New-York tribune., 1910-09-22
EXPECT INDICTMENTS
OF POOLROOM TODAY
Four Defendants Named, 1t Is
Said, in Connection with
Broadway Resort.
BAKER TO GIVE EVIDENCE
Grand Jury Investigation OF
Wide Open Town Likely to
Be Protracted Beyond It's
Regular Term.

The grand jury is expected TO report
indictments to-day against at least one
Of the alleged gambling places on the
list submitted to District Attorney
Whitman by Acting Mayor Mitchell. III
is known that the indictments. in which
four defendants are named, have been
ordered by the grand jury. The investl-
CATION will be continued to-day, and
among those who will testify will be Po-
lice Commissioner Baker.
The place against which the indict-
ments will be aimed. il is understood. is
in Broadway. in the heart of the Tender
loin It is not, however. a gambling
place in the sense intended by the law
relating to common gambling" but
comes within the scope of the law re-
lating to poolrooms. The offence
charged viii be misdemeanor, and not
felony
The poolroom in question it was said,
is reached through a cafe on the ground
floor At least one man OF national
reputation in sporting circles was said
70 be interested in the cafe, although
whether or not he is one of the de-
PENDANTS in the indictments is not
known. The place received notoriety re-
Gently in a grand jury investigation.
Mitchell Charges the Cause.
The indictments will be the first fruits
Of the grand turys investigation of the
wide open condition of the city alleged
by Acting Mayor Mitchell growing out of
the controversy between him and Police
Commissioner Baker.
It is understood that they were or
dered by the grand jury on evidence OBJ
tained by Edward c. Becherer. an in
vestigator for the Bureau of Municipal
Research, and John Fitzpatrick. one of
Commissioner Fosdick's Investigators
Becherer and Fitzpatrick were the
only witnesses before the grand jury
yesterday. Commissioner Fosdick called
on District Attorney Whitman twice
during the day, as did also Assistant
Corporation Crowell. the acting Mayors
legal adviser. but neither went before
the grand jury.
Police Commissioner Baker also called
on District Attorney Whitman yester-
day afternoon and said he would like TO
be a witness before the grand jury
At the suggestion of the District At
torney Commissioner Baker made a for
NAL request in writing TO be allowed to
testify. The grand jury had adjourned
for the day at the time, but the letter
will be submitted 10 il this morning.
Awaits Gaynor's Return.
Acting Mayor Mitchell refused yester-
day to make any statement regarding
the police situation or to comment on
Commissioner Bakers statement that he
was carrying out what he understood to
be the policy of Mayor Gaynor. It was
said by his friends that Mr.. Mitchell was
satisfied from his interview with Mayor
Gaynor on Tuesday at ST. James that
the Mayor would take appropriate ac-
ton when he returned to the City Hall.
There is no prospect that the grand
jury will complete its investigation this
week. On the contrary, the indications
are that il will be protracted beyond the
regular term of the grand jury which
has II in hand.
Magistrate Joseph Corrigan, who re
Gently made a tour of the city to observe
conditions in the streets and in saloons
which have been the subject Of contro-
versy between the Police Commissioner
and the acting Mayor. declared yester-
day that New York was wide open" ;"
and that so far as he could observe vice
was being more openly Haunted in the
streets than ever before