New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-09
A SMALL army OF PRISONERS
CAPTAIN CHAPMAN TAKES NEARLY TWO
HUNDRED IN THE WEST SIDE CLUB.
ALLEGED TO BID A PooLROOM. RUN BY THE
ALLEN. WHO is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
-FOUR PRECINCTS EMPLOYED AND TWO
STATIONS USED FOR THE

ALLEN WHO is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
-FOUR PRECINCTS EMPLOYED AND TWO
STATIONS USED FOR THE
CAPTURED
The police OF the Mercer-st. station, under the
direct orders OF Chief McCullash. descended, at
400 O'Clock yesterday afternoon. on the prem
Uses occupied by the West Side Club at NO ~
sixth-ave and took into custody everybody
found there because the police allege that the
place is in reality poolroom. under the control
OF THE" Allen. Allen himself was caught as
were 1876 other people. who were in the building
OF these 1870 were locked up in the Mercer-st
station the remainder being sent TO the Mac
dougalst station
For many years Allen has bothered the police
Raids have been made on his places time ana
again but he has hitherto managed 10 escape
the punishment which the police maintain ne
has long deserved. Chief McCullagh determined
when he took the reins Of police government
that he would close up the West Side Clup' II
he could. and he made an attempt In tha' d'rec-
ton yesterday having obtained what ne deems
10 he sufficient evidence OF aw-breaking against
Allen. He sent two patrolmen in citizens attire
TO the clubhouse several days ago. These two
men, Mcmillan. OF the East Twenty -second-st
station. and Hahn. Of the East Thirty-hrth-st
station got inside the club and acquainted them-
selves with the operations there They reported
to the Chief yesterday that they had secured
convictlng evidence OF guilt and the Chief
ordered Captain Chapman. OF the Mercer-st'
station TO go ahead and clean out the place
Expecting a large number Of prisoners. the chief
told Chapman to take the fifteen men with him
and 70 call on the Charles-st.. Macdougal-st' and
West Twentieth-st stations for their patrol
wagons and additional men. II necessary OF
course making use Of the patrol wagon peiohs-
ing to the Mercer-st. station.
WITH AXE AND CRoWBAR.
Chairman took his fifteen men with him. hav-
ing provided himself with an axe and heavy
crow bar and sailed forth. On the way ne reh
In with Inspector Grant, with nine men Inc
house In which the West Side Club is, and which
was the object Of attack is a three-story struct-
ure between Waverly Place and Clinton Flace'
The ground floor is occupied by restaurant
while II is asserted by the police that the second
floor is tenanted wholly by tho CLUB the upper
floor being used dwelling by the janitor'
Captain Chapman distributed his men Oh the
roofs Of adjoining buildings and round aoout'
so that no guilty man could escape
Just as they got 10 the door they found Allen
standing outside with a man named EDWARD
Hoppe doorkeeper and arrested them both
Then Captain Chapman tried the front door, put
Il was locked and he battered IL down Win hio
axe This led the raiders into Vestlouie, III
which there was another locked door Ihis was
forced open with the crowbar. on going up the
stairs they found number OF people IN the rom
room Of the club but thick door eadlhg 10 the
back room was locked. This was battered oONn
| in a hurry The invading force then made their
| way without resistance 10 the apartment "hlcn
is said to have been used for gambling purp SeS
! In that room and in the smaller rooms ana CLOS,
cts leading from II were at least one hundred and
fifty persons all in a state Of great excitement
| None however, offered any resistance 10 dLlesl
Meanwhile reserves from the west twentieth,
| st and the Charles-st. stations had arrived ana
were assisting in the raid. The patrol wagons
| ratified up from every direction. ana the heIsI-
borhood was in a state Of great excitement IL
is said by those who were there that al lease
| four thousand people crowded the streets IN the
vicinity while the raid was in progress
| While the police were taking into CUSTODY
! those found in the back rooms, guards had oeeh
! left with those found in the front room AS
| there no evidence that gambling mao Deen
! carried on in the front room. Captain chapman
| thought that the Chief might not wish to hoIo
those found there. and gave to each OF me my
or check for identihcatlon as as h a.
| however concluded 10 hold every one who had
| been caught in the place
LOAD AFTER LOAD OF PRISONERS.
II was after 3 o'clock when the first patrol
wagon load OF prisoners was driven up TO the
| doors OF the Mercer-st station. and for nearly
| two hours load after load was emptied at the
| door Then. when the place was apsolutel'
| Overlooking with the prisoners and their cap
tors the surplus was taken to Macdougal-st.
| Chiet McCullagh stood behind the desk at
| the station in Mercer st. and questioned every
Of the prisoners Eaen was ssKed II Ne bais
! ~ them replied in the affirmative and the rest
! in the negative. To several who had replied
| in the negative. the Chiel saio; o,,,.
| How did you get in there? only members
| are nermitted TO enter, | understand. am not
| able to get in there myself and DON'T see no"
| you could get in -, -, - .,,
mering one to the effect that the person had
! heeu taken in by some friend or acquaintance
! Chief McCullagh picked out four men on the Iot
! - consented 70 turn States evidence, one Of
! the four being the alleged cashier Of the estab-
! lishment. 49,. ..oos ho,oro Tho
! desk for two hours and gave their pedigrees
| The veteran of them all was lettering old man
| who described himself as Joseph Sprngsteeh,
| eiRhty-four years old. He said that ne nad oeeh
| Mason and that he lived al No. l32 Charles-
St He had lived in New York all OF ms NE IRE,
! by saving that ne had paid his first visit to the
| place yesterday afternoon at the invitation OF a
/ friend. He had not gamDled there ne sdu'
! Chief McCullagh released the old man, with a
warning that If caught again ne might look lor
life sentence. -
! After the prisoners had been taken TO the sta
! lions thorough search was made OF the prem
! ises Tho floor was covered with bits OF torn
! paper which the police say were pool tickets,
! while the stove was filed with fragments OF
! naper which had been soaked with Kerosene
| and fired telegraph instrument was tound
| hidden way In a closet. where II had apparently
| been thrown hastily and ends OF broken zee
| ola nh wires were discovered There were tables,
| chairs and blackboards in the place. All OF the
| articles were conhscated and taken 10 the sta
| ton. Among the effects thus taken was
| blackboard on which notice OF A special
| meeting Of the club called for last night ana
signed by +. Knox. president. on the moor or
the police station. after nearly al OF the prs
| oners had been sent 10 their cells. was a re-
v0ver No one would admit its ownership.
! Allen was hailed out in the sum OF STo. Adolph
/ Eissern Of No IS West Houston-st., becoming
| his bondsman He was charged with violating
the gambling laws The other prisoners We're
! charged with being disorderly persons
! Allen denied that he kept a poolroom or other