New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21
BIG PO0LROOM TRUST.
HUSH MONEY MONOPOLY.
Guarantees Police Protection IN
Brooklyn, 1t Is Sad.

Despite the frequent assertions of Police Com
missioner Bingham and his First Deputy Arthur
J. OKeeffe, that the lid is on tight in Brook
lyn it has been discovered that poolrooms and
gambling houses are wide open in certain sec
lions of the borough. II has been discovered,
also, that these places are protected by regular
trust, which has only recently been organized.
According TO the remarks of several prominent
gamblers who were Intercepted on the subject,
nobody can open a pooroom any more without
first getting permission from the trust.
The hackers Of the trust are set of politi-
clans and gamblers It is said that man who
is considered close to prominent officials is In
the trust and shares in the graft.
There Is probably only section OF Brook
Ign where poolrOoms do not flourish at the
present time That is Williamsburg The rea-
son why the lid is tight there is not any
particular police activity, but because the gam
blers in that section positively refuse to sub
nit 10 the terms dictated by the trust. Even
with the approach of the Saratoga season, the
williamsburg poolrooms are making no prepa-
rations 10 open up.
About six months ago the emissaries of the
trust first made their appearance in Williams
burg. Their proposition called for 25 per cent
Of his daily receipts from each proprietor, be-
sides the installation of two men designated by
the trust in each poolrOom. These men were to
act as cashiers and for their few hours work
they We're to receive SO and SIS. respectively
was TO collect the money taken in the place ana
10 deduct the % per cent for the trust
The agent Of the trust went on to explain that
with the payment Of this amount absolute pro-
lection could be guaranteed. \ certain per
centage Of this hush money il was explained
went 10 some Of the police officials higher up
The only additional expense 10 be incurred, the
agent said, was a tip now and then 10 the ward
men 10 make them feel that they We're Well
thought Of and an occasional tip TO the captain
From some mysterious source. II is said. the
various captains were inspired to keep their
hands off or be charged with some trivial Of
fence and heavily fined As a result of the or
ders the captains have had little to do.
I'll keep closed until doomsday before III
submit TO the terms Of those sharks downtown"
said a well known Williamsburg pooroOm pro-
pretor last night. Where do we stand Oh any
such proposition? ! have been running pool
rooms I admit for some time. and III also
admit that I have paid for protection to certain
politicians and police captains but I'll be
hanged if I am going to pay p per cent Of my
earnings TO any trust and then stake any higher
up police officials besides
IF this man Bingham is on the level, as he
claims 10 be- he ought TO get some Of his private
detectives whom he used in trailing those two
young sleuths recently transferred from
O'Keene's office 10 Manhattan, and set them out
in Brooklyn They wouldn't be out long before
they got wise 10 certain things that would cause
the biggest kind of a sensation. l think certain
police officials would lose their jobs and maybe
go TO jail.
Yes ! have read Nj O'Keeffe's remarks
about closing the poolrooms. but people who
know what is going on only laugh at them.
But they can't bully US in Williamsburg. We
will keep closed rather than submit 10 the
terms We are sending our clients downtown
and across the river, where they experience no
trouble in laying a bet"