New-York tribune., 1910-10-06
mitchell DEFENDS ACTION
Says Mistake on Army Building
Was Made by Officials.
LETTER OF EXPLANATION
Mayor Gaynor Likely to Make
Investigation of His Own on
Gambling and Vice.

Well informed persons were saying last
night that Mayor Gaynor would probably
take no action on the report OF PRESIDENT
N;tcbaI of tbe Board of Aldermen on the
vica crusade started by him as acting
Mavor and that so far as Mr.. Mitchell s
recommendation that he be removed went,
Police Commissioner Baker was perfectly
sure of his place.
The Navor is said to feel that Mr.. Mitchell
was advised and urged to make the cru
sade bv political enemies of the Mayor.
Feeling this way. Mayor Gaynor does not
intend to give these enemies any satlsfae-
ton. it is said. by following up the move
ment started by President Mitchell Later
he will probably make Investigations Of his
own and act along lines of his own in curb
ing gambling and the social evil.
President Mitchell would not comment
Yesterday OH the letter written by Mayor
Gaynor apologizing to the officer in charge
of the United States Army Building. in
Whitehall street. because the Police Com
missioner had informed him that gambling
was being conducted there. Mr.. Mitchell
said he thought a letter he had written to
Lieutenant Colonel NJ. Gray Zalinski would
speak for itself and he proceeded to give
out copies of it In it he put the mistakes
made first up to an examining inspector OF
the Mayors Commissioners of Accounts
and secondly up to the Mayors Police Com
missioner.
Mr.. Mitchell opens his letter to Lieutenant
Colonel Zallnski as follows:
Having been apprised through the col
umns of the press of letter addressed to
you yesterday by his honor the Mayor.
dealing with a certain communication sent
TO you by the Police Commissioner n0tlry-
ing YOU that the United States Army Build
ing. at the southeast corner or Whltehall
and Pearl streets, was being conducteo a.
a gambling house, / feel that you should
have a statement of facts in this matter.
The letter goes on TO say that Edward V.
Amos. an examining inspector in the office
of the Commissioner Of Accounts, handed
in a report in which he spoke Of having
visited on orders a poolroom at southeast
corner OF Whitehall and Pearl streets,
and that he had lost money on several
horses there.
With view to taking action against
premises in which it was reported that
gambling was going on, Mr.. Mitchell wrote
he directed the Police Commissioner to in
form the owners OF all premises named N
a list sent 10 him. and designated as
Schedule A. of the existence of gambling
on the premises. The letter goes on tc
say:
Before forwarding the list 20 the Com
missioner Of Police the Office of the Com
miSSiOnerS of Accounts had, on my inStruc-
tons, obtained a report as to present own
eTShip from the Title Guarantee and Trust
Company. with respect 10 each OF the prem
ises named in this schedule A. | find that
the company reported the United States tC
be the owner of premises on the southeast
corner of Whitehall and Pearl streets IhiS
will explain TO you the notice received from
the Police Commissioner With respect tc
this building.
On investigation of the matter l find thai
the examining inspector OF the Commits
sioners of Accounts, on the day of his ex-
animation. mistakenly reported the south
east corner in place Of the southwest cor
ner, at which point he mad IN fact discoV-
cred gambling in progress
As TO the mistake made III notifying the
managers Of the United States Appraiser
.7tores that gambling was going on there
President Mitchell writes to Lieutenant
CoIbneI ZaIinski thnt a letter was received
at the Mayors office from Il woman who
said her boy was gambling at night at No
1O6 Motion street. and asking that the place
be closed. After quoting the letter Presi-
dent Mitchell goes on to write:
This complaint among vast number oi
other complaints, was not investigated bS
the staff of the Commissioners of Accounts
because of lack of time. The address com
schedule marked Schedule B. and trans
miLted 10 the Police Commissioner in my
letter of September Is. and as TO this Ils
he was specially instructed to make an in
of the complaint before taking action HI
was further instructed that should he fine