The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
RAID 20 DEFY STREET AGAIN.
POLICE GET FIVE MEN, BUT NO
SEEKERS FOR MAYNARD SONS.
Help Wells Surprised Lookout. who Had
No Time 10 Choose WOris--Capt.
Burns Climbs Ladder and Falls ON
Ills Victims Business Man Informs

There are more ways than one of raidinG
apoolroom. When Justice Jerome sw ooped
down on the old Pa ole Club at 20 Dey street
about two years ago he armed his men
with pickaxes. There he found Maurice
Holahan, the Tammany man. seeking his
hayward son. Capt. Burns of the Church
street station made his way into the same
place yesterday afternoon with scaling
ladder The result was that the captain
literally fell on his victims. In falling he
broke his brand new three dollar straw
hat.
The place has lately been known as the
Royal Pleasure Club, but in spite OF the
change OF name it is said to be run,
az before, by the Leviens. Three men,
bers of that family were caught in the
raid yesterday.
The Royal Pleasure Club has been occu-
plying tw o front rooms on the second floor.
These were furnished in manner in
tended to warrant the use Of royal" In
the clubs name. The henderson GUS
toners, according to the polce-sat in ma
hogany easy chairs and rested their ticker
tired eyes by looking at dainty master
pieces of the painters and the sculptors'
art.
Capt. Burns says that prominent bust
ness man, whose name he was unwilling
to tell, and who will appear as witness
against Levien, recently lost 80 much money
in the place that he was crippled financially.
His wife fell i'll and he was unable to properly
take care of her. He appealed to Capt. Burns
tn hnlf r,at
the poolroom. Burns sent detective out
with him and the two obtained the evidence
on which Magistrate Onmen issued five
warrants in the Tombs police court yester-
day morning,
The captain went to serve them at 4
o'clock, at which time the reports of the
races at St Louis, Chicago and Brighton
Beach were keeping the wires hot, and he
took sixteen men in plain clothes, and n
ladder with him to carry out the job
Although the police station and the
alleged poolroom are only three blocks
apart, ii took the raiders fifteen minutes
to cover the distance as they had to get
there in small groups and by different
routes. Their precautions were rewarded
when they reached their goal and pushed
the bell button a the street entrance. The
door was promptly opened by stout m
dividual whom Capt. Burns identified as
Percy Levien. He was a prisoner befol Q
he had had chance to utter more than a
sn lie word
He'll" he cried, but not loudly enough
to warn those above. The captain himself
raised the ladder against the windows
on the second floor and scaled it at the
head OF his men A window stood wide
open. When the captain got to the top
Of the ladder he thought there was another
hn hlt ha
head first into the room. His men followed
him SO closely that some Of them had TO
jump over his PROSTATE form to avoid
trampling on it.
Thirty-six men were found in the two
rooms. A few tried 10 escape upstairs,
but were overtaken. Most OF them sub
mitted to fate. The police picked out
four men. for whom they had warrants,
and ordered the others TO clear out as quickly
as they could. The thr.y-two released
men tried 70 get out all at the same time
and fell all over one another.
The prisoners were taken to the Church
street station. There they described them
selves as Percy Lewis of 80 Rogers avenue,
Brooklyn; Johnny Anderson Of 22l Fifth
avenue, Brooklyn; Ridge Levien, no ad-
dress; William Davidson of Marcy avenue,
Brooklyn, and &c orge Hill, no address.
As each one Of the prisoners gave his name
it was greeted with a roar of laughter from
the surrounding paln-Clothts me n.
Capt. Burns said afterward that Johnny
Ande rson and Percy Lewis were John and
PERCY Levcn. Davidson's right name. he
added is Bradley, and he was alleged to be
the cashier of the place. Hill Is q negro
Iorter who served as guard at the inside
door. He knew nothing of what had hap
pened until the bunch Of leased Gust omers
made their rush for liberty Then he was
a very surprised man.
Capt. Burns sad last night that his men
had been in the place for month &, ting
evidence and that his case against the
prisoners was complete.