New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-14
J JEROME AFTER POLICE
Can CLOSE UP GAMBLERS.
!Saus More POolroomS 1rc Running
than IN Years.

The present gambling investigation Of District
Attorney Jerome struck off sparks yesterday for
the first time, when he announced that in future
he would devote his efforts toward forcing the
roIice 10 do their duty. This coupled with
the remark that IL was common talk in the
23d Precinct-the old Tenderoin-that the reg
uar price paid by the eighteen gambling houses
on the suspected list OF the police was $500
month for protection Mr.. Jerome said fur
ther that II the police were not getting this
somebody else is" and the police stand for II.
His intention hereafter is not to do police duty
with special men detailed to his office. but to
force the police to give good reasons for keeping
such places on the list for long periods without
obtaining legal evidence.
Mr Jerome made these statements after
delegation OF sixteen men whose houses are on
the lis. in the 2:}d Precinct had called on him
and given him permits for representatives OF his
Office to inspect the places at any time. Several
OF them even gave him keys 20 the houses say
ing that they were vacant and II would be too
expensive for them to keep caretakers there 10
open the door for Mr.. Jeromcs men. With the
peace pact from the sporting men yesterday and
the similar promises by two others who called
on hin, last week Mr Jerome had obtained the
right TO enter without search warrant every
house on the suspected list or the police "54s"
in the 23d Precinct
Mr. Jerome said he intended 10 clean up this
district that there would no longer be any
excuse for the police TO carry the addresses OF
the old places on their list. unless
sprung up. When asked what he would do II
the police fail to do their duty. he said:
1t does not interest what the police
going to do about inspecting those places It is
none Of my business. and do not care what
rangements they make have made my own
arrangements and I found it easy enough TO
make them for the purpose OF inspection. I ex-
pect 10 clear up this precinct in a month.
that In the following month the police author
tiles need not carr upon their 54s' any sus-
nected gambling house the list Of the 23d
Precinct When I get the situation in proper
shape. and get the opportunity. I am going be-
fore the grand jury with the inspector and cap
tain Of this precinct TO have them explain what
they have done in the way Of cleaning up this
particular precinct
WON'T DO POLICE DUTY.
II am not going TO do police duty, but I am
going 10 make the police Of the 23d Precinct
give clear reports to the Commissioner of Police
in regard TO these particular places. and If they
do not do it. then IT will be up to them to ex-
pIain TO the Commissioner. the public and the
grand Jury as we'll what evidence they have for
carrying these places on their list as suspected
gambling houses.
In speaking OF the suspected places in the
nrecinct Mr Jerome said that one OF them had
heen on the list for five years and others for
several months. He said there were no serious
attempts to verify these reports and he de-
scrIbed the methods of detective who would
sav he had tried TO get into a place and had
reen refused or had decided. the place sus-
pIcious either because he many persons 60
ing in or out of 1t because he saw no one
h. said iS 70. Lra
I, necessary for the police to give sensible rea-
sons for placing any address on the lists, which,
no said are no longer used for the purpose for
which they were created. but 'to protect the
,,orce from the consequences Of their own neg
lect Of duty
THE whole system of police reports. and the
,,.ax they are made" Mr.. Jerome continued lis
q farce l have never been asked at any time
70 aid the Police Department in getting evi-
dehce against these suspected houses. They
carry them from month to month and from
,-ear To year and never give any reason for
their neglect to get evidence against them II
the police are unable to get the evidence and
7 know It can be got. and they came to me |
vould have got 1t for them. They never came
70 me because they did not want my aid ANY
nrivate detective agency could have found out
inst what the Police Department of this city
knows; yet they did not report 1t honestly
upon the reports.
1T is nonsense to say that any inspector or
captain or any other police officer who wanted
to, could not get gambler who was doing busi-
ness in his district precinct"
EASY TO GET EVIDEECE. HE SAYS
Mr.. Jerome said that as for finding some of
these unknown" owners, he had found their
names in the telephone books. other methods
the police might have followed. he said were to
find out who had the contract for lighting a
house with the gas company, or who paid the
grocer's and butchers bills. Continuing he said:
1T is the general belief and | get it from a
man who IS well versed in gambling affairs I'm
the precinct. that gambling houses in this sec
ton have had to pay 5000 month for the priv
iege of doing business. This. OF course applies
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