New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-18
STOP GAMBLING, SAYS
mitchell TO whitman
Acting Mayor Declares It's Up
to District Attorney to Do
Something.
WHITMAN WANTS EVIDENCE
Thinks It Duty of Police to
Gather It-Baker, Stirred to
Action, Starts Out Plain
clothes Men.


clothes Men.
The prospective cleanup Of gambling
.,6 disorderly places IN the city, which
nsrzn with Acting Mayor Mitchels in
ve<-jxatfou. conducted through the in
soectors Of TIE Commissioners Of Ac-
counts, worried more than the resort
t.ene-s Yesterday, when Mr. Mitchell put
the propos,rion UP 70 District Attorney
Whitman and Police Commissioner
Baker
The latter official gave out prepared
interview, in which he drew fine distinc-
lions between known and suspected
nIsces end discoursed anaiably about
police routine concerning plainclothes
men sr6 ordinary detectives of the Cen
r-sl Office force
N-- Whitman declared that while he
wanted 10 cooperate with the acting
wavor, he could not be expected TO
neglect the regular duties of the law
officer OF the county in order 10 lead
policemen 20 gambling dens to get evil
5ence. He would put before the regular
land Jury any evidence that The acting
Navcr OF his investigators or the Po-
rice DEPARTMENT brought to his Office,
hut as for leading the policemen about
town 70 raid suspected places, Mr. " NIT
nan thought not
II The acting Mayor. who is above
,re Police Commissioner, and his de-
zz--nenr Of 1000 men cant stop the
condition Of affairs complained Of" said
4- whitman. its not 10 be supposed
that The law officer Of the county can go
nut and leave his other numerous duties
II stop this condition with twenty-five
men
To Subpoena inspectors.
,sr Whitman said he would summon
-hA acting Mayor before the grand jury
only he knew. Of course. that MI
Njrchel's information was not direct
personal knowledge; but be would sum
mon the inspectors sent out under the
acting Mayors orders
NJ Mitchell said that he intended to
send 10 the District Attorneys office
flIl and complete transcription Of the
reports CT his investigators just as soon
ire EIeCOE-dpLELS SOL II JUL 1910
matter would contain a large list OF
known and suspected gambling and dis
orderly places. together with the names
OF their owners
As 70 the intimation OF the county
PROSECUTOR that he would not be inter
eeted II personal connection with any
spectacular raids but would simply pre-
E-o n him
10 the grand fury, Mr.. Mitchell responded
7v referring 70 the Downing law and the
activity Of William Travers Jerome
when he was District Attorney.
What's the Bowling law for?" asked
NJ. Mitchell who does II give power
IN these matters tone or the District
Attorney I have offered these police
plainclothes men TO the District At
ro-ney, and IT'S up to him 10 do some
rhing-do something" Mr. Mitchell re
pested-
At Police Headquarters the oldtimers
were 6ecrying the present method OF at
-ack On the gam blers-
Tells OF 5erorne's Way.
Why. Just look az Jerome's way
said one detective He called those fel-
lows down 70 his Office one after an
o1her-'Davy' Johnson. Charley Reed
and al the rest Of them-and said he
wanted their KEYS, and IF they didn't
give them up he said he'd drop in TO see
hem every little while and see whether
hey were doing anything or not And
= stopped them. didn't it Anyway, YOU
couldn't notice any of them trying TO do
business 10 any account as long as
Jerome stayed there"
= was evident that Mr. NitcheTs attt-
tude was much the same as the Central
-o-fce mans. though he was careful not
. say anything along that ~Iine- Apart
from his do something challenge TO
the District Attorney, he made public
yesterday the letter which he sent TO
District Attorney Whitman on Friday
Il read as follows:
Herewith I fncIose for your informa-
tou, 4 letter which I have this day
transmitted 70 the Commissioner Of Pc
lice You viii note that therein I call
MS attention 70 the prevalence Of gam
bling and open prostitution in this
coElIy. nave E-gSeSl61 10 MIN iiIcL
he forward you evidence Of the main
tenance OF uuisances of this character,
n order that you may take appropriate
action against the owners Of the prem
ICES under Section 973 and 1146 Of the
penal Law.
Z have further suggested 70 The Com
missioner OF Police that he forward TO
you full list OF al known or suspected
gambling houses within this county. for
tie purpose Of enabling you to proceed
against them in the exercise Of the pow
ers conferred upon you by Section 996
Of the penal Law. Through the opera
ton Of thts statute and your official re-
latlons with the grand Jury, as under
stand il, you are supplied with the means
q collecting evidence against such
places which are possessed by no other
Official.
Police Aid for Whitman.
In order that you may not be without
the - Y have