New-York tribune., 1901-08-28
MASPETH OPEN AGAIN.
CAPTAIN HARDY DENIES EX-
LSTENCE OF POOLROOMS
THEY CAN'T CLOSE THIS PLACE:
THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY HERE"
SAID ONE GAMBLER.


Queens. yesterday displayed real genius in
avoiding the discovery of poolrooms which al
most anybody else could find. The poolrooms
were there-two OF them-in Maspeth. In the
two Tribune reporter yesterday saw fully
eight hundred men playing the races, yet Cap
tain Hardy walked all around one room without
finding 1t. and saw only two boys about seven
teen years old. and evidence of gambling in
the other. He says himself
One OF the poolrooms is known to the con-
ductors on the trolley running out Flush
ing-ave. to the residents Of Maspeth and to the
frequenters of the room as Mike Minden's
place. The other is the Germania Club, in
Germana Park Mike Minden's place" is an
The old Maspeth race course grounds. now
known as Feldmans Queens County Park To
get to the poolroom you pass through a saloon
over the door of which is sign, m. Fedman."
On the top of the building Is a larger sign.
"Feldmans Queens County Park" You go
through the saloon and a rear room. No one
steps you, no questions are asked. AS the con-
ductor of FIushing-ave. car told Tribune re-
porter. Follow the crowd" At the outside
door of the rear sits man who will give
you a betting card. Then you cross about
twenty yards of hard trodden ground to a build
ing next the old race course grandstand and
facing the track There you pass through an
ante-room, in which a man sells hot frankfurters,
ana then you are In the poolr0om.
About five hundred other men are there also
Every other one is talking. the shuf1ng Of feet
is constant. The noise is such that you have to
raise your voice considerably if you want to be
heard. The windows open. and no attempt
is made at concealment
THE CAPTAINS BLINDNESS.
Around that building Captain Hardy says he
walked yesterday at about 345 p. m, when the
were constantly passing in and out. and he says
he saw one and heard nothing. and that the
place closed.
The Germania Club is in Flushing ave. Mas
peth. The trolley cars stop az the door to drop
and take passengers. The pooroom is not even
in n back room. There is no saloon TO act as
screen. The windows OF the poolroom open on
the street. and passengers IN the trolley cars
look I'm and see the patrons of the place
making their bets on the races. At the time
Captain Hardy says he found one but seven
teen-year-oId boys in the place. and no evidences
Of gambling. a man passing Flushing-ave.
car was telling his wife 20 stand up and look
at the crowds in there playing the races. and he
was pointing out to her the racing charts on ore
OF the walls She could almost read the odds
po- ed beside the horses' names. She saw men
20 20 a window In a partition at the other end
OF the room and pass In money and tickets. She
saw line Of men before another window in the
partition collecting their winnings on the race
just finished. But Captain Hardy-nnocent
man,-saw no evidence of gambling and three
hundred men changed in a moment to two boys
Of seventeen
Captain Hardy appears 20 be at least fifty
years old He has been policeman many years
He has made many arrests. He knows crime In
almost every form in which 1t exists. In
ia tho nf OuapDS ~ the
burglars who had infested it for a year. He
boasts that in the last two weeks he has cap
tured two rnurderers Yet he says he does not
know a poolroom when he is In 1t. and on Mon
day he looked wonderingy at two betting cards
that a Tribune reporter showed him. and he
asked what they were
1t was those betting cards that occasioned
Captain Hardy's unsuccessful search for the
Maspeth poolrooms yesterday. On Monday
Tribune reporter went TO Maspeth and spent
about two hours In Mike Mindens place and
the Germania Club Both had been closed last
week through the efforts of The Tribune. but
they had reopened. They were full of men and
noise and money and betting. The reporter
talked with one Of his employees in " Mike Min
den's place"
TOO MUCH MONEY TO CLOSE.
They can't close this place." said the man.
There's too much money here"
You were closed last week. weren't you?''
asked the reporter.
Yes: but that was only a bluff We were
only closed two days. and we've been wide open
since. You didn't have any trouble getting in.
did you?'
No"
NO no else. II there any dan
ger do you suppose there would be many
men here? Just look at that crowd. We've had
crowds like that every day since we reopened.
II they intended to close somebody would
hear of it and the word would get round. No.
sir; this place isn't going to he closed
The reporter went out then and walked about
Maspeth looking for policeman He could not
find one and he asked one of the residents If
there was around.
Il saw one about hour ago. replied the
man. but he was the first one I've seen in two
or three days"
rs that as often as they come here?" asked
the reporter
Yes: sometimes you don't see 'em that often.
A con. every two or three days is the most you
do see 'em" said the man.
The renorter then went to Captain Hardy
at the station in Newtown
Good evening captain" he said Are there
any poolrooms in MaspethT
mo" replied Captain Hardy. There are no
poolrooms there.
Are YOU sure of that?' the reporter asked.
"Yes: I know It," said the captain.
"Of course. you know what those are said
the reporter handing the captain two betting
cards.
Captain Hardy read them. turned them over
and scrutinized them carefully. NO" he said.
What are they?"
The reporter could hardly believe his senses
but he pulled himself together and told cap