New-York tribune., 1901-12-14
4 GOOD STROKE OF BUSINESS.

| The raid on the principal headquarters OF the
| policy shop industry which Captain Goddaru
| and Mr. Moss personally conducted on Ihursday
| afternoon was capital piece of work 1t re-
suited in the immediate arrest of the acknowl-
| edged head of the detestabe business and sew
| eraI of his most active agents and the seizure
of a vast amount of paraphernalia constituting
evidence of the highest value 1t was toHoWed
Yesterday. by the suspension without pay ol
Captain Cooney. in whose precinct, but without
whose assistance the raid was made and there
is good reason to hope that it will put more than
one scoundrel who has fattened on the proceeds
of the meanest form of gambling behind prison
bars for considerable period Captain God
dard. who is probably more familiar with the
details of the policy business in this city than
any other of its resolute opponents, believes that
a complete case can readily be made out of the
facts and materials collected on Thursday. under
the new law which he was chiefly instrumental
in procuring at the last session of the les1siat-
ure If he is not mistaken, the blow VIII pe Dy
far the heaviest that ever fell upon the poIcy
ring which is already smitten with fear. ADAMS
the .kinc" has not lost his impudence in the
face of exposure, but he is not such fool as to
suppose that his pretence of innocence decelves
ANYBODY The trouble in dealing with him
heretofore has been. not lack of knowledge as
to his pursuits. but the difficulty of procuring
such evidence as the old law required for con-
viction.
The amendment to the law adopted last win
ter makes the possession of policy slips or other
implements of the business evidence of guilt.
Two years ago, largely through the mischievous
interference of one or more persons supposed
to be faithful foes of the ring its agents in the
legislature succeeded in modifying a similar
m SI1ch extent that CAPTAIN
Goddard found it necessary to kill the bill. Last
winter the ring was prepared to employ its
usual tactics and doubtless sent full assurances
TO Albany that plenty of money to carry on the
fight would be forthcoming. But in the mean
time public opinion had grown TOO strong to be
resisted. the silly plea that citizens of the
highest character might suffer great injustice
through the unconscious possession or policy
paraphernalia was found to have lost its force;
with only faint show Of opposition on the floor
of either house the bill passed in It's present
stringent form, and since the first of September
there has been a fair chance of accomplishing
large results by means of such a proceeding as
that of Thursday.
1t is too much to hope that policy gambling
can be wholly stopped in this city. Like other
occupations which crafty strong passions and
produce large profits. it is likely to prolong
more or less pfecdrlOuS eAlStcllce lHueIulIels.
but there IS little doubt that it will soon cease
to flourish luxuriantly, having lost the support
of the municipal administration and encountered
the rigors of a law which bold and honest men
are bound to enforce The of police pTotec
tion under Devery, whose interesting brother
in-law has been caught with the goods on him,
is almost over, and in the general publication
which the city is about to experience it may
reasonably be hoped the ring will find that its
pet policy is pretty nearly played out.
The game ought to he made extra hazardous
and Improbable at the earliest possible moment.
It has swindled tens of thousands of ignorant
and avaricious weaklings who cannot afford to
risk a cent. and through their losses rendered
those dependent on them miserable. The most
contemplate things about it are the snare it
spreads for petty savings, the diligence with
which it covers field so large that the aggre-
gate plunder is enormous. and its total indiffer
ence TO human misery. The moral and material
gain will be great if some of it's chief exponents
can be separated for time from their filthy
profits and sent TO State prison.
.yaTr