The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-09-26

THE gambling expose which fol-
lowed the murder Of Herman
Rosenthal and which has kept
the police department Of New
YorL dty In the public hmelight since
ths tragedy has been productive Of
good resuls- Developments In the
searching investigation into condi-
tons revealed through the confessions
OF members Of New York's gambling
gangs, besides arousing the govern
ments Of other municipalities to .
sense Of the advisability Of looking
more closely to the prospective endur-
ance Of their own Official regulations,
have spread before the susceptible
youth Of the country 4 sermon which
oil have read and which many have
needed, for the Rosenthal case af-
fords q grim picture of the fruits Of
yielding to the gambling temptations
Of big city.
While IN recent ysars public antag-
onism to gambling - practced and
countenancsd openly. ~ was the case
at Canheld's famous Saratoga place,
has had q salutary effect upon this
evil and stories of gigantic killings"
have been denied BY that element be-
longing to the class ever ready to take
q gambling chance" at anything.
gambling continued Just the same.
Everybody knew that there was gam
bling on q smaller scale everywhere
under cover. OF course there was
gambling in New York. No matter
how well the police might perform
their duty, it was still going on, as
everybody admitted. But when Rosen-
thai was shot down in cold blood
that night in front Of 4 West Forty
third street hotel by 4 band Of chosen
assassins In an automobile and when
1t was alleged that they had been al
lowed to escape at their leisure be-
cause certain influences in the police
department did not desire their arrest
even blass New York was shocked
1t was declared that Rosenthal had
forfeited bis life because he was about
to give to District Attorney Charles 8.
whitman Information showing that
the police tolerated gambling dens for
share In the proceeds.
The widow Of Rosenthal, who him
self was a gambler. pointed an accus-
ing finger at the police and declared
that even though "they had killed her
husband" they had failed to prevent
the transmission Of the damaging evil
dence to oflcial channels. Rosenthal
had made the statement that Charles
Becker, police lieutenant and head of
the strong arm" squad, was his gam
bling partner and bounded him when
he refused to be shaken down" for
large sums Of money. Then came the
arrest Of Becker on the charge OF homi.
eide in connection with the killing of
Rosenthal.
Mayor William ]. Gaynor declined to
take any precipitate step and instruct,
ed Police Commissioner Rhinelander
Waldo not to dismiss Becker unless he
was proved guilty. While Becker Ian
guished in a cell the district attor.
ney's force was at work looking up the
financial condition OF the accused So,
25O a year police lieutenant. and he
was found to have deposited consider.
able amounts in various banks. In
spite Of these discoveries and the con.
fessions Of the smaller fry in the gam.
bling net, Becker maintained his limo
cence. But Mt that time, regardless Of
Becker's guilt or innocence in the death
of Rosenthal. the slain ''squealer," the
fact had been made apparent that gam
bling tlourished in New York to an ex-