New-York tribune., 1906-09-06
THOUSANDS SEE RAID.
POLICE WIELD HAMMERS.
Spectacular 4tfack on AHeged Pool
room an TcnderlOin.

Although hndered by iron barred doors and
windows detectives of the West Both street
station. under Captain Schlottmann late yester-
day afternoon forced their way into an alleged
poolroom in West 3lst street near Sixth avenue.
and arrested four men. charged with aiding and
abetting the maintaining Of poolroom.
Axes and sledgehammers made no impression
n first on the heavy iron sheets which We're
placed behind the windows. and the police were
finally compelled to wrench them off.
Never according to witnesses has II more
spectacular raid been made in the TenderlOin.
Thousands Of persons blocked the street and
watched the police hammer away the iron
doors. Detectives We're posted on the roof Of
every house near by. and ordered to prevent any
one from escaping from the alleged poolroom
All the reserves Of the West 30th street station
were ordered TO remain in the station and
shortly before O'Clock Captain Schlottmann had
the men put on plain clothes. The captain.
armed with warrant which he obtained from
Magistrate Wahie, in the jefferson Market court.
then gave orders 20 the men to run to 3lst street
and Sixth avenue.
Captain Schlottmann led the men, and their
run through 3Oth street to Sixth avenue and then
north 20 31st street attracted a large crowd.
When the men reached the alleged pooroOm the
captain sent about a dozen men to the houses in
houses. and he. with several men. then made
an attack on the front door. They were con-
fronted with an iron door, and, although they hit
Il scores Of times with sledgehammers and axes,
they unable TO make any impression on it.
The captain then tackled window the
door. This was found TO be barred. and after
they had forced the bars apart and broken the
glass they faced heavy piece Of sheet iron.
fastened into the building with huge iron bolts.
The next window was the same, and no effort
was made TO smash these IN.
Practically baffied on ali sides the police then
went to the basement where there is a barber
shop. All access 10 the floor above had been
cut off.
Determined to gain entrance. the captain or
dered all the men having hammers and axes 10
combine their efforts on the door. After about
twenty minutes work they succeeded in break
ing IL in. hut then they found themselves cor
nered 10y a heavy oak door. The men then
started at this door. and about fifteen minutes
were required To open It.
In the mean time about two thousand persons
had gathered in the street and an extra force Of
policemen had 10 he called 10 keep them from
Interfering with the police. Women shouted
and men ieered when they saw the police baf-
fed i'm efforts TO get in
When the oak door was finally forced I'm the
police SWOOped down on the TWO roolllS on III"
first floor. where there were about two hundred
and 6fty men. Detectives who had obtained me
warrants arrested four men ana cohiiScated Ta-
cling sheets cards and telephone Inc halHeS
Of the other men were taken.
CAPTAIN Schlottmann used every method 10 keep
advance news Of the raid getting out. While
he was running with the reserves TO the place
a man started ahead OF him. probably 10 tip the
place off, but the captain seized him and kept
him back until the police arrived.
The four men arrested said they were John
Norris of No PAS West :iSth street. who is
charged with keeping an alleged poolroom; Louis
Gilbert Of the Olympia Hotel, Coney Island;
Thomas Mack, Of Cryerss Hotel. Coney Island.
and William Burton. of No pa West 2Jth street.
,vbo were charged with aiding and abetting