New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-11
MOSS AFTER POOLROOHS.
THE PRESIDENTS INVESTIGATION AS hE-
SUIT OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST
police OFFICIALS.

President Moss OF the Police Board late yes'er-
day declared that he had for some time pee" III
vestgating the poolrooms in this city. lie han III
a measure succeeded In closing them up. MT MOSS
made a statement relative to the matter because
Information had leaked out regarding MS invest"
cations. This Is what he said:
Some time before Chief Conlin retired began
an investigation privately into the system OF pool
rooms in this city. | had people go into them'
around and about them. and learned the system
very thoroughly Up to comparatively recent
period they operatngly freely. That was
matter of newspaper comment | pursued the plan
OF subpnnang as witnesses before me such persons
as 1t seemed probable could give important tesu-
mony. | have had before me the principals In Doth
the Mahoney and the Gleason systems OF poo
rooms. the representatives. Of the principals l
have had players writers, employees. telegraph oper-
ators. hackers and the whole fraternity before
me- and their testimony has been taken legally
and formally The investigation is not yet com
pleted. ana oniy speak OF 1t because information
mas .eaked out. one result Of my investigation -
that the poolroom business Is dead. or nearly SO
There IL some evidence OF police collision In the
past but am convinced that the poo.room people
understand now that this Department understands
them thoroughly. and that they cannot make ar
engagements that Will protect them
- his Is no spasmodc matter. but has been sys,
tcmaticaiiy ana quietly investigated for weeks.
am afraid that the present publication VIII rus
results looked tor were, primarily. to discover ana
to do my du;y to the city OF York, TO clos
up these pOOrOOms. which are leading our young
men into bad and dishonest habits.
President Moss said that the Gleason system OF
pOoroOms had. until recently, its headquarters al
so. ly1 BOWrrY. where IL had been running TOT
years. The building was connected with iots OF
wires. and from there the company Sent out is So
called sporting news TO at least a dozen cities
Mr. Moss saia the Gleason concern had another
central office at No. 2,D5S Fifth-ave., whence the
same Kind of information was furnished 10 points
In New-York city. That building, ne said was a
prctentious one. IN nne ncignborhOod, ana with
churches all around - A.
Mr. Moss further del ired that he was led 10
make this investigation because or Information
sent him that pooirOOms were running Openly IN
large numbers. and without interference by the
police Ht said that in some OF the Complaints
sent him the name, Of several police officials were
mentioned Mr. Moss refused 10 tell whether they
were captains or not. IL" stated that he mad been
investigating these charges and using MS own N
striIL.cntdlliy 10 learn all about the matter. lie
declared that the owery headquarters OF the Glea-
son comrauV had been closed up lnd the building
vacated since the beginning OF the investigation
He aI.o said that the 'ileaton people now have an
Office 80 SO 81 Broadway. and another In the Har-
ward Building at SIN h-avc and Forty second-st
Mr. Moss asserted positively. however. thnt no
Gleason poorooms were running there that ne
knew Of
Mahoncy's Office he said. vas In the knlcker-
booker Building. At Thirty-e!s hth-st and Broad
way. Mir Moss further declared that he was after
other pooroom people. but who could not be found
In New-York Just now.
Nj Mos positively refused TO give out the names
of ihc police officials mentioned In connection with
he puolr1ouS.