New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-16
NEW WAR ON GAMBLING
JEROME DISCOVERS CLUB.
VIII Act acith Corporation Counsel
Under Penal Code.

In a section of the Penal Code which has
been allowed TO fall into dsuse. District Attor-
new Jerome believes he has found powerful
weapon TO use against gamblers. This section,
341 reads:
A person who wins or loses at play or by bet
ting at any time the sum or value of SO or up
wards. within the space Of twenty-four hours, is
punisha BILE by fine not less than five times the
value or sum so lost or won, to be recovered IN
a civil action by the persons charged with sup
port Of the poor in the place where the onence
was committed, for the benefit Of the poor.
Using this section, well as the Bowling law,
over the heads of bettors. Mr.. Jerome believes
will go far 10 render the business of keeping
poolrooms or gambling houses a most unsafe
and improbable occupation.
Acting with Corporation Counsel Ellison, Mr..
Jerome is going 10 find out how Section 341
works by applying it to the persons whose names
and addresses were obtained in the raids the
rooms of the Davis syndicate Among them
was the mysterious ct Grady" sometimes re-
ferred to as sen. c." who believed TO have
an address In Albany In fact, the day
of the raids made person using this name
telephoned from the capital city 10 one of the
Davis places in Fulton street, wishing TO make
a bet. the message being received by one of the
raiding party. Grady according TO the books
seized at the time, also one of the syndicate
and participated in its profits. Names of many
prominent persons were found on these books.
and Mr.. Jerome TO bring suits against
them under the section of the Penal Code men
toned The District Attorneys views and in
tentions were expressed in the following state
ment:
The meaning Of this section is perfectly OBJ
vious from the text OF the section itself. In
Selling the books of the Davis syndicate of
poolrOons, obtained evidence showing the
amounts Of money won or lost, the particular
days on which these amounts were won or lost
and the persons making the bets Under the
foregoing section of the Penal Code suits may
be instituted against each of these persons. I
have conferred with the Corporation Counsel
and il would be necessary for the two offices
10 work together in these htigations, it was
deemed wiser ana more economical OF e1ort
that one Of my assistants should be authorized
10 act for the Corporation Counsel in bringing
these suits and as rapidly as is possible for us
20 do shall institute suits against the per-
sons whose names appear in the books OF the
Davis syndicate.
tied by compromise, and as the evidence IS
conclusive, II Is hoped that in order TO avoid
the publicity attending being party defendant
In such litigation compromises can be made
in most of the litigation The chief weapon
which District Attorney has to keep gambling
in check is the power conferred by the Downing
law to compel the gamblers to reveal the names
of their clients II is thought that by compelling
the poolroom keepers who conduct a telephone
business to do the same thing. and then sub
jecting the players TO civil litigation IL will be
possible very largely TO discourage betting on
the races in poolrooms by telephone.
The books of the Davis syndicate show that
more than 100000 changed hands on the races
in their poolrooms since January Of this year.
and show now outstanding and unpaid debts of
more than 100000. Each person betting will
first be given an opportunity TO compromise the
litigation before a suit is begun, and, of course
as fast suits are begun the names of the de-
PENDANTS, the circumstances of the transaction
and the amounts won or lost will necessarily
become public because We shall deem it our
duty TO file in the County Clerks Office veri-
fed complaints.
If Mr.. jerome is not mistaken in his deduc-
lions. there will he general 'focking to cover"
under the protection of compromises of many
men prominent in business and sporting circles
in this city. One man. who has a seat the
Stock Exchange. and another, a steward of the
Jockey Club are the list One re-
ported TO have bet 81 900 one day. another bet
$4,000 in three days, and there were others
who made big bets the telephone The
names of E. r. Thomas, Charles G. Gates S.
Ambrose Clark. H. K. Vingut and Berry Wall
are said 10 have been found in the indexed regis
ter supposed TO contain the customers of Davis
& Co.
That Section 341 may also be proftably used
against gamblers at racetracks is the Dis
trict Attorneys opinion In this connection he
said:
The same remedy applies to the racetrack, but
unfortunately have no racetracks in my juris-
diction; but the District Attorneys of Kings
County, Queens County and Nassau County, or
wherever racetracks are located, use, if
they choose TO, this provision of the Penal Code.
One way would be 10 put subpoena servers in
the betting rings, and when bets made serve
the employe of the betting ring with a subpoena,
and by means of the Bowling law obtain enough
information from him 10 locate the person who
lays wager This would be means of keep
ing away from the racetrack men who can't af-
ford 10 make bets or be sued in this way. This
is Of the laws which Will practically sup
press gambling in this city.
l do not say it is the duty of any District At
torney 10 enforce this law, but it to me
every Superintendent of the Poor and Commits
sioner of Charity should take action In this
matter and proceed against gamblers under this
section.
It was announced yesterday that Robert II.
Davis, the supposed head of the Davis syndi-
cate; ]. Park Robinson. William Keator and
William D. Fisher. who arrested during
Mr.. Jerome's recent raids poolrooms have
been indicted. The first two named are abroad,
but reported willing to return. The last
two named are at present out on bail.