The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-18
WICKED new YORK
BIG CITY BEING SHOWN BY DAY
LIGHT. AS WELL AS ELEC-
TRICKY, BY MIR. MAZET
REAL POOL ROOMS FOUND

And They Gamble I'm New York,
Just Like They Do in the West
ern GOmorrah, Chfcago-POIitics
Cut "a Figure In Selection of PO-
lice Chiefs and commissioners
One Bad Republican Located.
NEW YORK, May 17.-At today's ses-
sion of the Mazet investigating commit
tee many prominent witnesses were called
to the stand. James A. Mahoney, with
whom Mayor Van Wyck admitted he had
had some business transactions, was one
OF the witnesses and he was put through
long series of questions with reference
to his alleged connection with pool rooms
in this city. Mahoney admitted being a
bookmaker and admitted also that he had
conducted a pool room in this city some
years ago, which had been closed by the
police. He declined, however, to answer
the question as to whether he still con-
Quoted pool rooms here and very little
could be gotten out Of him.
Former Police Commissioner Hamilton.
whom Mayor Van Wyek yesterday de-
for short time, and while there de-
clared that what the mayor had said
was absolutely false.
Police Commissioner Hess was uues-
toned regarding the dismissal of Chief
of Police McCullagh and acknowledged
that he had voted against McCullagh be-
cause he had an Impression that Mayor
Van Wyck wished him to vote that way
He said that he remembered the fate of
Police Commissioners Phillips and Hamil-
ton, and he thought the best thing to do
to retain his position was to vote not to
retain McCullagh, and this he did
Several witnesses were examined who
in the past few weeks have been doing
detective work for Counsel Moss, and
they gave testimony as to the number of
pool rooms that are being run In New
York city at the present time. They de-
clared the number was large, but no diff
ficulty was experienced in gambling in
those places at will, and that at no time
was police interference thought Of
John r. Wood testified that as an agent
for Counsel Moss he had been in 125 pool
rooms in this city and had procured evil
the places all kinds of gambling games
were in progress, such as faro, poker and
craps. This witness sworc also that
while Cohen was testifying he heard
Chief of Police Devely speak contemptu-
ously of that witness and tell a man,
whom he addressed as English" to look
up his record and ascertain If he had
ever been arrested.
Joel S. Harris, another agent of Mr..
Moss, gave testimony similar to that of
Wood.
MR.. MAHONEY CALLED.
Mr.. Moss called James A. Mahoney,
with whom Mayor Van Wyck testified
yesterday he had had some business
transactions and was intimate Mr.
Mahoney said he was in the building and
real estate business. He had been
bookmaker on the race tracks He adj
mitted that bookmaking had been and
still was his principal business. When
asked if he had an office anywhere in
New York, Mahoney said:
II decline to swear, beause as private
citizen and not being an officeholder or
connected with any department of the
city of New York, i do not think that
you have a right to inquire into my pri-
vate business"
He stuck to his declination though he
acknowledged that he was member of
the Democratic club and a friend of Mr..
Carroll, of Mr. Sexton and of the mayor.
When asked if he was interested iii any
of the poul rooms described by Witnesses
Wood and Harris, Mahoney absolutely re-
fused to answer. He said he knew
Chief Devery, but Devery had never
asked him anything about pool rooms
Mr.. Moss went over the address of
every pool room mentioned by Wood and
Harris, and asked in each case if Ma
honey was interested in it. Mahoney
refused to answer. He admitted that he
had said that he was in the building
business because it looked better than
to have no business"
Mr.. Mazet directed Mahoney to answer
if he had or had not any connection with
the pool rooms here, and he again de-
clined to answer on the ground that 1t
was "a private natter
Mr.. Moss asked if he learned that "pri-
vate business" answer at the Democra tic
club, and Mahoney said he did not
when did you give UP the pool room
business, if you ever gave it up?' thun-
dered Mr. Moss
II decline to answer" said Mahoney.
Mr. Moss went into the details con-
nected with what he alleged were pool
rooms run by Mahoney, but the witness
remembered nothing. He refused to
deny the accusations.
Al length ManOney stated that Inter
ference of the police occurred at pool
room he ran at Il Center street-<tnd he
discontinued business there twelve OF
fourteen years ago. At that time, Ma
honey said, he had no interest in. other
pool rooms He declined to answer
whether he was interested in pool rooms
at the time he was associated in business
with Mr.. Van Wyck.
do you divide the profits of any pool
wit oil Hoi1 1c0 oclya
Moss.
'I divide nothing with any city official,
OF with any member of Tammany Hail."
said Mahoney. mo member of the police
force is interested with me in any way,
shape or form in anything"
He had no knowledge that any mem
Der of the police force had any interest
in the pool room business in this city.
Mahoney was temporarily withdrawn
and served with a subpoena for tomor-
row.