The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-20
PROTECTED BY POLICE
A SYNDICATE OF GAMBLERS THAT
HAS FULL SWING IN CITY.
Rahke, Lanham, Shea and Their
Games Allowed to Run, but All
Others Shut Out.

ton. Fair week engendered the trouble
but it has been brewing for several months.
1t started when several Of the small fry
gamblers were compelled to close on ac-
count of the influence of the Cleveland
Club and such men as Fred Heller, Gus
Rahke, Ollie Lanham, "Bill' Owsley and
others. These men, it seemed, had cinch
the administrators favors and they
would not tolerate competition. 1t was the
pull of this combination which caused
the police to close the game at Dan Smiths,
on North Illinois street, and it is their
pull which makes it impossible for Smith
to show his head now.
There are several others who would like
to open up, but the moment they make a
move the police force is down upon them.
Among this class is Jim" McTheney and
tom" Nelson. Charles F'rade is also under
the ban; the best he can get is game at
the fair grounds, and this is poor pick
ing for him, as the sports will not go
so far when they can find all they want
down town.
The fight became apparent last Monday
night. A few days before, Dan Smith an
nounced that he would run poker game
during fair week. His place had been closed
by the police some weeks before, but he
told his friends that he did not believe Tag
CART and Colbert would interfere during the
rush of fair week, when he would have OPP
portunity to get a few dollars from the
game. The advertisement necessary to give
the game to bring the players to the house
reached the ears of the Cleveland Club
gamblers. Smith DOES not know positively
how it happened, but he was not allowed
to open. He was to have begun Monday
night and had the room prepared for the
reception of the players. Immediately after
o'clock roll call the police running that
beat made visit to the saloon and went
through the house. They were looking for
a poker game they said. But they did not
find one, as it was too early in the even
ing. When few struggling players arrived
Smith was afraid to let them start game,
and he did WELL for the police were back
again in an hour and made trip through
the house every hour or two during the
night. And the next day and the next
night, and the following day and night, the
visits were repeated and Smith was given to
understand that gambling would not be per-
mitted in his place.
CLEVELAND CLUB GAMBLERS.
At the same time several games were run
ming with the full knowledge of the police.
At the Cleveland Club there was big
&c me of poker all week and for several
months before. This is considered by the
sporting men to be the best game in town.
There the limit is 81, but the betting is
stiff and large sum of money changes
hands at every sitting. Into the kitty go
two 10-cent checks every time the cards are
dealt. This goes to the Cleveland Club.
At this game the players are assured that
there is absolutely no danger. The game is
said, on good authority, to be conducted by
the Cleveland Club and every indication
goes to prove the statement. There is no
doubt the statement is true, for the game
goes on every day and has been going on
for months. Mayor Taggart and Police SUI
perintendent Colbert are members of the
club. Ordinarily the game is conducted in
the room which is set aside for ladies' but
on nights when the club gives it weekly
'"renderloin" ball, the tables are moved out
Of this room into the parlor, where the
Democratic city committee formerly held its
headquarters and where Mr.. Taggart smil-
ingly told his friends four years ago that
the poll books showed that Sullivan would
be elected by a large majority, though the
result showed that he was defeated by over
three thousand votes.
LANTIAM & SHEAS PLACE.
Another game which claims protection,
and seems to have it, is at the old "Nickel-
plate" saloon, on the west side of Illinois
street, just south of the Union Station
This place is now known as the "Lansha,"
being the phonetical spelling Of the first syl-
liable of the names Of each of the two own
ers of the place Ollie Lanham and John
Shea are the proprietors. The saloon is open
all night, If necessary, or as long after the
closing hour as the game upstairs lasts.
A hi roIo fba nIa
poker or craps" and during the last week
there were many players. In a rear room
on the second floor is a billiard table on
which the game of craps" is played This
is Lanham's stronghold, for this is the
game that made him so much money when
he was associated with Gus Rahke in the
palmy days Of the Sullivan administration.
In those days Rahke was a butcher and
had big game in the basement of his East
with him for a while, but soon found it
more profitable to do business alone and
took up quarters in the basement under
Fred Heller South New JeISey-street Sa-
loon. Lanham is now short skate, but
he has managed to get backing enough to
open up, and the prospects are that he will
soon be prosperous again.
The game Of poker at the ''LanSha" is a
dollar limit. 1t catches the small fry
among the local and visiting gamblers.
Anybody who has a dollar may get in the
game, and he can play as long as he can
make good his ante. The game was well
patronized during fair week. Saturday
night there was full game running until
a late hour. The craps game is not much
patrOniZed. 1t was opened by Lanham two
or three months ago when he and Shea took
hold of the place, but there were few play
ers, and then the poker game was started.
The two games do not go well together,
and the craps has been sacrificed for the
more respectable" game
At Fred HeierS saloon, on South New
Jersey street, Saturday night, there was
craps game running in the basement. Gus
Rahke had been dealing bank there ever
since the annexation of West Indianapolis,
was advised that 1t would not do. During
last week, however, the bank was closed at
Heiers and moved out to house opposite
the fair grounds. But the craps game in
the cellar went on just the same, with John
Barmfuhrer in charge of it. Saturday
who was well dressed and had the appear
ance of being a travelling man or clerk,
lost all he had down to twenty-five pennies,
which he produced and asked for a chance
with the bones Several other players
tried the game, but it was losing venture
for all except the house.
There are no games in progress at the
Cascade saloon (the old "Drum), nor at
Dan Smiths nor at the 'levee' saloons.
The word has gone out that these places
shall not open. and the police go through
the rooms daily. On Indiana avenue it is
Some of them are run by notorious negro
gamblers, who use crooked" dice and get
the money of the unsuspecting of their race
in q manner compared with which sand
bagging is 4 reputable business. There are
also two or three policy games going along
Indiana avenue.
The police know Of nearly all the games
mentioned above, and make no effort to