The age-herald., 1901-02-08
"IF AT FIRST YOU
 DON'T SUCCEED---
Try Try Again." Quotes Chief
 of Police Austin
WAS TALKING OF GAMBLING
Declares That He Intends to Break Up the Practice-Taks of Diffcul. ties of Dealing With the
 Offense.

'I will spare no effort to break up gam bling in Birmingham" said Chief of Police Austin to an Age-Herald reporter yester- day. The fact that some of the men whom I arrest are let off without penalty does not discourage me. My policy will not be relaxed in the least Even if there are no direct results from certain raids good will come of my policy in the long run.
 If the State were represented by a pros- ecuting attorney in the Police Court it would be easier to convict prisoners ar raigned there The absence of such an at torney means, I think loss of several hundred dollars a month. But as 1t Is, not all the gamblers escape fines and there will be less and less gambling time goes on.
 The recommendation in my annual re- port to the Police Commission last fall thtt gambling be made felony that all gam-' bling devices be confiscated; that the pos- session of all gambling devices be made misdemeanor and that the charter of every club permitting gambling be revoked would, if enacted into law hasten the eX- tinction of the vice. But, as 1 have in- timated under the present law gambling will be reduced to a minimum. At any rate, I will push right ahead and raid ana raid until the gamblers become very SICK of their business and the suckers or pro- ducers become very shy of being caught. It has about got to this point now
 Asked how many gaming clubs were in operation at present, the chief replied: Not more than six or seven"
 Do you expect to break up all of these soon?"
 "I will get them all in time. In making raids the difference between now and for merly is this: Until recently it was com- paratively easy for the police to enter a club There was only an ordinary door with an ordinary fastening. If those on the in- side did not open the door promptly the police could easily break 1t open. It Is not so now The few clubs that are running are strongly fortified. There are thick outer doors and thicker inner doors, and every door is securely chained and boted. The barricade would seem to be almost im- passable. No first-class jail, in fact is more tightly fastened than these clubs are to- day While the officers are breaking down the doors those on the inside have time 10 clear up the gaming room, and in some cases get every divice out of sight and reach. Understanding the situation, the public can readily see how difficult it Is for the police to operate. Yet were the worK more difficult than it is, there would be put one thing to do-keep on trying. AS to the final outcome I entertain no doubt
 A friend of Chief Austin remarked to the reporter: "No matter how it has been brought about, it is a wel-known fact that there has not been as little violation of the gambling laws in Birmingham in some time past as there is now. It hasn't been very long since there were twenty-five or thirty gambling clubs in full blast These places did thriving business. If the chief has reduced the number to a half dozen-and the few now running are but poorly patrc r. ized, I learn-I think he has done pretty well.'