New-York tribune., 1901-02-19
PHILBIN AIDS IN A RAID.
pooLRooM SURPRISED AID JTSTICE
JEROME HOLDS COURT AT
A POKER TABLE

District Attorney Philhin yesterday afternoon
raus.d the police a. make descent upon the
noolroon Kept bv Ridge I.evien az No. - Dey-
o., The District Attorney helped in the raid
upon tho booksellers. He was accompanied by
Assistant District Attorneys o'Connor and
sohurman and by Justice Jerome, 81 the Court
of Special Sessions and IL was said that the
ATTACK vas made on evidence given by the
Tammany Committe- on Vice. Mr.. nixon, Of the
committee was AZ tho poolroom i'm time 10 see
arrests made.
Six Central Office detectives, headed hoy De
,ective Sergeant Cun. went 10 the place first
Then District Attorney Phbn and his two as
.istants and Justice jerome. of the Court Of
Special Sessions. followed. soon afterward
squad OF policemen under Captain westervelt
Of the Church-st station. was in the building
The poolroom was over the saloon kept by a
man named Nath Justice Jerome was taken
along as a precautionary measure, 10 prevent
those IN the room from heing tipped of from
a magistrates court, where warrant was
asked for. II was proposed that Justice Jerome
should hold court in the building, and every
prisoner should he questioned. Those acting
suspiciousy were TO be sent 10 the House Of
Detention, 20 he held as witnesses.
District Attorney Philbin and the detectives
met AT tho corner Of Dey and Church SITS. Some
n
walked The detectives managed 10 reach
the first moor when they were baked by
a harricsded door ono ~ tho policemen went
down and got large bale stick 10
hatterinR ram Then an ascent was made 20
. rhe second floor. The door Of the pOolrOom was
broken down. and the officers poured into the
room. Then a wild scramble ensued among the
occupants - tho room, which was crowded, and
lively betting was going on on tho races in San
Francisco and New Orleans. Ridge Levien, one
~ tho reputed proprietors of the place. was
present. He tried to escape by rear window,
hut vas captured 10y policeman on shed
and placed under arrest.
The clerks and patrons ~ the place lined up
against the wall and Justice Jerome held an
improvised court seated a poker table. while
District Attorney Philhin and Mr. nixon sta
toned themselves al the door. and would not
sIlON any 10 enter. Justice Jerome called
the occupants Of the room hefore hlm one al
a time. and questioned them closely as 10 thelr
connection with the place. His object WAS To
secure enough witnesses 10 he able 10 convict the
proprietors.
Disrrict Attorney Philhin said that ne and Mr..
Nixon had been watching the place for month.
hut rhay would not make the raid until they were
sure II would be successful and that they would
have evidence 70 convict MI. fhuhln salu
thar n was one Of the largest poolrooms In the
combine" and thar II run by Ridge
1evien and Henry Snedeker, two old time hook
makers. Mr.. nixon couoborated this statement,
and seemed highly pleased al the success Of the
rad
The Tammany Committee Vice held its
regular weekly meeting AT its headquarters in
the Bowery yesterday afternoon and usual
MI nixon the chairman, announced that there
nothing doing some 20 the politicians
say that the committee Is being held together
merely 70 watch what tho Committee ~ Fifteen
IS doing.
There have been reports In the Tenderloin
u district that a Tammany State Senator is negO-
tating for the purchase OF the Tivoh, I'm West
Thirty -hfth-st. with plan TO reopen II and
place the notorious AckrOn in charge of n, hut
the place has remained closed. and has signs
plastered its front door announcing that GER