The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-15
PETER DE LACY is 4
WAS NOTED AS GAMBLER
Grew Rich as POOlrOOm Keep
er. but Led RefOrmcrs
Against Racing.
CIVIL WAR VETERAN TOO

Peter De Lacy. foremost, for many
years among the poolroom gambling
fraternity of the city and. paradoxicaily,
n eading figure In later days In the
fights that practically wiped out horse
racing In New York and New Jersey,
died late Saturday night in 81. Luke's
Hospital OF pneumonia. which developed
after an operation for galistones.
Mr.. he Iacy's age-he was II year.
old-was against him when pneumonia
set In. Until last Tuesday. when he
became Ill at the home OF his daughter.
Mrs. Alice Ratcliffe. with whom he lived
at 10 West Seventy-first street, he had
seemingly been In good health. His
daughters, Mrs. Radcliffe and Miss Kate
DE Lacy. and two grandchildren sur.
vive INN. His wifo died more than
twenty years ago.
DE Lacy's life had been one of active
lighting that began in the days of his
callow youth In the old Seventh ward.
where he was born OF Irish parents.
When firemen had to hight rivals with
their fists rs well as flames with water
in the old volunteer fire department
days young Pete he Lacy was I'm the
thick OF the ructions which added to
the spectacular qualities OF a blaze In
the old days. even II the fights may not
have made for efficiency.
Fought for the Union.
And next. when Sumter was fired
upo young DE Lacy. like 40 many OF
the volunteer fire ladies OF his day,
donned the blue and marched away to
the blare OF bands to do his part for
the Union. lie fought throughout the
war and then he came back to his
native Manhattan. where for a short
time his comings and goings were OF
80 little moment that no record remains
of hat brief period OF his career.
But one day. almost half a century
ago. lower Manhattan, which until very
recent years the sporting men made the
field OF their efforts. heard that "A oun
man named Peter De Lacy had opened
rooms for faro and roulette playing at
IL Ann street. In the city's public
schools DE Lacy had gathered whatever
of elemental mathematics was necessary
for his business" purposes. and with
this, plus an innate aggressivencss and
shrewdness, he began the piling up or
a 5ankroll which a generation ago had
reached six figures and at the time OF
his death was. so Broadway sporting
men said yesterday, in the neighborhood
OF 81. 000. 900.
" al I 't'Ef AlV ~ ""s
he Lacy's often repeated defiance to the
police when the Law made threats
against his Ann street place. But
there came a time, after he had made
money In Ann street and had moved
in 1878 TO Barclay street to open a
pcolroom. that he met with temporary
defeat. The Barclay street poolroom
had become SO notorious that n dele
cation of reformers called upon the
late Mayor Grace with complaints so
serious that Mayor Grace had the
place closed forthwith.
Moved 20 Park Row..
John Hackett, widely known in The
sporting circles Of the EOS and SOS,
had been "A partner Of De Licy's at the
BARCLAY street house. In De Lacy's
next cn;ur which got under way AZ
% Park Row. a regular book on the
races was established.
lie laDy had powerful politicians 10
lend him their influence In his Park
Row days. Wars before h." had gone
into ward politics and had been an
associate Of Fatty Walsh. fathcr Of
Blanche Walsh. tho actress. who died
two weeks ago. But despite political
intluenc. til. police closed IN. Park
Row poolroom temporarily now and
then. during which times DC Lacy men
sold pools from their hats out on tho
sidewalk.
When the poolrooin men or tho city
go, together at las, and formed a pro-
| tective Organization to tight threat
! ened legislation against them De Lacy
va. made treasurer of tho associa-
TONS fund. which was piled up by
daily contributions ~ SO from each
poolroom man IN town. Then when II
was necessary to send some one to Al
b.,, IN try 10 kill the Sa xtou bill II