The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-24
ON THE TRAIL.
Chief Rice is After the
Gamblers.
Says That He'll Rid Paw
tucket of the Pest.
Policy Writers Scared aud Saloon
Roulette is Stopped.

Chief of Police Rice appears anxious to
drive from Pawtuoket city all systems
of mbiing, and in conversation with
q reporter he said. yesterday. that where
he car secure proof Of the law being
broken he will bring the offenders to JUS
tice. This statement applied TO all forms
of law breakers.
Last week when the police authorities
were informed that there were roulette
wheels in some of the saloons ia the CEN
ire Of the city. Chief Rice was prompt in
ordering them out. The wheels were %
catch thu nickels OF the working mer.
and the customers in general. Occasion
ally it may happen that such wheel
can be broken" but the chances. rs In
other forms of gan bling, are in favor Of
the hacker of the game.
The reporter was Informed by one we'll
known gentleman that he saw laboring
man enter certain saloon. who had
dinner pail in mis- hand, and being at
tracted by the possible chance of winning
mt the rate of 20 90 he played against the
machine When ne quit he had lost some
thing over seven dollars, probably
week wages Another man lost four
dollars Neither of the men complained
hut IL is certain that they regretted hav.
ing entered that saloon.
The chief is also pushing the policy
players, and they will have TO be eX-
tremely carofu as TO their methods IN
going among the subscribers. The writer's
are shrewd men and will be hard 90 catch.
Fer instance, last Saturday. the locnl
writers did not give out TITO usual slips in
the morning, so that il arrested the
authorities would be unable 10 find any
books in their possession. There was no
change in Providence
Still there Is another form OF gambling
in this city. It is the regular roulette
wheel. The place where it is run is
veritable Monte Carlo in miniature and
in proportion the result is the same.
Hundreds OF young men have been ruined
In tho place. Time and time again have
they borrowed from friends hoping against
hope, that they would win the ilckle god
dess fortune. but tho result is ever tho
same for the man who runs the machine
is invariably the winner
The place is located on Main street. be.
tween High and North Main streets.
Unless a stranger is introduced by one
OF the hahitues OF the gambling den, il
is impossible for him To gain admittance.
Ii may be that the police officers do
not know that there la such q den for
when the gamblers are leaving the place
late at night or early in the morning,
they wait until the officer upon the beat is
out of sight. This is frequently the case,
and may account for no reports having
been made 20 Chief Rice
The man who conducts the place is we'll
known on the street and he resides in
one of tho best sections OF the city. it
might be considered an aristocratic part
of Pawtuckot
A young man employed by prominent
business house as collector ana agent was
attracted by tho whael a III commenced to
play. lie dropped Iar.ya sum OF money,
ana the worst part of it was that the
money belonged to the firm which en-
ployed him. Fortunately friend lent him
sufficient money to make up tho de-
fioiency, but IL was n salutary lesson. for
the young man never called at the place
afterward.
There is no doubt but that the den will
be broken up rs the authorities are now
conversant with certain details which will
compel the owner TO seek another place in
which he can ply his calling.