The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01
BIGGY TO ABOLISH
GAMBLING HOUSES
Son of Best Friend Enters Wolf
Game and Passes $40 for
Evidence
Police Judges May Feel Big
Stick" of Mayor II Cases Are
CLOSED Over

Selecting the son of one of his beat
friends TO aid IN getting evidence
against gamblers who conduct incor-
porated clubs" Chief of Police Bisgy
is carrying on an earnest campaign
to eradicate the Woe from the city.
A son Of w. J. Owens, superintend-
ent of the Oceanic steamship company,
was chosen last week by Biggy to
gather evidence against poker sharps,
and he has secured proof which Biggy
declares will be sufficient to convict
Jack and Patsy Wolf, Eddy and Ellis
streets, of conducting q poker game in
violation OF the city ordinances and
the general law. Frangini. another
notorious gambler operating in Third
and Harrison streets, is also to be
prosecuted by Biggy.
The good government league and
District Attorney Langdon have inter
ested themselves with Biggy in the
crusade and If q conviction can be
secured against the Wolf brothers the
gaming evil soon will be eradicated
from the city so far as the police de-
partment can act and the youth of the
community spared the existing temp
tations.
From testimony which Owens, who
went among the gamblers under the
name OF Olson, will give 1t can be
proved that the Volts conduct not
only a percentage game, but also op-
crate a fixed game in which the victim
has no chance to win.
CoNFERs WITH CHIEF
The good government league sent a
committee to confer with Chief Biggy
yesterday and promised him it's CO.
operation. District Attorney Langdon
is also active in the crusade. The
good government league will watch the
proceedings against the Wolf brothers
in the police court.
Should the police judges show a tend
ency to be lenient with the poker
players a demand will be made that
Mayor Taylor exercise his power to
suspend the derelict Judge unoer
authority granted him by section 49,
article XVI of the charter. A suspen-
sion by the mayor would be followed
| by an investigation before the super
visors and If the accused official were
found guilty of the charge preferred
against him he would be removed
Police Judge Shortall is suspected OF
entertaining a gentle attitude toward
the gambling interest and his conduct
will be closely followed by the good
government league.
The district attorneys ONCE and the
chief of police are satisfied that the
Wolf case be made a test The gam
less will appeal to the superior cour'
and the power Of the police to ourt
gambling behind doors that are osten
sibly closed will be determined.
is TAKEN INTO GAME
ct suspected the Wolf brothers
game" said Chief Biggy yesterday
"and sent Owens to the place. H
played the slot machines on the cigai
counter at the entrance to the club
| and thus won the regard of Patsy
Wolf. After Owens had failed to breal
the card machine Wolf admitted hin
! into the clubroom.
Just go in said Patsy to Owens
Il had supplied Owens with $40 t.
use in fathoming the inner game,
Biggy continued.
First Owens paid $25 for chips an,
got $22.50 worth, the house withhold
ing 10 per cent Of the stack In viola
tion of the law. He lost his none
readily, but his luck apparentl,
changed when the other players ha
most of his coin. They dealt him thre
aces. Owens discarded one and drew
another ace. With four aces in hi
hand he was ready to play. But Jacl
Wolf, one Of the proprietors of tn
club, was sitting next to Owens. H
warned the other players of Owens
hand. It seems that the game wa
fixed.
WILL STOP GAMES
'Tt is my intention Chief Biggy as
serted, ITO stop these games, which ar
operated In violation of the law"
After Owens experience Policema
Lord and a posse served search war
rant on the place and arrested the VOL
Brothers. The doors were locked an
the ordinance prohibiting poker play
ing behind closed doors was, therefore
also violated.
Biggy desires to suppress the game
believed to be conducted by Franzin
among the Greek laborers in the vicin
ity of Third and Harrison streets. Th
chief of police has sought to have tn
police judges issue a search warran
against Franzinis place, but they hav
been slow in the matter. The conduc
of the judges is being closely watche
by the good government league, and
willful delinquence is shown steps will