New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-17
Acting Mayor Doesn't MinCe
Words in Letter to Baker on
Avoidance of Responsibility.
CROWDS GAMBLING OPENLY
Orders Commissioner at Once TO
Put Men on Trial for Derelic-
ton and Turn Over Evidence
to District Attorney.


letter to Police Commissioner Baker.
which he made public last night. the
acting Mayor speaks out his mind clear
~, and without mincing words. or the
status Of gambling houses and the social
evil in New York TO-DAY and the reia-
ton of the Police Department 10 the
double question
Inspector Walsh. with forty detsc-
tives raided three alleged gambling
places last night Two Of the raids
proved successful and the third vas i
failure
Inspector Walsh headed one ~ ths
raiding parties while Lieutenant Bolton
had charge OF the other. One Of the
places visited was IN West 42d street.
Bolton surrounded the place with men
and then walked up 70 the front door
himself In front OF the place was \
man whom Bolton describes as the look
out. Bolton passed this man and en-
tered the house BIZ way Of the front
door. which was partly open. and when
he got to the second floor he found fur
Their progress barred by a. heavy. rein
forced door. He called several Of Ia
men. and with axes they forced their
usy IN.
The detectives found tTernseIve IT =.
room in which there were six men 4
citizen investigator" who got evidences
upon which the raid was conducted.
pointed out three men. VINO gave their
names as Charles Brooks. Leon 5. Cur
ley and John Ferrone. They we're ar
rested as common gamblers
In the room. the police say. were found
2 billiard table dice and cards The out
fit was confscated and taken 70 the
West 47th street station A great crowd
gathered in the street while the raid
was going on
Used Axes and Cro~bsrs-
In the mean time Inspector Walsh rad
visited the Hard Tack Social Club. in
Seventh avenue. near seth street. The
inspector detailed his men 70 surround
the house and then tried 70 gain ad-
rnfttance He could not. he says. and
axes and crowbars were brought into
pIsv Doors similar TO the one found in
the 42d street place had TO be broken
into. the police say. before they got into
a room where were ten men. Charles
L. Jones. the investigator who had
picked ont the first three prisoners. ar
rived in time to point out two men IN
this club. The men. who said they were
Harry Walls and Patrick Cody. were ar
rested. charged with being common
gam blers.
third raid was made on an alleged
gambling place in West 59th street by
detectives from the West 6Sth street
station. but no arrests were made
There were about a hundred and twenty
five men found in this place A rouletts
wheel. quantities Of poker chips and dice
were seized
Mr. BIitchers letter 70 Commissioner
Baker is based on the reports of six in
spectors from the office Of the Cou1n1is-
sfoner of Accounts. who in a few days OF
investigation secured evidence OF open
gambling in eleven different places
ct am convinced wrote Mr. Mitchell
to Mr.. Baker, that the conditions con-
cernfng which evidence has been brought
to me could not have existed or con-
tinued without the connivance OF the
police need not u1ince words with
YOU. situation OF this kind presents
unreasonable evidence Of irregularity
ard nacrant violation Of official respon-
sibiity''
Commissioner Baker was also A caller
at the MAYORS office yesterday. and IN
a long talk which they enjoysd-that is
hsd-it is understood that Mr.. Mitchell
disclosed to Mr.. Baker quite few short
cor.lings in the department over which
The latter presides.
Whitman Ready TO Go Deee-
District Attorney Whitman is 1oath to
be dragged into the situation in any
way, but he made II plain that II he IS
brought into it hs will go to the bot
tom Of IT.
In the letter he received from the act
ing Mavor 1t is understood thar the
executive suggested an investigation OF
he double evil from the prosecutors
office. to be conducted with men from
the Police Department. but under Mr.
Whitman's direction
Mr.. Whitman intimated that he would
rot so into the affair with a brass band.
but If ne was given a score or so OF
Young and capable police pIaincIothes
men ne would do whatever was possible
II understand that I am TO be fur
nished with a list of known and sus-
Dected places" said Mr.. Whitman. ami
also with any information the police
nav have about these places I viii
cooperate in every possible way with
The acting Mayor
Mr. Mitchell said last night that the in
luiry into the status of gambling and
he social evil which he instituted was
solely by the signed complaints
received at the Mayors office since he
has been in charge.
Conditions Aggravated by Police.
on August 10 MIR. Mitchell transmitted
10 the Police Commissioner from the
Mayors Office a letter I'm which were
given one hundred addresses. which.
alleged. were disorderly
places
The acting Mayor told the Police COM
missioner yesterday that he understood
hat in the regular custom in the Police
the Information IN his let
ter of August is was referred 10 ths
and then to the captains con
,erned
1T is manifest that both the inspector