New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-01
GAMBLERS NOW IN DANGER
ROUNDSMEN AND PATROLMEN AFhAiD
LONGER TO OBEY SECRET ORDERS
TO PROTECT THEM.

The system of police protection Tor sathoii"s
houses. poolrooms, policy shops and oehs Oh VIC
is in danger of destruction. Revolt a"oas '
plain pol,cemen against sharing In the response
bili.y for the system without getting snare
Of the graft" is threatened seriousis. MANY
roundsmen and patrolmen have become oreo u
bearing the reproach of protecting gamoieiS
and divekeepers. They think they see, In auui
ton danger of dismissal from the force IL they
permit themselves to be used by warofheh'
tains and inspectors as the means of black
mailing violators Of the law. They are prepar-
ing to head off reproach and danger by making
arrests when they discover violations OF the
law ard appealing to District Attorney jerome
to Aid them Such action would stop Poii0e
revenue from the gamblers and keepers OF oehs
Of vice. and cause the closing or many pi'oe
from which the police have collected tribute
Many gambling houses liz the city reoieh0
about two weeks ago. when the
Thought they had re-established the police con-
nection by which protection against raios cou'u
he assured. Many poolrcoms followed suit fo-
licemen on posts understood the meaning OF the
sudden revival of gambling and poolseiing, anu
they knew that they were expected 10 eiose
their ewes and hold their tongues. But there
was a new Police Commissioner in office, de-
claring that he would break up police biackmaii
torney. declaring that he would indict captains
who permitted the law to be violated In their
precincts in a manner indicating the COLLECTION
of tribute The captains were scared ana
adopted a plan of seif-defence They ordered
the policemen on post to make written Reports
that no violations of law occurred on theif
posts.
That would work well for the captain, the
patroImen argued. for if he got into trouble ne
could produce the written testimony that MS
precinct was clean but then the men on post
would be on trial, with proof of guilt OF thelr
own making ready to convict them IL became
known yesterday that roundsmen and paNroiiheh
in several precincts were getting ready for con-
certed action Instead of turning In Iaise re-
ports about mo violations" they will make re-
ports Of suspicious things they see and make
arrests when they discover evident violations Of
the law If they discover gambling houses on
their posts they will make reports to the cap
tain and if the captain does not close the houses
they will appeal TO the District Attorney =
THE ISSUING OF WARRANTS.
Police Commissioner Partridge was asked last
evening whether it would be expedient for MIN
70 issue warrants for the entry of alleged gam
bling houses against which the police captains
declared they could get no evidence. He replied
-by calling EIlenllON " tiiS Nhoi ~
that such a warrant shall be issued only when
report is made by at least two househoioers
that they have reason to believe that gamping
is being carried on in a certain place e.
.No Such written statement is in my hands,
the Commissioner said THE history of the de-
nartunent shows a number Of cases where officers
have been Justly criticised for breaking into
private houses
When he was reminded that there had been no
cases in which suspected gambling houses nae
been entered on Commissioners warrant ne
replied: IF should be regularly appneo 70 LOT
such a warrant would consult legal officer or
the city before acting.
GAMBLERS MIGHT SUE THE CITY
District Attorney Jerome said yesterday that
the Police Commissioner could authorize break
ing into any gambling house on reports mace oy
two citizens. If gambling implements were conhs-
Gated in such raid, however, and no evidence
could be secured that the house was gamphns
house the owner Of the stuff seized could sue
the city for It, The law permits any person 10
keep gambling implements in his own house. SO
long AS they are not used for gambling. Inc
manufacture and open sale OF such ilnpieheiilS
is allowed by law
Mr. Jerome talked with Commissioner Par
t.idge Yesterday about the discovery that the
street numbers of several gambling houses III
tho Tenderloin were entered in the book of sus-
picious places and persons in the police STATION
in West Thirtieth-st-, and that the list mao peeh
dated ND TO April / several days ago. Commls-
sioner Partridge said he did not think IL was
improper to keep such record in advance OF
the proper date. although RECORDS usuany re-
fefred 10 what past He dld not consluer
there was anything suspicious IN carrying
gambling house the suspicious nst Gays dheau
of the time when the list shouio become d
record. 1-r,
There are certain accounts" added the Com
missioner that can be written up IN ao.a NC,
without doing any harm. the same way that you
newspaper men occasionally write up the &C
count Of a theatrical performance pelore the
curtain goes down. This same KIND or thing is
done in making up military reports which are
yolurninous They can be made UP during the
month and then corrected If there is any change
on the last day. ] satisfied that there was
no wrong done in making up that DOCK IN the
West Thirtieth-st. station
EPSTEIN WATCHING CAPTAINS.
Deputy Police Commissioner Ebstein. in Brook
lyu has undertaken to break up police black
mail by watching the captains with the aid OF
urivate detectives and ascertaning If the cap
tains are protecting poolrooms. There are not
manv gambling houses in Brooklyn, it is said.
he, a, use mas negI the custtlT Cf Brooklynltes
who want to play faro and roulette to place the
Fast River between themselves and their homes
before meeting the tiger. There have been many
poolrooms in Brooklyn, however and there nave
been reports that some of the captains of police
there could a banknote easier than pool
room Commissioner Ebstein. IT said yes
terday had employed some private detectives to
investigate the reports about poolrooms In
BROOKLYN and ascertain in what precincts such
places were in operation.
Deputy Commissioner Ebstein, following out
the policy of Commissioner Partridge. has been
quietly letting the captains go their own way in
carrying out his general instructions that the
laws must be obeyec He has done this in order
10 find out which men he can trust. Evidence
has heen taken to him showing just how the
various captains are obeying their Instructions
ne has learned that many of the heads of pre-
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