New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-11
POOLR00MS WIDE OPEN
-FOUR MONTHS FREEDOM.
I'll Restraint Seems RemoUed, NosO
Election Is Deer.

True TO their announcement made some Gays
before Election Day. the poolroom kings nave
since Wednesday morning opened many new
rooms in various parts of the city. Unless the
police disturb them quickly and efficiently they
intend to make this city gamblers paradise
this winter In the next four months they ex-
pect TO take thousands and thousands of dol
lars away from the gambling public. Then
they will move on. to return after the next
election.
a Tribune reporter yesterday visited many
gambling rooms, and he saw on every hand
signs that resembled conditions almost as bad
as in the days when Richard Croker held his
sway. In West Broadway, from Rector-st to
Park Place, there are ten pooirooms doing big
business. In the Bowery, from Chatham Square
TO Houston-st. there just many pool
rooms and in the lower East Side east OF the
Bovery there is. according 20 a number OF
poolroorn frequenters about poolroom 20
every five blocks. Most of these are old places
reopened-
In the last few years the pooroom kings have
conducted their business without undue ostenta-
ton. employing well appearing. smooth talking
young men to canvass the big business sections,
and these runners even entered some or the
choice residential districts in quest OF prey
Many poolrooms We're also opened IN the GOWN
town skyscrapers. and most Of the rooms were
attractive ana N CndISe VI 3iAch va '4AAA@ AAAS@
ners. Robbing the public with kid gloves"
was a term often used by some of the runners
of the rooms in speaking about their business.
Under this system, however, money did not
pour fast enough into the strong boxes OF the
poolroon syndicates. and result the move
,r,ent toward q return old methods is now well
under way.
One of the biggest poolrocms in this city IN
full operation is on the south side Of Forty-frst-
st, between Fourth and Madison aves, not
many doors west OF the westerly entrance to
the Murray Hill Hotel. This ROOM on account
of its proximity TO the Murray Hin, the Man
haitian and the Grand Union hotels ana the
Grand Central Station, is menace TO lhe safety
OF the thousands OF persons VINO roe OF van
through this busy hotel and railroad cehIe
just at the time Of day when the throngs pounQ
toward the Grand Central Station are biggest
the freouenters of the room leave the room ana
,niugie with the hardworking throngs OF men
and women homeWard bound. This room mas
1oeen in oneratton some months, and the num-
Der of its patrons is growing daily larger; As
Yet there no signs that the place ~ peils
watched by the police VINO seem ulleIlg ouiif-
ious of its being.
The place is ready for unexpected visits from
the police Three doors led TO the room where
bets taken, and a big stove IN the centre
of the room is kept constantly burning so that
in case Of raid all evidence may be quickly
Destroyed Entrance is gained only by caros
signed by one of the watchers
In Forty-second-st., near Third-ave., is an
other big poolroom, but the frequenters there
are of little better class than In the Forty-trst-
St place.
Two of the big rooms recently opened in the
siEth-ave section are in Twenty-eighth- st.
near Sixth-ave.. and in Thirteenth-st., between
Fifth and Sixth aves. In the Bowery large
rooms are now in full blast near Rvington-st,
near Grand-st- and near Canal-st. The Bowery
rooms are the worst type of poolrooms in the
city. Mostly 'oldtime players are among their
patrons. Not only bets on horse racing
taken in them but every popular gambling
game is played there. Roulette, faro, and even
lightning policy, are some OF the games No
bet the gambling games decided by hand is
refused Penny players are welcome. These
rooms are in Congressman Sullivan's bailiwick.
Some other big rooms are in Grand-st near
Eliza beth: in Observation-Disclosures near
Niadison-ave., and in Forty-fourth-st.. near
Sixth-aVe.