The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-13
Allen, Pookoom
King, at Close Range

the Golfers of the race-tracks princes
and the poolroom kings.
Didn't Pose as MOraIist.
"You wonder why l talk this way?
Well, young man." and Allen roared
out in a sudden access of fury, 81 am
in the fight until | die TO kill racing
in this State. | don't want it killed
because I know that it is deadly to the
best interests of the citizens. [ want
it killed because the race-track hogs
have tried to put the poolrooms out
of business. And because they have
tried to end our graft their doom is
sealed. Our lobby has fought with the
protagonists of right-conduct, not be-
cause we had any respect for the suck
ers that bet and lost. but because the
race-track men wanted to hog the
game and have it all for their own"
And then a very strange and wonder
full thing happened to Allen, the man
that once put out a mans eye by SHOW
ing a lighted cigar into his face in a
quarrel. He grew thoughtful n said
very YEARLY as he sank into the re-
cesses of his chair
but I am getting old. very old. 1
have always had a contempt for those
who were fools TO bet against my game.
but now ! guess l am feeling a little
sorry for them.
"And, said the little old
man almost patheticaIIy, 81 wasn't any
worse than the others, and I've always
told the people that bet that they were
fools. 1t can't all be laid up against
old The Allen"
And now The Allen is dead and the
evil hat he caused lives after him.
But it can be truthfully said that he
was the one old-time gambler that
never hesitated to tell anyone that
asked that they We're unwise to bet.
the while he took their money with a
sinister philosophy.
Birth and Early Life.
Born in a Methodist minister's fam
lily, the entry of Theodore Allen upon
his career of adventure, which won
him the appellation of The Allen, was
gradual. He started to earn a living
as a butchers boy in the lower part
of Manhattan Island. He was later a
waiter in a saloon, and then became a
cartman. He was a lightly built
youth, weighing but 100 pounds, yet
former Police Captain Chapman de-
clared: HE was absolutely fearless and
worth ten other men in a fight"
Allen used to speak with great feel
ing of his Civil War career. He en-
listed at the outbreak of the struggle
n six months later was assigned to
the Secret Service. Henry Ward
Beecher once saved the life of the flu
ture poolroom keeper. Allen assumed
the role of a fugitive from the Confed-
crate States and went to Montreal. A
reward of $50, 900 was placed on his
head. Allen Joined for purposes oil
gaining information of the Confederate
raiders who swept down from Canada
on ST. Adams, VT. He was captured
and sentenced to be shot at sunrise
the following day. Henry Ward
Beecher, who was billed to lecture in
St. Adams that day. saw Allen, and
sent a telegram to Secretary of Wal
Edwin M. Stanton, whose instructions
to release Allen came just in time tt
save his life.
Arrested for Partners Death.
The mysterious shooting of Edward
Maloy, the former partner of The
Allen, in the late seventies, when he
was In Aliens company, caused Allen
to be arrested for murder. The case
never came to trial, for no evidence
was found to upset Aliens defense that
the shooting was accidental. His inn
prisonment made Allen very bitter, and
he foreswore his friendship with all ex-
cept the members of his family. BOSS"
William Tweed was once one of Aliens
c%ronies, but after his Imprisonment AL
len would have nothing to do with him.
Many stories are told of Aliens char
tiles. He is said to have paid the
funeral expenses of nearly 400 persons
who died destitute. Aliens wife was
a very religious woman, and personally
dispensed foo and clothing among the
poor. They adopted five children.
THE" Allen ran the st. Bernard
Hotel. the Mabille dance hall, and a
"club" on West Thirty-fourth street at
various periods in his career.