The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-29
AN INDIANAPOLIS ROBY
GUS RAH<E's GAMBLING HE'LL AND
SUNDAY THEATER.
The "shoyv" Mt the "Farm"-Police De-
cline to Bother Him-sunday
Beer Selling.

equipped gambling house are running just
across the road from the main entrance to
the fair grounds. Yesterday was the third
Sunday there have been shows in the the
ater," or music hail. The gambling house
has been in operation for many months. 1t
is difficult to find exactly who is the pro-
prietor of the place. Gus Rahke, who has
probably brought more distress into famil-
les than any other indianapolis gambler,
and lobe Howe, who has grown gray in the
profession, are both said to be interested
In the Farm, as the resort is named. Who
ever the proprietors of the Farm are, they
have collected around them a crowd Of all
kinds of smooth men, who are cappers for
the games or are employed directly at the
tables.
The Farm supports two buildings. The one
in front is not new. 1t is two stories high.
On the first floor is a barroom. In one
corner OF the barroom a flight of stairs
leads up to the gambling room. The gamb-
ling room is not large, but it has game
In each corner The ''layouts' are complete
and the gamblers can give their patrons any
game they are looking for. Behind this
building is the Sunday theater. 1t has
been built recently. 1t is a large frame
structure substantially built. At one end
there is wide platform set with bunting
and flags, instead Of scenery. Behind the
stage are dressing rooms for the perform
ers. The rest of the hall is occupied by
benches divided by tables. There is an
upper story which may be used for dancing,
gambling or for any other purpose the pro-
prletors may see fit to turn it.
yesterday afternoon the theater was pa
troniEed by possibly fifty men and women.
NO admission was charged, but those who
sat there were expected to buy beer and
several white-coated walters passed UP and
down the aisles taking and filling orders.
Beer was served both in bottles and glasses.
Inc entertainment was given by the same
people who have been singing at Kissel.s
roadnouse on Capitol avenue. One woman.
with baby in her arms, seemed much out
or place. A blonde-haired woman, wearing
a dresS cut extremely low at the neck an
peared on the platform and sang 81 Love
You In the Same Old Way" Her audience
paiu much more attention to their beer
than 1t did to her, and really she was only
singing TO sell beer for the proprietors of
the place. The singer seemed to know this
LOT sne looked out into the air as she
sang, with the air of one who had a set
TASK and the sooner she finished it the bet
ter. The high-pitched laughter of three
women and man, finishing a. quart bottle
Oh beer, mingled harshly with the voice of
the singer in the chorus.
II was grotesque. AS a matter of course
the scanty audience applauded the woman
VINO had sung, but those who were sitting
with their backs to the platform did not
turn around. The singer came back and
sang another sentimental song Memhers
of the audience passed in and ont Of fhe
pace constantly. Another woman. who
sang sang coon, songs, attracted more atten-
Iorce Vivacity into her voice, but instead
pISouuced only sharp little shrieks. The
%nole snow was very monotonous. The
singers were accompanied by piano nlaved
py young man who industriolIslv mounted
out MS afternoons work
IN THE GAMBLING ROOM.
Ihere was as little diversion in the gam
pilng room as in the so-calied theater.
About the tables sat about fifteen men At
window, which looks out on the street
railroad station across the road, the 'look
out sat on a raised chair. No policeman
came near the place during the afternoon.
AL MS side was faro layout. When a few
strangers entered the room one man handed
some money to the dealer and began to play.
he was 'capper." The strangers looked
Oh minute and then passed out without
Paying. In another corner several men sat
i n,i around poker table. Two other lay
JUS were IDLE, but the gamblers were
ready to set them going if suckers" APP
Pedreu IL was Improbable business vester-
v thy ar, aIteInoon. few men leaned against
tne par down stairs. Any one could go rp
STAIRS stairs. he was not even scrutinized by the
bartenders. large crowd attended the
tneater' and the gambling rooms last
night. LII is expected that during the state
1alr the place will do a big business The
prop Rroprietors can handle all Corners, judging
from the equipment of the place
captain Kruger was in charge of the no.
nee 1orce last night. He was asked if he
knew what kind of a place The Farm is
re ne replied that he had heard of it, but he
ulo not know what was going on there He
was told that variety show was held there
IN the afternoon and another last night
ana that crowd of gamblers were ready
70 take the money of any one who was
easy enough to play. He was then asked
II the place were within the Jurisdiction Of
the polce lie said he was not sure about
Quigley about it," he said. land he is SICK
to-nlght. suppose it is within our juris-
dlctlon., The police patrol the fair grounds
when the fair is being held there"
Sheriff Shufelton was asked as to his DOW
err in the matter. He said that he and his
deputies are now simply writ-servers and
police have jurisdiction within four miles of
the CITY, he said. They patrol the fair
grounds when there is anything going on
there, and If the fair grounds is within the
Jurisdiction of the police force certainly
The Farm is, but If any one cares to swear
out a warrant against the proprietors of
this place ] will see that it is served.
Chief of Detectives Splann said The Farm
is within the jurisdiction of the police force
AS 1t is not the policy of the city admin
TO suppress gambling, it was sug--
gested yesterday that Judge McCray, of the
Criminal Court, should instruct the grand
jury TO indict the keepers of The Farm for
running gambling house. Sunday thea
ter and for selling liquor on Sunday. The
law is very explicit in declaring against all
these things. 1t is not believed that the
State Board of Agriculture will tolerate the
gambling Joint" across the road from the
fair grounds during fair week. 1t is point
ed out that the best way for the State
Board of Agriculture to get rid of the place
is TO see that Criminal Judge McCray asks
the grand jury to wipe it out, for the out
look is that the police do not care to con-