New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-06
GAMBLERS SEEK STREETS.
HIRE BOYS TO GET HANDBOOK RETS
IN OFFICES.

Driven to desperation by the vigorous crusade
waged against them. gamblers in all parts Of the
city have started the handbook system 20 take
bets on the races, fearing to open up poolrooms
This is the last recourse for the gamblers, and
although not entirely unsatisfactory. is danger
GUS for the taking Of bets is generally made in
public places saloons office buildings and more
often in the street. where the police are liable
to detect their operations.
A bold scheme was laid bare last evening
when two of Captain Halpins plain clothes
men, of the Church-st- station made three ar
rests-two boys and a nan--on charge OF run
ming q handbook in the street. The two lads
broke down in the station house when they were
arraigned and confessed their part in the game.
Since raids made on number Of pool
rooms in the downtown district, practically put
ting gambling houses out Of commission, score
of lads. the ma jority of them well dressed have
been sent through the Office buildings, cafes
and business houses, taking bets. The men who
regularly patronized the poolrooms and who
are known to the gamblers have been made
known to these lads II explained to the
men that the boys We're authorized to take
bets which would he recorded: that they were
perfectly Trustworthy and that fears need
be entertained. In every case the lad was in
telligent of good appearance and good talker
Every afternoon the hackers would send boys
out to make a tour through the cafes. office
buildings and principal saloons in the district
with the entries of the races and the betting
odds The men would make their selections.
write the name Of the horse a slip and give
il 10 the boy. who would turn the money bet
and the slip the hacker before the race was
run All the boys worked commission
has receiving Ia per cent of the money they
took in in the course Of the day When one OF
their regulars won the boy lnNarlaply got
The arrests made by Detectives McVea and
Larsen the whole scheme of the desperate gam
bIers was laid bare. For time Captain
Halpin has been working to apprehend these
boys who have been working the saloons and
Office buildings in his precinct. On Friday his
detectives got the track Of two boys who said
they We're Morris Boldt eighteen years Old OF
No 10 Essex-st, and Louis Adler, eighteen
years old, of No 16 Suffolk-st
The detectives said that they tracked the boys
from saloon 10 saloon, building TO building. max
ing "A complete tour of the places where men
congregated. and receiving bets on the Bennings
races They arrested after emerging from
a saloon at Greenwich and Murray SITS. When
they were searched a the station they had near
ly 500. which had been turned over TO them,
the police say, TO lay on the last race at Ben
nings.
house and the charge which they were held
was explained 10 them they broke down ana
confessed that they had been receiving bets on
the races. They said they had been employed
by who said he was William II. Nc
Herman. of No. 81 Clfford-st., Brooklyn,
who runs a newsstand Park Place and
t-hurch-st. The detectives said that they had
for some time been suspecting McKernan. but
that they first wanted to get hold of the run
ners" The lads stated that they turned over
the money to Mckernan and that he placed the
money with the hackers of the handbook sys-
tenn Captain Halpin. however said last night
that he was positive McKernan was backing
the book himself.
When McKernan arrested he had S2lo,
records of bets slips with the names of the
horses running the Bennngs track the
weights and betting ODDS. They were all held
on a charge of violating Section Dol of the Penal
Code I'm running handbook. They were bailed
ont i'm 81 600 Magistrate Mayo. who went TO the
station accepting the bonds
f-aptain Halpin elected considerable informa
tion from the two young prisoners They told
hin, how they had visited saloons and offices.
ostersibly to sell newspapers. where they met
their regular patrons. To get bets they often
bad IN go into mercantile houses. where they
b.d clerks and office assistants among their
..re.ulars and consequently they had acted in
, ,,annar that would throw off suspicion They
made all kinds of money. they SAID, especially
,,bap one of the regulars played winner
TIC three prisoners will be arraigneo In the
Centre st. court today.