The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-30
slot MACHINES TO GO
Prosecutor Winfield Sends
a Tart Letter to the
Police Board.
WHO WRECKED BUCKEYES WHEEL?
Amusing Incidents at the Trial
of Policeman Miller No
Passageway for School
No. l.

No. /.
The Police Commissioners at their meet
ing yesterday afternoon received a 'ate
communication from Prosecutor Wlnlieio'
1t was as follows
information has been laid before me
that in many saloons and bar rooms IN
Jersey City gambia devices known as
Slot machines are sci up and maintained.
l nave reason to believe that this inior-
nation is correct. I take this method
of calling your attention TO this species Of
gambling that is being carried on within
your jurisdiction. Every person who sui
fers such gambling within his premises
is guilty If keeping a disorderly house.
AS the head of the Police Department It
would be we'll for you to see that the po-
lice under your control put a stop TO this
crime. That duty is yours without putting
the county TO the expense of doing police
duty
Upon motion of COMMISSIONS Feeney
the communication was referred to Chief
Murphy with Instructions to rigidly en-
force the law against the species OF
gambling referred to.
1ItSlucilL AbCA-iCl-AJ SoNN
knew it to be his duty to force out the
machines complained of without being in
structed to do so. He has recently given
the matter his attention, probably in an
ticipation of this action by the Prosecu-
tor. These machines have been in vogue
since last April, and it is time they were
driven out.
The Board continued the case of VIII.
lam Buckbee of the bicycle squad, who
was accused of making an untruthful
report in connection with the wrecking
of a bicycle. Buckbee's wheel, a badly
demolished affair, was exhibited to the
Board. Messrs. James Nicholas. p
Mcdonald and A. Anderson. bicycle ex-
perts, were called, and as usual their ex-
pert opinions were widely different.
Nicholas, after examining the wheel.
delared that it could not have been brok-
en- to the extent it was by accident. He
Believed it had been damaged Intention
ally, as several of the spokes of the rear
wheel were broken off, while others We're
but out of place. The handle bars were
also bent.
Mcdonald said that the spokes being
broken off at the fange mad it look as
though an axe had been used in the work
of destruction.
Anderson declared that it was impos-
sible to wreck the wheel the way it was
by merely striking a heavy rut. The
spokes might have been broken, he said.
by the heel of the riders boot in mount
ing, but he insisted that If they had been
broken by riding over a rough place the
rim, too, would have been wrecked. Cap
tains Kelly and Newton were called but
they could throw no light on the sub
ject.
Buelhee testified that on July 10. when
the : eel collapsed, he was chasing q
rcch,s ) driver. He was riding fast and
when ais wheel struck the car tracks at
Boulevard and West Newark avenue, it
broken once Before, he said. He denied
that he allowed friends to learn to ride
on the machine.
wheel might easily be broken as Buckbee
explained. He showed that the wheel
was effectively constructed. and further
than it could stand. Too much tension.
he commended, would cause the spokes to
snap off: After hearing more testimony
sOf an alleged expert character the. case
was dismissed. The Board will buy a
new Wheel but Buckbee will not ride 1t.
was next called to answer for conduct
unBeeoning an officer and committing an
assault on Edwin Birch. a resident of
by Eugene sayies. Miiiler's trial Afforded
considerable amusement on account of
the excitable behavior of the complaint
Kill IgA-O0 tSe L dSACi dliu 1AODGit 1dIGy
aDEeared for Miller. Counsellor Golden
horn was to have appeared for Birch. He
was not present and ex-Judge Puster sug-
gested adjournment. Birch objected, say
ing he needed no counsel and declaring
that he wanted the Board 10 know the
facts.
Birch testified that he entered Sayles'
saloon and found Miller and an old man
named Woods playing euchre. Woods ac-
cuscd Miller of cheating and asked the
%onlookers if what he said was not so:
Birch sided with. Woods. Woods called
Miller a liar and a cheat. Miller took
hold of the old man and Birch interfered.
Miller, he says, struck him three or four
times and then took off his coat to fight.
Birch. admitted having struck b copper
in self defense and succeeded in giving
him q black eye and a bloody nose. Mil
Ter went into an adjoining room and after
and kicked him. Birch insisted that Mil
Ter was drunk and declared that that Is
his usual condition. On this occasion
When e-ross-examined Birch became ex-
cited and at frequent intervals demanded
the protection of the Board. A long dis
cussion followed as to how Miller cheat
ed Woods. Birch's evidence in that dr.
reetIon could not be shaken Birch ex-
citedly declared that Miller called him a
ITS asthma that l have" he shouted.
%and I ave wasted $4,000 trying to get
cured and can't
He admitted having had trouble with
Miller before and said at one time he re-
quested Captain Nugent to get Miller off
the force.
Several witnesses were called. but no
one could tell who struck the first blow.
All declared. however. that though Birch
was smaller than Miller, that he had the
best of the fight.
Miller was found guilty of conduct I'M
becoming an officer. but sentence was
suspended because he was not on duty.
Chief Murphy reported the death Of
Policemen Martin Egan of the Second
precinct and James Bowles of the Third.
The Committee on Department Repairs
reported adversely on the application of
the Board of Education to have passage
ways cut from the old City Hall through
quarters. The wallis it was found were
too thin to allow of p-assageways to. be
made in safety. 1t was also founds tina
the plans, as proposed, would destroy the
sleeping apartments Of the men. The pas
sagaways were to be used only in cases
Of
no SPLITTING In CARS.