New-York tribune., 1906-08-08
GAMBLING AGAIN RIFE.
PooLooms, Roulette Wheels and
Crap Games EUerY7chere.

IL Governor Higgins should ask Sheriff Hayes
10 help put the cid" on this city, it would re-
quire much searching 70 find the lid. 1t looks
as if political dynamite had blown the ''lid'
into an infinite number OF pieces. for regards
gambling dens. dives or palaces or whatever
one chooses 30 call them, New York can boast
OF a greater number OF such places now prob
ably than at any other time in her history. No
person who wishes TO court Dame Fortune at
saro. roulette, crap. keno by trying 20 select
the successful horse at Saratoga, Fort Erie and
I.atonis need leave the city. There is a multi
plicity OF places eager for his patronage, and
especially for his dollars. Truly, the lid" Is
OF the city and Manhattan Island, 10 use
coIIoquial expression. is wide open from end
20 end
To the SOUTH east. west and north OF the
City Hall there is gambling of all kinds night
and day, and il is almost a certainty that
dirnly lighted hallway after dark in the financial
districts will not lead to a room in which some
bookkeeper is looking over ledgers, but gayly
illuminated room or rooms where groups OF per-
sons may be seen at roulette and faro tables
A walk OF five minutes from the Mayors desk
az the City Hall would bring person 20 one OF
the largest gambling dives south Of the Cny
HAL. The play in that place amounts to many
hundreds every day, and winning or losing
sgager OF $3.50 10 $500 is no uncommon thing
In Fulton street east Of Broadway there are
three big poolrooms where admission may be
easily gained. One room is noted for having
patrons who wager 800 or more on the result
OF single race Within stones throw of the
Church street police station there is poolroom
with a number Of crap layouts.
The crap games are operated with what are
called CROOKED dice The dice is made that
rhe men in charge OF the game fleece when
ever they want 10 the youths. middle aged and
old men who try 20 win money at the game
Some OF the crap players are permitted TO win
so as TO have the dupes~ imagine the game Is
run honestly.
Honest methods may be the rule among certain
gamblers, but honesty is unknown among the
clique OF gamblers now operating IN this cry.
They take every advantage offered TO get the
money OF their patrons The patrons know this.
but their mania 20 gamble is so chronic that II
1nust be satisfied. matter what the cost.
When Richard Croker was the Tammany dc
rafor OF this city pOOlrO0mS were not places or
nearly all kinds Of gambling. No other wagers
except bets on the races were taken Now, most
OF the poolroOms have roulette. faro. crap or
keno tables. and their policy appears TO be amy
device 10 get the fools money" In the days or
Croker ft easy task to find poolroom In
the big Office buildings. Now there are nnumer-
able Poolrooms in the office buildings in the
downtown sections.
The big Office buildings are alive with gamblers
Cooking for fresh victims. The New York Stock
Exchange Is practically bounded by poorOoms.
Just north OF South Ferry there are number
OF crap houses. In 18th street, University Place,
18th street, 32d street, Sixth and Eighth ave
nues there are many gambling dives open day
and night. The proprietoFS apparently do not
GEAR being surprised by the police.
IL was thought few days ago that the pool
rooms would not get description Of the run
ming OF the Saratoga races. The Saratoga SER
vice. however, is better than any iacetrack ser
vice 10 poOlrsoms this year.