New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-26
POLICE PICKET HOUSE.
SCHNHTTBERGER SAYS IT Is \ GAM
BLING PLACE. AND HE WILL CON
TINUE THE GUARD.

Under orders from Captain Schmittberger ten
uniformed policemen acted as pickets all night
Monday in front OF No. 100 West Forty fourth
st, four story dwelling house. which Captain
Schmittberger says is a gambling house. The
proprietors he says, are Westcott and Jolly.
No was allowed TO enter the premises on
any pretence.
Captain Schmttberger said yesterday that one
Of the alleged proprietors called at the station
house after his being turned away. He re-
monstrated with the captain for the harsh
treatment accorded his place by the police.
Il told him." said Captain Schmittberger,
that the policemen going to stay there
and hold out as long the proprietors of the
place maintained 1t. 1t is against the law for
to break in the doors to get evidence, but,
mark my word. going to get In that
house if it remains what it is even IL we have
to get a balloon to effect an entrance"
An interesting item about the alleged gam
bling place was mentioned by the captain. He
said he had called up the Buildings Department
yesterday and informed the right persons there
that in the house a spiral stairway was being
erected from top floor to cellar, without the
necessary permit for the Improvement
The purpose Of that spiral stairway" said
the captain, is 10 provide safe and hasty
exit for all hands in case of raid on the
from every floor. I suppose the Buildings De
partment will take the proper action in the
matter. permit has been issued"
At the Bureau of Buildings II was said yes
terdsy that no complaint had been received
from Captain Schmittberger. and the first in
formation there regarding the house came from
a reporter. This informa ton regarded
a complaint. however, and a special inspector
was sent up at once. Yesterday afternoon II
said that the special inspector had been
informed that there was no one there who could
let him IN. but that from Information received
by him he had put a violation on st. The in
spector had observed spiral stairway Under
course of construction in the rear, but it was
in the form Of fire escape. and It said.
il was not certain that a violation would hold
merely for n thing OF that kind.
II the placing of fire escape involved any
serious injury TO alteration Of a wall. per-
NIT would be required. but under ordinary
circumstances, it was said. the bureau would
not he inclined to interfere. any more than IL
would with the putting up of sign a flag
staff. The inspector learned, however, that
alterations were in progress IN the interior and
il was on account Of that work that violation
put on. If the architect or builder, how
ever, filed plans for the ork as soon the
plans are approved. that approval, if granted
would operate TO remove the violation.
Thomas Jolly, who said he represented the
owners. called on Superintendent Perez NJ
Stewart at the Bureau Of Buildings yesterday.
He said that every facility would be given the
representatives OF the Buildings Department. and
that all the inspectors they wanted to send
would be admitted, At the same time the con
tractor for the ironwork vas at the bureau 10
file his plans
The Buildings Department officials said they
had nothing To do with enforcing the law
against gambling houses, and that they could
take no cognizance Of anything except the ques-
ton as TO whether the proposed alterations were
in violation Of the buildings laws or not.
At midnight a relief detail of four policemen
left the West Forty station TO re
lieve the policemen that patrolied the front Of
the house all the evening When II arrived at
the station house the relieved squad reported
that there had been only few attempts to
enter the house and none had left ii.