New-York tribune., 1906-07-08
LID TIGHTLY DOWN.
PANIC IN TENDERLOIN.
Captain O'Brien Says Sunday Mast
BE DrV.

the precinct yesterday, 20 warn them to close
their saloons promptly at midnight. and keep
them closed to-day.
For the first time in many Saturday nights
saloons throughout the precinct closed their
DOORS front and back. promptly at midnight.
When Captain O'Brien turned out the midnight
platoon he gave the members fifteen minute
heart TO heart talk, in which he told them
plainly that the excise law must be enforced.
and that he would hold each man personally
responsible for violations on his beat. AS re-
suit patrolrnen got busy promptly at the mid
night hour, and saIoonkeepers and their bar
tenders were given 20 understand that the usual
baclxdoor business would not be tolerated.
Soon after 1 o'clock this morning Patrolman
Lemon. of the TenderlOin station arrested a
waiter at the Hotel MetropOle for selling drinks
waiter out.
Earlier in the night Captain O'Brien sent
Roundsman Ross and number Of other police
men to the Cairo. Bohemia. the Haymarket and
other TenderlOin resorts with orders to close up
with the stroke of midnight, and the orders were
literally Obeyed Patrons Of all these resorts
were turned out at midnight and the lights ex-
tinguished.
Only saloons with hotel licenses will be- al
lowed TO sell liquor to-day and these must
serve meals with every drink Captain OBrien
has his own idea of what constitutes a meal.
and he has warned his men that the conven-
tonal plate Of stale cracker crumbs will not do.
The Tenderloin is aghast at the aggressive tao
tics Of the new Gear. Not since the days Of
Captain Chapman has there been such a scare.
The salOOnkeepers are putting chains on their
doors and taking the strictest precautions to
avoid arrest. The resort keepers are panic
stricken. They fear that within the next few
days the precinct is going to be torn to pieces
by OBrien and his men. Most of the resort
keepers generally take their cue from the Hay
market and when it was seen yesterday morn
ing that the Haymarket closed promptly on
time, an unusual occurrence. the TenderlOin
realized that the new Car was in earnest, and
that the lid was to be screwed down once
more
Uneasiness was increased by a statement made
by Commissioner Bingham at Police Headquar-
ters yesterday morning. The Commissioner de-
clared To reporters that O'Brien would have a
free hand to do whatever cleaning up he wished.
and that there was truth in the report that
O'Brien had been sent TO the TenderlOin in order
TO '1ose his official head
"OBrien is a good man, and that is the reason
put him In the TenderlOin.'' said the Commits
sioner emphatically.
Are there any influences to deter O'Brien
from cleaning up places OF vice in his precinct?'
was asked.
None from here" answered Commissioner
Bingham decidedly.
"A commissioner must have very hard time
in enforcing the laws for New York fur
nished by Albany" ventured one of the re-
porters.
The laws can be enforced" said COmmis-
soner Bingham; 1.-The people can get just exactly
what laws they want"
Theoretically" broke in the same reporter.
mo. practically" asserted the Commissioner
THE trouble is the American sovereign gives too
little time to government He is too busy max
ing money at his own little business
The subject was then changed to the Street
Cleaning Department squad. and the Commits
siOner was asked:
"Are Sergeant Mcknight Roundsman Becker
and PatroIman Faubel to be detailed at Police
Headquarters permanently
IT believe their time expires on July g." said
the Commissioner.
rs there any significance in the transfer Of
Sergeant Costigan who was member of former
Commissioner McAdoO's vice squad, and Ser
geant Maher, also member of the former vice
squald. to Police Headquarters?'
mo. none whatever" replied Commissioner
Bingham.
Have any charges been preferred against
CAPTAIN Tighe of ROckaway for the raids made
by Third Deputy Commissioner Mathot on July
4 in Tighe's precinct"
NO; ncne so far" replied Commissioner Bing-
ham.
Commissioner Bingham also said that no
charges had as yet been preferred against In
speetOr Schmittberger and Captain HOdgins. who
we're transferred from the Tenderloin week
ago after raids had been made over their heads
Commissioner Bingham has transferred forty
two sergeants roundsmen and patrolmen Inc
first sergeant to be transferred in the Tender
loi, district since Captain O'Brien was sent
there was William j. Mccarthy, who goes to the
Macdougal street station. He was IaVorlte
with Captain Hodgins. and went with MN Wileh
he vas transferred from the Mercer street to
the West Both street station -Four pauOinie
i'm citizens clothes have been assigned to do
dut,, ,,nder Captain O'Brien In the TenderlOin.
Roundsman Charles Becker, who took part in
the "red van raid of alleged gambling places
over The heads of Inspector Schmittberger and
t,aptaIn Hodgins. transferred from the
street Cleaning squad TO the West l-'th street
s+atio, PatroIman Philip S. Faubel. who as
sisted Becker in the ralus' was "iso S'''' ~ '''
Trests for violating the Excise law were made
between I and 1 o'clock yesterday morning IN
three TsnderIoin saloons which nave been re-
ssr5ad as immune from interference because OF
fbair known pulls" Walters or bartendeTS
found serving drinks In the back rooms were
arrested in each place.
The saloons in which the excise arrests were
made were those of TimOthy J. Shine. No. 616
sixth avenue; Paddy McGirr's. No. 65j Sixth
avenue and Frank McDonad's. No. 1910 Broad
way
The arrests followed cleaning cut of the
Haymarket, Cairo Bohemia and other similar
places in the precinct, precisely at o'clock. at
the closing of the legal hours for selling drinks.
Captain O'Brien speaking to the patrOlmen
who went out on duty at o'clock last night.
told them that they must do honest work, and
laid particular stress on excise arrests, telling
them that IL they did not make such arrests on
their beats where the offences occurred they