St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-29
A COUPLE OF GAMBLING
HOUSES.
PAIR OF PRoPRIEToRs PULLED
ONE MAN LOCKED IN A SAFE UN-
TIL ALMOST SUFFO-
GATED.
PARAPHERNALIA is PLENTIFUL.
Poker, Roulette, Crap and Faro
Tables, a Wheel and Poker
Chips Taken.

In the midst of driving rain storm
yesterday afternoon squad of police
from the central station sailed forth
in the patrol wagon and raided two
gambling houses in rapid succession,
located, respectively, on Hennepin av-
enue and on Third street. Two alleged
proprietors of the places were arrested
and two wagonloads of gambling para
phernalia were confiscated for future
use as kindling wood.
The patrol wagon pulled up abruptly
shortly before o'clock in front of
the alleged gambling house at 16 Third
street north. Capt. Helm, Inspector
Nick Smith, Officers Tom Averill and
John Larson jumped to the sidewalk
and ran rapidly up stairs to the rooms.
Sergeant Neatly, Inspector Joe Ryan
and Officer Averill remained in the
wagon, and drove rapidly to 251 Hen
nepin avenue, where they followed the
tactics of Capt. Helms men, and rushed
rapidly to the assault
When the bluecoatS entered No. 16
Third street, the only occupants to be
found were a colored man, a man
known as Billie Bekay, and a white
man, name unknown. At the first
sight of the officers the unknown man
grabbed a roulette wheel and ran for
an open safe or vault. Billie Bekay
| followed closely at his heels, and
slammed the door shut behind the man
with the wheel.
The officers tried to open the door,
but in vain, and Bekay explained that
Charlie Tyler, the alleged proprietor,
was the only person who knew the
combination. While waiting for Tyler,
Pi11io toly in+o
pains. The colored man, who had been
guilty of no particular offense, was
unmolested. No gambling was in prog
ress, and the officers had instructions
to arrest only gamblers and the pro-
prietors of the places.
In the meantime Sergeant Meally and
his men had been making things lively
at 251 Hennepin avenue. When they
entered the place four men were play
ing cards at table with no appear
ance of gambling, and Charles Hunt,
proprietor Of the place, was playing a
game Of solitaire. Hunt was promptly
taken into custody, and, leaving Off
GERS to guard the conflscated property,
the others hustled Hunt into the wagon
and drove rapidly back to No. 16, where
they were Joined by Billie Bekay and
two more officers. The central station
was the next objective point, and both
Hunt and Bekay were locked up on
separate charges Of conducting gam
bling houses Bekay registered under
the name Of w. E. Frinkwater. His
true name is said to be Edwards Hunt
is an old Grand Army man.
Two more trips of the wagon con-
veyed the gambling outfits to the sta
ton. The articles confiscated from both
places consist of two poker tables, two
roulette tables, two crap tables, two
faro tables, a wheel and a half -sackful
Of poker chips.
All this time it looked as though the
unfortunate man who had been locked
up in the safe on his own account
would suffocate before his release was
effected. He made no noise, and when
Tyler arrived an hour after his in
generation the officers expected to find
a dead man inside
When the fellow was finally taken
out after Tyler had unlocked the COM
bination he was half-dead from fright.
and had about given up hope Of escap-
ing. He was allowed to go, no charge
being preferred against him.
At o'clock Tyler and Hunts attor-
ney went down to bail the men out.
Billie Bekay, however, as he said, had
money to burn, and, producing a crisp
roll Of long green" put up the $50
bail required, and left. Hunts attorney
put up the necessary bail for his client |
and he was allowed to go. Both men |
were admonished to appear in the |
municipal court at 9 o'clock this morn |
ing, when they will be arraigned on |
the charge Of keeping gambling houses.
Tyler, it will be remembered, for
merly ran gambling house on Hen
nepln avenue, and was fined some
months ago when so charged in the
municipal court. He Is alleged to be
the rightful proprietor Of the place on
Third street
capt. Helm threatens to have Billie
Bekay arrested on further charge of
resisting arrest, and shielding a nris-
oner from an officer.