Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-11

In the local gamblers camp and a great
deal of uncertainty appears to prevail
Just at present among that portion Of
the population OF Wilmington, as IL
wondering what is going to happen
next. For more than a week it has
been rumored that general raid on
gamblers was to be made, but as yet
nothing Of the kind has happened.
This laid, rumor had 1t, wns to in
clude not only the policy class Of
gamblers, hut also others, who are said
to have Leen operating here quite ex-
tensively for the past six weeks, until
a week ago last Saturday, since which
time the business has been quiet, SO
far as Is known.
-Four weeks ago last Thursday a club,
said to he backed by man from
another city, rented commodious
dwelling on West Eleventh street
within u stune's throw of the Court
House, and began business among its
members, who included residents of
this city and Philadelphia. The
organization was equipped with what
was said to he u complete faro, roulette
and poker layout, including pre-
ponderanoe OF chips and other para
rhernalia. The surroundings were
tongenial for the class of people who
take pleasure in tempting fortune, aud
it is ia d no trouble was experienced
in securing patrons, both from Will
mington and other cities. These patrons
we're not people from the slums, but
were OF well-dressed class, many of
whom were employed in legitimate
business concerns during the day and
spent much of their time at the club at
night.
The club, it ia said, is incorporated
under the laws OF Delaware. and many
Of the members were under the i'm
preston that the club was authorized
by law to do the things 1t was dong,
and that it was, therefore legally safe
from invasion by officers of the law.
but the laws OF Delaware can hardly be
construed to leRalize gambling and in.
corporation articles cannot be SO
framed, under existing statutes, to
grant immunity from prosecution by
the police authorities.
The club admitted none but mem
hers, it is understood, but 1t was the
easiest thing imaginable to become a
member. To be a member one must be
a stakeholder, but ii was only necessary
to hold one share of stock, ut q cost of
81. Those interested IN the club had q
large acquaintance among the young
men OF Wilmington and Philadelphia,
and some older ones too, and in an iu-
credibly short space of time a large
patronage was built up.
The front part of the building ocou.
pied was Kept dark, but the interior
was illuminated sufficiently to indicate
THAT something was going On. The
chief medium at the games was iD the
form of CHIPS, which, of course, had an
Intrinsic value in legal tender of the
United States.
All of the details had been perfected,
it IS said, iy the individual who did
not betonR here and when he arrived
he had his plRus perfected and pre-
eented them to some Wilmington sports,
who willingly assisted him In his pro.
ject. The charter was obtained, the
building rented and fitted up, and
'tgrand opening" followed, which was
attended by most Of the charter mem
hers. Some of the young men who
became Stockholders after that time, it
is said, gave fictitious names, evidently
desiring to conceal their identity as
much as possible. Most of them were
known, however, either to the local
officers or their acquaintsnces, and
there was no fear of any of them
'squealing. All of the officers except
the treasurer were local people. The
stranger evidently desired to keep an
eye on the money and succeeded in
doing so by having himself made
treasurer. The other officers wore, it
Is believed, mere figure heads, but
we're necessary to complete the organiza-
tion.
Although an attempt had evidently
heen made to keep the matter secret
as much as possible, except among
patrons and prospective patrons, the
secret was out a day or so after the
club was opened aud was talked about
from one end of the city tc another.
The wonder was that the place was not
closed within a week by the authori-
ties. But for three weeks 1T fiourished
Suddenly, about week ago, all became
quiet about the place and, so far as is
known, the club has not beon doing
business for week. What happened
to cause the club to shut up is not
known but 1t is reported that threat
was made by somebody who had inside
knowledge of the fac to notify the
State judiciary, with the hope of having
the attention of the grand jury called
to the matter. 1t was also stated that
the person who threatened to inform
intimated that he would include other
gamblers in the city, and when this
reached the ears of the hackers they
naturally became alarmed.
While IL has been an impossibility
for people not in sympathy with the
gamblers to get behind the scenes, the
efforts to keep the matter under cover
have been unsuccessful. For more than
q month noted gamblers and hackers
from New York. Jersey City and Phila
delphia have been seen on the stree tt
and in the hotels and cafes. and theii
presence can mean only one thing tc
people who know them by sight and
know how they make a living. They
we're evidently not here for amusement
or their heath. 1t is said one gang
have had a rendezvous on Market
street, but Just how profitable theil
visit has been Is not known.
Much has been said recently about
policy playing, which has been going
op to considerable extent, and while
1T appears to have been an impossibiity
to get the dead wood on the hackers
who. it Is believed, all live in Other
cities, three strange men we're seer
here last week who are said to bt
agents of the Myers outfit in New York,
1t IS thought probable that thes,
agents, who are believed to be expert!
from the metropolis, have been per
sonally engaged in the work herr
making sub agents of local people.
Agents of Philadelphia hackers hav,
also been seen here during the past few
weeks, and they also probably per