The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-07
GAMBLERS OUT
OF BUSINESS
TWO GAMING RESORTS ARE
CLOSED DOWN.
Proprietors Feared That Superin-
teDdent Day Would Raid Them
and They Shut Up Shop volun-
tarily-Manhattan Club One of the
Places Closed - Several Poker
Rooms Are Still Doing Business.
Crusade Against Disorderly Back
Rooms Has Been Successful.

Recorder Connell's recent talk to the
members of the police force and the
promotion of Iona b. Day to the su-
| perintendency has been directly respon-
sible for the closing down of at least
| two of the gambling establishments
which have been fiourshing in this city
for some time past.
| The announcement OF Superintendent
Days policy regarding back rooms and
| ladies parlors" caused cold chills to
| course down the backs of the gamblers,
and fearful that they would be next on
| the list, they closed up their places OH
| Saturday last.
| The large and palatial establishment
known as 1.-The Manhattan Club" on
Spruce street between Washington and
wyoming avenues, was the first to close
its doors. and regular patrons equipped
with the password were met at the
door on Saturday by one of the attend
ants, who told them that there was
nothing DOING This place is managed
by two gamblers who are widely known
all over the east, and they expended
over $4,000 in fitting it up.
Just what they propose to do is un-
known, but it is believed that they will
pack up their traps and light out, be-
cause they appear to be well aware that
Superintendent Day doesn't believe in
'spasms of virtue" and that they will
not he given an opportunity to open up
again.
LACKAWANNA AVENUE PLACE.
The other place which has closed it's
doors has been located on the third
floor of a Lackawanna avenue building,
not very far from Penn avenue. This
was managed by Il local gambler who
is one of the best known figures on the
streets of the central city, and another
man. These gentlemen apparently re-
allied that the jig was up, because
they not only closed up their establish
ment but packed up their parapher-
MALTA and moved it out and into storage.
The games played in these two places
were principally roulette and faro.
There are several places devoted eX-
cluslvely to poker playing which are
still open, but it is understood that
they will be either closed up or run
more secretly in the future. 1t is posi-
lively known that the police did not
notify the proprietors of any of these
places to close up. They simply sized
up the situation for themselves and
acted accordingly.
The crusade instituted by Superin-
tendent Day against the back rooms
has been productive or even better re-
suits than We're anticipated The
saloon keepers, in whose places the law
was the most flagrantly violated, have
been falling over themselves in the last
week trying to improve conditions.
Some women are of course allowed to
enter the back rooms, but the lowest
scum of the alleys are being kept out.
as well as any person who has Il repu-
tation for creating a disturbance.
a TENDER SPOT
This talk of cleaning out the back
rooms didn't used to go before" said
an Eighth ward bartender yesterday,
because the saloon men know that it
was a pretty hard thing for the police
to get case. But when they talked
of objecting to the taking out of
license why they fiunked. That touched
em in the tender spot"
Another reform that has been inaug-
nated by the police IS the closing up
of the pool and billiard rooms on Sun
day. Not all, hut some of the proprie-
tors of these places have made prac-
tice of keeping them open on Sunday,
the front shades being pulled down and
entrance effected by side door. They
We're notified by the police on Saturday
night to keep them closed on Sunday
and they followed instructions.