New-York tribune., 1901-09-02
GAMBLERS DEFY CAPTAIN GODDARD'S
DETECTIVES TO CATCH THEM YIO-
IATING AMENDED STATUTE.


the Assembly by John A. Weekes, jr. The new law
makes the possession OF policy slips or other para
phernaa OF policy playing presumptive evidence OF
guilt. A man who is reputed be the backer of
many policy shops told Tribune reporter that the
policy men were going ito play hide and seek with
Captain Goddard" He explained this by saying
that some of the policy kings had hired men to
watch and report the movements of Captain God
dard end of his men, and moreover to protect men
who go through certain districts each day TO get
play for the game. He said that many policy
shops had closed since the passage of the anti
policy bill and that runners had taken the place
of the shops that had been shut up.
What steps Captain Goddard intends to take to
have the law enforced not made public He
was out of town and It learned that he would
not return until tomorrow. Several persons In
terested in his efforts to close policy shops and
to put the policy kings behind prison bars said that
they did not know his plans. Tribune reporter
had talks with a number of persons who are al
legged to be interested in the continuance of policy
a game which allures more poor people than any
other form Of gambling. IL can be played for a
cent for $1,000. provided the hacker of the game
is willing. And he is generally willing for the
game is not an honest game of chance. That it is
not honestly may be startling announcement
to the old policy players who are told almost
daily by the employees of the rooms and others
the percentage in favor OF the shop is so great
that to stoop dishonest practices would be
ridiculous The men with whom The Tribune re-
porter talked spoke plainly about the workings or
the game. and said that they had prepared for un-
expected onslaughts from their arch-enemy. Cap
tain Goddard. and his anu-policy society
FEWER ROOMS; MORE RUNNERS.
.Is It true that there are less rooms running now
than before the passage Of the bll? asked the re-
porter
yes said one Of the men, there are fewer
| rooms but more runners. The number of runners
has almost doubled
What is runner?'
"A runner is a person who is employed to visit
Il
parts of the town and to accept plays and 10 write
sims He is what you might call walking policy
shop He Is generally shifted from one district to
another. for by having him uptown one day ana
downtown the next, the less likely are the people
who are trying to put end TO the game here 10
discover his identity and arrest him with the evil
dence on his person. These runners are nearly all
old employees of shops that have been closed some
OF the runners get a salary and others receive ~
per cent Of ;he money that they get as plays
Have you heard OF any trouble In getting all
the runners that were needed
II think Il is easy 70 get who want to be
runners. but a difficult task TO hire men who can
scent and avoid detection and at the same time
keep building strong play.
Are runners trained?"
II told that they are usually schooled as TO
Just what a good runner should know and Just
how he should act TO bring the greatest possible
amount OF plays the policy book. To get the run
ners acquainted with districts pretty
penny. making friends he must he liberal
spender the saloons for nothing wins the friend
ship OF the average policy player quicker than a
pleasant and genial runner with lots OF money TO
spend"
But doesn't the runner undergo great risk OF
being detected and arrested for making friends in
! this Manner
VERY little. I will tell you why. It Is simply
! because those NhC employ him place about him
! every possible safeguard against detection and ar
rest The employers OF the runners have been
| planning and making preparations for the coming
! Of this day when the new anti-p0lcy bhl is in
! force. IL would never do FOR the runner to be
caught with the goods on his pc son The policy
! kings ready TO give Captain Goddard merry
! chase. and If he his detectives get any of the
/ runners they should receive a gold medal Cap
! tain Goddard may arrest some people in charge
OF policy shops but those ne seizes. / inclined
&c think will be found to be operating games for
! themselves. He will have easy task now 10
catch the men employed by the big hackers Of
the game"
THE RUNNERS PROTECTED.
How are the runners protected?'
The city has been cut up into districts. and in
every district the hackers OF the game have placed
more of men 20 become acquainted with
people who like play policy who could safely
! be induced to play the game. When runner is
! going through the district some of these men
! follow him. and they all plays that the run
ner accepts Suppose the runner gets acquainted
| with in a saloon. While he is talking with
| the he will receive sign from those guard
ing him from detection that the man IS a stranger
! to them, and is therefore not TO he trusted. or
! may be "A sign that Captain Goddard his men
in the neghborhood and that it is time TO be
disappearing.
| Suppose the stranger in the saloon should be a
detective-one of Captain Goddard's detectives?
Is any danger, he with warn the runner of his sus-
! picions, and the runner must keep away from the
| from. If the runner fails TO obey orders he will be
| severely dealt wth--that Is, he won't be allowed 10
do any more business for the policy men
Captain Goddard's men?"
dard's men some OF the protectors will watch
Captain Goddard and his men night and day. so,
| reformers likely TO strike"
rs the game being run honestly now?' asked
mo, The more the policy men are hunted. the
more GlSIohTo ,tsc o 10 TO pay
others 10 safeguard the interests of the hackers
Of house used for writing policy slips is guilty
Of a misdemeanor; and IS liable 70 arrest II any
| premises Whenever money on a play is taken n
| slip showing the numbers played must be written
more dificut to get people TO let their shops to
policy men"
HE CHASED \ WOMAN NEIGHBoR WITH A
REVOLVER.
Charles schnakenburg. the saloonkeeper who
originally caused the trouble that has brought Po-
| uceman O'Nein into prominence through his de-
| hance of Deputy Commissioner DeveTy. fined
SO for disordery conduct by Magistrate olmsted in
| the Harlem police court. yesterday.
| Schnakenburg quit the saloon business last May
| and went to Buffalo Recently he returned and
engaged in the florist business lie lives at No.
30l West One-hund -nineteenth-s Saturday
! night he went home somewhat under the influence
OF liquor and became involved In a quarrel with