The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-27
DRAW POKER
IN RICHMOND. D.
Police Deny knowledge That
There Are Public Places s.5
3s H. Operation.
CHIEF HOWARD ON GAMBLING
He Declares That the Police De.
sire to- Break It UP and In
vite Citizens Aid.

Tho conviction Of Samuel kauffinan
ana John McGruder BY Justice Crutch-
field, III the Police Court yesterday, OF
conducting q poker room may result IN
a general crusade on all poker rooms III
the city or, at least, upon all places
where there Is d suspicion that poker
is being played.
| Major Howard said yesterday that so
| FAR as he was Informed there were no
public poker rooms or places Of gaming
| In operation in tho city. i.
"1f thore are," no said, II would like
| TO be so informed, and I would do the
proper thing in the premises. Nc ga.mnb. !.
| ling rooms of any kind can exist here, u
l can prevent them. ,is5s II " II q /.
It was stated during the progress Of
the case yesterday In the Police Court,
BY Mr.. II. M. Smith, counsel for the
accused that there were 10 hundred
4roker games going on In Richmond now.
Justice Crutchfeld, In reply, said that
| no knew OF none of his own personal
| knowledge. @ lgl
BY "a hundred" Mr.. Smith said after
| ward he meant q good many.
THE CHIEF AND GAMBLERS.
Major Howard said he was always as
onxloi,s to Sconyict a. gambler as he was
| a murderer or any other person VINO uls-
rega rded the laws E. d
'If there are any poker rooms IN ex-
istence in this city" said Major Howard,
this department Is not advised of It.
There may be, as there are thieves, and
n1urderers and other evil-minded per-
sons. Whenever We hear Of them, we
! set at once to effect their apture, as
| in the case Of kaufman and McGrudcr.
AS. soon as the place was reported, we
&had warrant sworn out and the, men
we're arrested. I'VE are always glad to
receive such reports. If people would as as
sist tho police instead Of jumping on
! them all the time, more results would
S7"Tt Is safe to say that there were a
hundred games Of poker going on. IN
Richmond last night. It's feature OF
many Social gatherings. as everybody
| knows, but5l doubt very much l! II there
are any considerable number OF puoll (,
we would close them UP. If the Clubs al
low poker to be played in their rooms
| the only way we can reach them is
! through complaints from some one. 't!ts
IN 5ITHD CLUB ROOM. s-'..l
",r11a poNce have no right to go into
= club room any more than in man $
| parlor. unless he has warrant, or is
/ positive that a crime Is being committed.
"a club room Is a private place, open
\ only TO Ioul O. Z
! persons get a charter for q club, and
i under that charter conduct a game,
\ open to non-members. and with the repu'
/ Ia ton Of being a public gaming place
! the police have the right to break It up
but they must have grounds for their nc
ton, and tho best way to break them
IN is for those who know of their exist
! encc. or who have INDUCED in q game
to report to us. Then 1t would be easy
sailing.
| ct have fought the gamblers ever since
hawa been on the force, and will con
tinue to do so, and I willrrecelve. witt
! thanks, any information that may leac
to arrest and conviction. must decline
to notice anonymous . letters. Persons
who have information to give must give
It over their own mama and address,
CONSTRUCTION OF LAW.
Justice Crutchtield said last night tina
his construction of the law was thu
poher-playing at any place knowntas :
! public gaming place was gambling, NJ
! matter what the ante or the amount lost
feker-playinga In mans rooms, betwee 81
friends. was gambling after the $40 mari
l lad been reached. Gambling IN club
was a question, but he was OF the opinion
thas in legitimate cluos 1t carried TIN
sumo as In a private mouse, or in room
In a hotel" .;3ss n 5.r. Il { n rS q g
USED TO PAY: WE'LL.
4 When there was plenty of gambling
going on here and before the police pu