men"
At a well-known "all-nght house" in Third
ave. a burly patroman called the proprietor out
side and said to him in stage whisper:
There do be orders fer yees all to shut at
twilve an kape shut TIL Mond'y marnin'. but
kape t'ings aisy an don't be havin too much
lolght an yell 60 trough" All that was done
by the dealer was to close his front door at mid
night. pull down the shades and fasten their edges
to the woodwork with pins 10 prevent the brill
liant lights within from being too plainly visible
from the outside. Access continued 70 be Tree Dy
the side door. and the usual Sunday morning
carousing Went without let or hindrance and
continued throughout, the entire day.
\ Tribune reporter who walked from the Bridge
entrance through Park Row. the Bowery and
Thrd-ave TO Twenty-third-st.. yesterday after
nom found that nearly all Of the liquor stores
which have been accustomed to violate the sun
dav clause Of the Excise law, did so yesterday
with irnpunity while policemen stood idly by.
Transoms open as usual and side doors iin-
/ locked. many even being aver Drunken men
reolcd along tho sidewalks in undminished num-
hers. fights were no less frequent tnan usual ana
tho nvc-cent bucket shops were IN ful blast.
The principal effect Of the alleged "orders' dis
cerned by the reporter, was that few we'll
known places were closed and that timid dealers
ser,,,intze4 customers little more closely than
usual before admitting them
ARRESTS IN VARIOUS PRECINCTS.
AZ the close Of the day yesterday 142 excise
arrests had been recorded. Il is significant
fact that the highest number OF cases in any
single precinct was found in the Fourth. COM
mandcd by Captain Sevin, who has recently
been the object of DR.. Parkhurst's especial at
tcntion Here sixteen cases were recorded on
the sergeant's blotter Next IN order comes the
Eleventh. with thirteen arrests.
t-ollovvine are the full returns from all parts or