Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-09
NaIragansstt Pier Socisiy
Women Beg Officers
Not 10 Publish Names Of Those
N RaIded cIubroonl Y
Officer Promises Surprise II casse
Come 10 Court,

Narragansett Pier. r. l.. Aug. S.
| Society women and their emiSaries
have kept close watch today on Con-
stable John G. Cross. who conducted
the gambling raid against the Nara
| gansctt Pier Club yesterday, taking
| every opportunity that awaited to be-
seech him to refrain from giving to
the newspapers the names of those
| who were in the club rooms at the
time of the raid This far Constable
Cross has complied with their wishes
and has maintained a discreet silence,
but he is particular to declare that II
is not because the women have asked
it that he has not given out the names:
ITO publish these names would give
unnecessary pain and cause unneces.
sary embarrassment" he said today
but if these people appear In court
in answer to the summonses which,
have been served on them. it will then
be impossible to keep their names
from the public and there will be d
good deal IF surprise when 1t Is learn
ed what prominent men and women
are concerned. And they will have d
lot Of embarrassing questions to an-
swer, too"
Constable Cross declared that he
was being constantly followed by de-
tectives, whom he believes to be In
the employ of some of the society PEG.
pie against whom his move was made,
and he is almost in fear of his life. AL
though he succeeded in securing his
release when ararigned in court to-
day to answer to an assault charge.
it was on technicality only and ne
is patiently waiting the next move
against him. Whether or not another
warrant will be secured he 1oes not
know. Sf4
There We're upwards of 30 society wo-
men in the crowd gathered about the
roulette wheels and other games OF
chance in the clubhouse at the time Of
the raid. according to Mr.. Cross. Many
of them have tried to explain, the coil
stable says, that they just dropped In
to the club for a lunch after leaving
the hop at the Casino. but Mr.. Cross
declares he saw no signs Of anything
in tho lunch line in the place and that
the majority were gathered about the
game boards when he entered.
Rumors of a possible arrest in the
case were current tonight and kept
the Pier alive with interest Whether
these rumors proved to be founded on
fact or not. it is admitted that neither
side has yet showed all of its cards
and more developments are sure to
follow within a short time, n
1t became known tonight that VIII
liam NJ. WINS, once candidate for may
or of New York. Prof. Matthews Of
Columbia University and Mrs. r. q.
tha nor ,hr,
were behind the raid on the club. MIR.
WINS in a statement tonight declared
| that he and his associates had been
working for two years or more tn
drive out the gamblers and that two
years ago an organization was formed
for this express purpose. The facts
regarding this organization he said
had never been made public but It
| numbered among its membership many
prominent summer residents and had
been quietly working ever since. MI.
Wins said tonight:
This town is in the throes of q
gambling epidemic, which has en-
veloped rich and poor alike. The ma
jority Of the people who visited the
swell club were not summer residents
Of Narragansett and Narragans4tt
Pier but were automobile parties from
New York and elsewhere. And while
they gambled at the high toned places
their chauffeurs went to five other
places, which continue to exist. and
gambled their money. =
This epidemic of gambling has en-
tirely changed the character OF the
town. Property has deprecated In
value from % to so per cent and the
voting population, has fallen on 400 pr
cent. all because. of the gambling. m
stead Of the high class Of summer
transients, which used to frequent
Narragansett, we now have the sum-
mer boarder and the cheaper Glass;