The sun., 1899-08-24
GAMBLING DEN WIDE OPEN.
ROCKdWAY RESIDENTS COULDN'T
TOUCH NAMM'S HOUsE.

mony at Trial at Police Headquarters.
Fred J. Mott and several other residents Of
For Rockaway appeared before President York
and Commissioner Abel at Police Headquar-
ters yesterday afternoon az oomplatnants
against Policeman John H. McGloin OF the Far
Rockaway police court. who was on trial
charged with having failed to serve warrant
on Moses Namm. the alleged proprietor OF
gambling house at Far Rockaway. The war
rant was issued by Magistrate Healy of Far
Rockaway month ago at the instance OF Mr..
Mott. and has not yet been served. although.
according to the testimony adduoed yesterday.
Namm was at Far Rockaway when II was Is
sued. and has frequently been seen thore since.
Mr.. Mott. who is q surveyor. was the fret
witness called He said that the cottage at
Grove street and Carnegie avenue. Far Rock
away, was opened as q gambling house by
Moses Namm early in the summer. and that
after 1t had been in operation q few weeks and
it's presence had become the common talk of
the village. he went to see 1t for himself and
played roulette In the place. He wns accom-
panied by w. D. Woodle. another resident OF
Far Rockaway. and both saw faro layouts. rou-
lette tables. poke tables. and chips on all three
floors Of the house and saw mon playing all OF
these games. The next day no went to Sheriff
Metphn for advice and learning from him that
he wrote letter to the Police Board about It.
Soon afterward. tho witness said. the place
began to be run openly The windows wore open
day and night. and every one passing the house
could look in and see the games in progress.
Nine letters were sent to the Police Board but
nothing came OF them. and he was told that
the Police Commissioners were interested In
the place and heard Chief Devery mentioned as
connected with II. 1t was generally rumored
that the Chief was protecting the place. Letters
were then sent by him and by several other
citizens to the newspapers. but not until then
did the police take up the matter. Mr.. Mott
said that he went to the police station at
Rockaway Beach on July % and reported the
existence Of the place TO Sergeant McKirvey.
The Sergeant called up the Far Rockaway sub
station on tine telephone and then told him
that Capt. Kreuscher down there had said that
q warrant was the only means Of relief.
He procured the warrant on the next day
the witness continued. and after seeing 1t de-
livered to Policeman McGloin. went out to see
If it was executed. He found Namm's place
closed. and walked on to the railroad station.
where he found Namm waiting for o train to
New York.
Namm looked as n he had dressed In hurry
Twenty minutes after the train with Namn on
board had departed McGoin came pufanG up
to the station and pretended TO be much cha
grned that Namm had escaped. Aterward
whenever Namm would return to Rockaway
McGloin would disappear. only to turn up
again, eager in the hunt. as soon as Namm had
gone away again. The gambling house was
run more quietly but was in full blast all the
time.
President York questioned Mr.. Mott about
the gambling implements he saw In the house.
What is a faro table?" asked Mr. York inno-
Gently.
Don't you know" replied the witness.
NO, I want you to tell me-" replied Mr..
York.
Mr.. Mott described faro table and Mr.. York
wanted to know II Mr.. Mott knew the men
who were dealing. The witness replied that
he didn't but that he knew what they were
doing He added that he had seen several
men he knew go into the place but wouldn't
give their names.
President York reminded Mr.. Mott that In
reply to his letter Of com mplaint about the place
he had been invited to call at Police Head
quarters and asked him why he had not
done so.
We'll. didn't" said the witness.
did you not think IL safe to call on tho
President OF the Board ?" asked Mr.. York. Il
want to guarantee every one safety in giving
such information"
Questioned about the report that the Police
Commissioners were interested in the house
and that Chief Devery was both interested In
1t and was protecting it Mr.. Mott said that all
he know about that was from rumor He had
no personal knowledge OF such thing. Asked
how long ago It was since Mann had been seen
In Far Rockaway. he said ten days ago.
rs the place still running :" Mr. York asked.
AS far as know. 1t is." replied the witness.
Police Captain Kreuscher testified that the
house was only five blocks away from the Far
Rockaway sub-station. but he had not known
OF its existence until he received Mr.. Motifs
complaint. As soon as no heard OF 1t he sent
Detective Kelly OF his command to the house
to investigate. but Kelly found nothing wrong
there. Then he went there himself with
McGloin and Kelly. keeping the patrol wagon
In readiness at the station house. but he only
saw a few men playing hearts in a corner.
After that he had Kelly visit the house daily.
and several times he sent MoGlotn to Man.
haitian to look for Namm.
Several Long Island City detectives who
were sent to the house by Inspector Grant tes-
tilted that they. too. had found no sigma OF
gambling there.
Mr.. Woodle. who visited the place with Mr..
Mott, said he saw gambling in progress on that
occasion and later he went there with Sheriff
Metphin on the pretence OF wanting to use the
telephone and both OF them saw the gambling.
He then heard the sheriff warn Namm to
close the place. large nag was holstsd over
tho cottage whenever the game was open the
witness said.
Deputy Chief Clayton testified that he had
sent two Of his best men there and they had
failed to find any gambling. and McGloin In his
own defence said that he had used all possible
speed In trying to serve the warrant on Namm.
He had never seen the nag on the house nor
the telephone sign on lis front,
Mr. Mott then offered to bring twenty wit
nesses to prove that there had been gambling
in the house.
THE case Is closed" replied Mr.. York. We
are here now to listen to matters of this kind
II la useless to adjourn for the purpose OF pro-
ducing more evidence. You know It Is easy to
imagine. but hard to prove matters OF this
kind"
NO Imagination is needed" responded Mr..
Mott I'VE can prove 1t and probably show
that the police know lots about IT,"
John b. Merrill, counsel for the complain
ants. repeated the request for another hearing
and said that to-day he would prefer charges
against another member OF the police force
who had treated Mr.. Mott badly.