The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09

the hotel and saloon business he became
impressed with the idea that he could mako
more money and make II easier II he In
vested his capital In a gambling house.
He wa a lifelong friend Of John Morrissey
and he knew that the p~ugilist- Senator
was fairly coming money In his clubhouse
at Saratoga.
80 Mitchell became a gambler on a ANAL
scale and prospered. About the same time
he began TO a X q more active part In
politics. He was a strong Democrat and
early In the 7os the nomination for President
OF the village OF Saratoga, which Mitchell
always insisted upon calling his home.
was offered him by the Democrats. He
accepted the nomination and was elected.
After n term he went back TO his vari-
Gus business enterprises and gave no very
great thought TO politics again until after
he had built here In Broadway, directly
opposite the United States Hotel, a hand
some three-story brick building, which
he opened as a saloon. Like all Of Mitchell's
places II was high-class In every particular.
Morrissey had died and the club house
was run by his partner. Charlie Reed. who
has been a conspicuous figure about the
corridors OF the Hoffman House for years.
Other gamblers came to Saratoga, opened
houses and made money.
None of them had a place so near the
very centre OF the summer life Of the place
IA Mitchell. He concluded to furnish
his bach room with gambling tables and
put others in the rooms on the second
floor. He did this and it was not long
before, next 20 the clubhouse, Mitchell's
resort was the best known Of any in
Saratoga.
That vas early In the last decade.
Mltchell's place became more and more
notorious and some Of the law-abiding
folk in the town began To murmur against
his open violation of the law Then IL
was that Mitchell showed the shrewdness
that was his.
GOES INTO POLITICS.
Looking into the future, he saw the posi-
bility Of its becoming somewhat difficult
and uncomfortable to maintain a gambling
house on the main ~thoroughfare OF a great
summer resort. But II the proprietor Of
that resort happened to be the Mayor OF
the town, it might be comparatively easy
TO get around any difficulties and sur
mount any obstacles.
so Mitchell became a candidate for Presi-
dent OF the village again, was elected,
reelected and reelected again. There was
no Republican In the town who could de-
feat him at the polls and the Democrats
had no desire TO nominate any one else,
20 long as they were sure Of holding onto
the Office with Mitchell.
50 things ran along for three or four
years and liberty in Saratoga became
license. Big gamblers and little gamblers,
the square dealers and the pikers end tho
short-card men fioCked TO Saratoga in
summer IS Mohammedans flock to Mecca.
| They literally possessed the town.
Mitchell's place was crowded day and
| night and the head of the village govern
ment was not any too particular about the
age or calling of those who were permitted
to play at his tables. Then there came
a greet revulsion of feeling against the
whole business TO the conservative citizens
Of the town.
They made up their minds that a regen-
| Grafton was necessary, but regeneration was
impossible with Mitchell as President OF
the village. He would not get out and
they saw no way TO put him out.
Finally senator Bracket, who had not
then gained political prominence. but was
regarded as one OF the sblest lawyers in
northern New York. conceived the idea Of
amending the village charter in a way that
WOulu ltRltidtt Nllitiitu phN VI nv INV
| plan went through and Mitchell was undone.
FORTUNES BEGIN TO DECLINE.
From the day Mitchell left the Office OF
President Of the village his fortunes began
to decline. He fought in the cou rts for
| the office which had been taken away from
lin but the courts ruled against him..
He was obliged to close his place in Broad
wav and never since then has there been a
gambling house on the main t~horoughfare
of Saratoga.
For a time Mitchell remained inactive, but
Il was not his nature to be out OF the har-
ness long and he finally opened n poolroom
| opposite the racctrack In Union avenue.
When William c. Whitney became Presi-
dent Of the Saratoga Racing Association
he and his associates objected 10 Mltchells
poolroom and ii was closed.
For some reason or another Mitchell
! got the notion that IL was Garfield who
| was back OF the movement which closed
| his Doolroom. He reasoned that Canfield
was greedy and wanted the money lost in
Mitchel's poolroom to be lost in the Sara
toga Club.
He got the notion that Garfield was
| trying TO do him and he regarded Garfield
and all Of Canheld's friends as his bitterest
enemies. He believed that Garfield had.
through the means of a handsome retainer,
secured Senator Brackets influence and
hat Bracket was the man who did the
work which Garfield could not do and
which resulted in the closing Of the Mitchell
pool room.
oUoHT CASRIELD.
Mitchell put up a bitter fight against
the clubhouse and had Il raided about
every other night last summer. Nothing
came of the raids. because the people OF
Saratoga wanted a little gambling for the
towns sake, but no gambling OF the Kind
conducted in places run by Gale Mitchell.
The sentiment of the town was all against
him and he was generally voted a nuisance.
His fight lost TO him many of his old friends
and in a way. he worked against hls own
interests In antagonizing the clubhouse
because the son of his Oldest daughter
was Interested In one Of the fashionable
gambling places OF the town.
But while the people OF Saratoga rallied