The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-13
TWO HEADQt iRTERs RAIDS.
Mr. NcAdoo Gets busy with bowling Law
Spectacular Axe Play.

Nir. NcNd0O Gets DusN Win Downing Law
spectacular Axe Play.
Two alleged gambling houses and pool
rooms in the Mercer street precinct were
raided yesterday afternoon under direct
orders from Commissioners McAdoo. They
were planned at Police Headquarters and
carried out by men from th're
A feature Of the raids was that the names
NJ all the men found in the two resorts,
who we're not made prisoners were taken
hv the police The lists are to b. sent 10
Mr. Jerome to-day, in order that he may
call the men as witnesses under the Downing
law against the proprictors and employees
OF the esta blishmentH
This is the first time that the police have
taken notice of the Bowling law in making
a raid
One Of the places raided was the Nelson
Pleasure Club rooms on the first and sec
ond floors of the English basement brick
dwelling at /? East Thirteenth street. The
house was fortress, and series OF de-
fences had to be battered down with axes
and crowbars before the attacking party
got in.
The doors which the police had to batter
through were so stout that the jar Of the
blows shattered all the windows on the two
floors and the sidewalk was strewn with
broken glass The basement. occupied
by Mrs. Lillian keefe, who subjects TO the
club. also suffered
Both Of the places raidcd have been
on the suspected list Of the Mercer street
atat;on fer many months Recently the
Commissioner sterted after evidence on
his own account The Two men detailed
TO get in and gather evidence r; the Norvd
Club. on the second floor OF SO Great Jones
street. got in finally Yesterday after two
wecks' effort The sleuth who had been
trailing them hnstened to Headquarters
and reported.
The men at the Thirteenth street place
got in several times a week ago Then they
were barred from further visits. The Com
missioner however. decided that he had
sufficient evidence for a jump raid there.
He called Capt. O'Connor the new COM
mander ut Mercer street down 20 Head
quarters and told him what was doing.
The Commissioners secretary, William
Howell, and the captain led the raid They
had sixteen men picked up about the Head
quarters building. Borough Inspector
Brooks with a dozen men went to Great
Jones street
Howell and O'Connor, when they
reached Thirteenth street. sent four men
through the Florida Hotel Just east Of
the suspected house. Another squad was
sent TO the rear and then three groups Of
men with axes attacked the front doors
and barred basement windows The upper
door had another Of sheet non behind it
and was impenetrable The window bars
we're finally pried of. Two "icebox doors
~ the foot and top OF the first fight Of
stairs were battered down after half
hours work and the parlor floor Of the
house was reached
Meantime the roof sound had got down
through skyight. II met four men
huriying up with roulette table. SeIgt.
Donahur of Deputy Commissioner Iind--
ieyH office. pulled plug Of tobacco wrapped
IN tin foil from his pocket and pointing
IL at them Dried Halt
This let the police into the second floor
without the necessity OF chopping another
ice box door
In one corner OF the upper floor was a
room with telephone and telegraph lnstru-
ments and speaking tubes connecting with
both of the other floors In tho front was
the cashier's Office with walls foot thick
and another "ice box" door On both
floors the police say, there were poolroom
outfts and stuss tables. On the upper
floor was the roulette wheel. There was a
yell stocked buffet on the lower floor.
Nearly two hundred men were found IN
the place. Each man was compelled TO
give his name, address and occupation
and 70 verify the name and address by
papers. Several admitted TO the police that
they had gamhled and played tho races
there All but fourteen were released.
One Young fellow. Alexander Faber Of
1881 Lexington avenue. -9id lie had lost
$500 in the place and vas uined Al the
station ouse each Of the fourteen
prisoners was b'ouEh: before him
70 be identified an employees
in the place. A. result two more
we're released. Tho reputed proprietor Of
this place il Nelson Ehlers. He was not
caught. Twelve Of the prisoners were
bailed out la n night 10y Edward $ Cunning
ham of 327 Third avenue and .iorris Kline
~ 2iO East Niuety--iSth street The latter
out up four tenement houses. worth Sl2O 900
At the Great Jones street place. which
is on the second floor, over place formerly
restaurant, Sergts. Thomas j. Callahan
and William Fitzgerald OF Brooks stan
had placed their money on Kite Powers
running at New Orleans when the
raid began -Four heavy doors kept the
aSeinen ut work over half an hour. As
;he last door gave way the policemen say
Frank Brown struck at Callahan and in
the confusion before he was overcome.
the crowd made an unsuccessful effort 10
rscape charge against Brown was made
of aSsaultiug an officer. Five others,
called employees Of the place. were made
hlHnuerh. Inspector blOokN TOOK IN"
names and addresses Of l0t men and released
them.
Tho prisoners had hardly reached the
station house when Frederick r. Gold
smith, Little Tim Sullivans law partner
appeared and arranged over the telephone
With Magistrate Whitman for bail. Later
all we're bailed out. Tony Wamser ~ IS
Great Jones street putting up n house
valued At $1,000. The Norca Club is sup
posed by the police 90 h' uIa by Bart o Con
ner and q man named sullivan.
Police Commits ioner McAdoo, after the
raid. said That the fact that the cases were
worked mp al Headquarters was no refec-
tiou on Capt O'Conner who has been only
week in the precinct. He said;
defed us and the raids to-day on them
are in keeping With the statement made