The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-17

Following a spectacular raid upon he Poison Ivy club, a social organ ization at 59 Elm street, John Mc- Namara, a we'll known sporting man, was fined $1oo and costs for keeping a gambling house at that place, and eighteen of the 19 men arrested with him in the raid were fined $10 and costs in the city court today. The 18th man was reported to be i'll. His bond, $50 was forfeited. The raid was made at 1920. Ten of the men spent the balance of the nlgnt Tn waiting for arraignment in court. The fines of all were paid by the man- agement
 All the men except McNamara gave fictitious names. No effort was made to secure thsir right names for the police records. Charlie Pierce, the Veteran gambler apprehended with the patrons of the club, made futile attempt to. keep a smile from playing over his features when Attorney Henry Greenstein. defending the gamblers, pleaded for clemency for them on the ground that it was their first offence. Judge Foster said ne was not going to make any. special effort to find .out whether this was inc truth, but would not consent to a fine less than s10 for each ire quenter.
 The Poison Ivy club is in three with access from both Elm street and Fairfield avenue. The club was Iuxuriously furnished. equipped with "a buffet and the best of service. Launey Williams a lanky negro wait CT who has been employed in various cafes about town. was the steward. and he saw to 1t that the boys had every comfort. The club house tele- phone is listed under the name
 For several weeks the police have been under instructions to keep line on the place. The especial vigilance was due to the fact that the club has lately undergone a transformatlon. sfvely by the aristocracy of gamblers But within a few weeks a game that was opened at a local hotel. and or dered out by the police, was trans tablishment. Since the addition of the crap game. the Elm street place has been patronized by many young men. clerks. salesmen and others, as e profession.
 With the increased patronage and corresponding laxity in the vigilance againet outsiders putting into the temple of chance. the reputation of the place hitherto closely guarded. became common talk. week ago Prosecutor Delaney provided the po- lice with search warrants authorizing them to break into the place. Last evening Mayor Buckingham called on Supt Birmingham at police head quarters and conferred on the situa- don The result was a we'll planned and successful raid.
 Sergeant John H. Began and Pa coats Ioitered about the place long time. Without their policemen's headgear and carefully concealed be- meath the ponderous fur coats. the policemen were able to keep close watch on the place until they were ready to descend upon 1t.
 Began and Barton were reinforced by Policemen Simons. Holbrook. Me. Cullough and Edward Wheeler. Bar ton and Began tried the door. 1t latch chain held it firmly. Then they rang the bell. McNamara answered. He peered out. and Barton thrust his arm into the aperture. He brought ing the husky policeman's arm crushing blow. Barton and Began bumped into the door and the chain snapped. They rushed in, Barton seized McNamara and the whole crew dashed upstairs.
 The game was on the third floor Before the police reached 1t con- sternation had spread among the players. one or them ndO DOlteQ out the third story window and two otn- CTS seized him by the waist and seat of his trousers in time to save him from possibly fatal injuries. The dice cloths were tossed out the window. along with the "bones." The money had vanished. into the pockets of the players. There was said to be a comparatively small game last night Other nights many hundreds of dol lars have changed hands. Last night 1nf nGh in Ne. crowd to take all out on bail.
 The frequenters were taken to po- lice headquarters and marched be- fore the desk to give their names. All principally clerks, ranging from 22 years upwards. Among them was a man giving the name of William Jen- tirs. Jentirs the police say. was the financial secretary of the Poison Ivy ftee. About a. m. he was accus- toned to march from the Elm street place to the Atlantic hotel where he lives, and deposit his money in g. safe. always having the escort of from two to four men whom the police be- neved to be armed.
 Besides the dice cloths and poker chip trays the police secured hand bag identified as that which Sherman K Hill. the jailed hotel clerk. stole he fled to New York with other cash from the hotel till.
 McNamara and nine of the fre- quenters were soon at liberty. Bail of $50 was exacted for the frequent CTS. s400 for McNamara, who con sented to take the responsibility of running the place.
 Attorney Henry Greenstein appear ed in court for the prisoners. All pleaded guilty. except one frequenter who gave the fictitious name of George Mansfield. He failed to ap- pear and his bail $50 was declared forfeited The others pleaded guilty Sergeant Regan testified to the con ditIon of things when the police made their entrance. Attorney Greenstein sought clemency for all the accused on the ground that 1t was their first