New-York tribune., 1909-05-01

TWO DETECTIVES TURN
WIRE T4PPERS.
Crozcds See Police Smash Their
Way to Supposed Headquarters
in Vest 31St Street.

The police of the West 3Oth street station,
under the lead Of Inspector McClusky and Cap
tain o Brien. raided what is believed to be the
headquarters of all the poorooms in the greater
city last evening in full view of thousands OF
persons on their way home from business. The
building laided the brownstone front mousse
at No. 112 West 31st street supposed to nave
been vacant for many months, although. the
police say, the poolroom headquarters occupied
the entire third floor rear.
The invading forces carried away with them
as trophies of the raid twelve telephones Two
Morse telegraph instruments, one switchboard
and four prisoners, who. according TO Inspector
McClusky were receiving and distributing the
results of the races at Pimlico. IN addition TO
suppIyine all the poolrooms in Manhattan
Brooklyn and The Bronx, the police say that
from this supposedly vacant building informa-
ton as to all races was sent to distant towns
in New Jersey.
For the last three or four weeks the men VINO
control the poolrooms in this city, and espe-
ciaIIv those in INSPECTOR McClUsky's district
have been at their wits end, the police say 10
discover how il was that as soon as new dls-
tributing bureau opened in. the TenderIolh
the police would get wind of the location and
character of the place.
SUSPICION was finally fastened on some OF
those in the pooIroom mems own ranks, ana II
was suspected that there was more than one
traitor among them. Sharp lookout was kept
for the ''souealers." whoever they might prove
TO be- and every man in the gambling chque
was viewed with suspicion by his neighbor.
The information which led to last night $ RAID
did not come from insiders. however but re-
suited from the cIeverness Of Detectives Ber-
nard ! Devannev and Thomas ] Conlon. both
OF whom are expert wire operators. They had
been selected TO find the headquarters ot t''e
poolroom interests on that account
For many davs these two men have been sys-
teTratically tapping telegraph and telephone
wires vet their methods were as simple as they
proved effective They would go 20 the ROOFS oi
buildings in the Tenderloiu armed with nothing
more formidable than an ordinary penknife and
a pocket telephone. Every wire that came
within their reach would be scraped with the
knife until the insulation was cut on, and tneh
| the telephone would he applied This is moth
ing more than common -'wireta piping and Is
Illegal under ordinary circumstances but De-
vanney and Conlon did not hesitate at that
After several days Of frIitless search they
succeeded in finding the wire which led into the
| third aoor OF the house in West 3ist street FOR
several days thereafter they tapped this Wire
ap3 hoard. tnoy. sag the results and entries II
| the Pinlico races being transmitted over the
| line.
They did not take immediate action. desiring
| "a discover as many more places as they could
before they descended on the 3lst street house
| Yesterday however they were forced TO ADOPT
! urgent measures, for they were listening Oh
| the wire from the roof OF the adjoining house
thev heard voice in the house complaining
| that an operator was in on the connection and
| the voice at the other end replied that it was
| probably the bulls" meaning the police
This was sufficient warning for the two dc
| tectiyes They lost time in informing the
| raiding party which descended on the place
within ten minutes.
After the raiders had climbed TO the third moor
tbev were forced 10 batter down with sedge
| hammers a steel bound oaken door. Then they
found themselves in a hallway, at the end OF
which was similar door This too yielded to
the blows OF the police. and with McClusky at
tbei,. head the men rushed into the room
Four men were huddled about a roaring fire.
sunplIed by the charts, according TO the police
The back windows we're heavily barred. The
men said they running q correspondence
school OF wireless telegrapny.' one was held
for keeping and maintaining gambling house
and the others were charged with aiding and
a.,atting.