New-York tribune., 1910-12-20
FLYNN DIRECTS RAIDS
ON THREE PLACES
Plans So Carefully Laid That De-
teCtiVes Didn't Know Where
They Were Going.
FORTY PRISONERS TAKEN
While Working Up Evidence Men
Took Note of Points Least
Likely to Resist At
tack of Axes.

Police officials. acting under direct
ders from Deputy Commissioner Flynn.
took part Yesterday in the most care
fully planned raids on alleged gam bling
houses that has ever been conducted in
New York City In three places visited
simultaneously by large forces of plain
clothes men. they took forty prisoners,
all Of whom will be arraigned in court
Jhis morning. charged with being com
mon gamblers
Outside OF its unusual character the
raid is interesting TO the police because
II raises the question whether or not the
work Of handling the gambling situation
in the city has been taken from the
hands of Deputy Commissioner Driscoli
and given to Mr.. Flynn.
For some time detectives have been
working up evidence against suspected
gambling places one man visited the
three which We're raided yesterday at
odd times during the last month or so,
and not only gathered what evidence he
could. but noted carefully what points in
the protection of the resorts were least
likely 10 resist the axes and crowbars
of raiders
Orders went out to forty-six detectives
yesterday 10 assemble at various points
in the city in the afternoon to await or
oers- No word of the raids was given to
any Of them. AT the same time Lieuten-
ant McMulIen met thirteen pIainclothes
men at 5oth street and Broadway, Act
ing Captain Edward J. Burke met six
teen a. the Weehawl1en ferry. at 42d
street and the North River, and Lieuten-
ant Collins met seventeen detectives at
18th street and Sixth avenue
Lieutenant McMullin. who had gone
uptown in an automobile. accompanied
hy Mr.. FLYNN and his secretary. John
Iiill took his men TO the Union Billiard
Psrlor, at No. 1912 Broadway The
place was surrounded and then the lieu
tenant. with Mr.. Flynn and few men.
Uttered. They went upstairs and broke
into q room above the pool and billiard
room run on the premises In the room
they found. they say, seventy-five men
and signs of dice and 'Klondyke' games
The detective who had been on the
case pointed out seventeen men. and
they We're arrested on the new John
Doe warrants which bear the physical
description Of those wanted. The pris-
oners We're hustled to the West 41th
street police station.
Acting Captain Burke took his men to
the four story and basement house at
No. 22S West 40 street Burke got into
the place by way OF the basement only
after he held the door open with a crow
har while men inside tried TO keep him
cut The door leading from the stoop
Vas found TO De bGrricaded. The de-
tectires found roulette wheels and other
gambling devices in rooms. they say, and
found fifty men in the house Nine OF
them were arrested on the John Doe"
Warrants
Lieutenant Collins and his aids went
10 No - East 10Th street The investi-
gator had reported that the roof was
the wea kest part of the establishment,
50 the raiders got to il through other
houses Then they broke through the
skylight and entered the building, after
which they broke their way INTO a room
0 one of the floors which was protected
by door Of the ice box variety They
found a25 men and evidences OF gam
bling. they say. Fourteen men were
arrested
From none Of the places WAS ganphhs
paraphernaha removed. Instead IL was
left TO be guarded by sleuths and uni
formed men until photographs can De
taken Of the places.
officials high in the Police Department
say that Mr.. Flynn took charge OF 'he
gambling raids after several cohsui'a-
tons with Mr. Driscoll. while tne ial'ei
Vas iii al his home recently af'eF On
tomobile accident. One afnclal sai"
gambling and vice were rampant III
town al present, and that vigorous steps
would be taken 10 put them do"h' -
was hjr,ed that a big change in the de-
tective force might be made,