New-York tribune., 1918-02-20
Partridge Club
Under Fire in
Swami Crusade
Prominent Men and Lead
ing Hotels Now Objects
of Gambling Search

District Attorney Swann's search for
gamblers who break the law suddenly
shifted yesterday from small incorpo-
rated clubs to the games that arc
played in some of the leading hotels
in town. In particular, the prosecutor
reached out for evidence against the
"Partridge Club" (which is made up
of brokers. lawyers and other profess
sional men, and meets in sort OF
rotation in some of the most exclusive
hotels.
For the purpose of submitting in
formation as to the kind of game that
the "Partridges" play, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Smith has subponad
Theodore Titze, assistant manager Of
the. Ritz Carlton Hotel, and James
Stack, manager Of the Hotel Imperial,
to testify to-day before Judge Wad
hams in General Sessions. Both man
ayers made statements yesterday to
Mr.. Smith.
When the news of their being called
through the Forty second Street dis
trict yesterday George Y. Bauchle,
president of the Partridge Club, ap-
peared voluntarily and asked to be
made witness. Mr.. Smith said last
night that he might not call Mr.
Bauchle to the stand on account of the
question of immunity that might be
involved if he were made defendant
in the gambling investigation as re-
suit of his testimony.
Mr.. Smith says he has been informed d
that the Partridge Club plays for
higher stakes than any card playing
organization of its kind in the country
He has been told that it has been no
uncommon thing for its members to
lose 100000 in one play. 1t is reported
that its patrons include some we'll
known physicians, and even judges of
the county and state courts have been
known to "drop in' for a game or two
occasionally. The District Attorney
says he has complete list Of men,
bers.
Mr. Bauchle is a lawyer at 81 Cham
bers Street After calling on Mr..
Smith he had this to say to newspaper
men:
~ am president of the Partridge
Club. We play cards once week at
different hotels in the city. In 1908
we organized the club, among its men,
bers being Judges, lawyers, former mem
bers of the Police Department and other
men of good standing in the commu-
nifty We then played poker at the
homes of various members. Several
women who sat in at these games
tried to outdo the bachelors, so we
decided to incorporate ard meet there
after at some hotel.
I'VE have asked several judges if
we have violated any law and they
have informed us that, under a de-
cision of Justice Bartlett, of the Court
of Appeals, we have not. Last June
Captain Duggan, of the East Fifty
first Street station, told us. however,
that we were playing in violation of
the gambling law. We wrote to the
District Attorneys office to inquire
whether he thought we were violating
the law. but received no response to
our letter. The matter then was taken
up with Police Commissioner Woods
who referred it to Deputy Commits
sioner Durham. He told us that we
were not violating the law.
I'VE are not gamblers and would not
like to have any one call US that. As
l said. we played poker and baccarat
and we have kitty But the money
which goes into it is used to supply
us with meals and refreshments
have nothing to hold back and am very
willing to give any information | have
to the District Attorney"
District Attorney Swami was told
yesterday of rumor to the effect that
ne mas SAID that a certain Deputy Po-
llce Commissioner "must go" because
he IS obstructing the crusade against
gamblers. Mr.. Swami said he had
never authorized such a statement.
Are you after any Deputy Police
Commissioner? he was asked.
~ am after gamblers" he said. "and
hope that no one stands in my way"