New Britain herald., 1918-01-31
SWAMI MOVES TO
STOP CARD CRAZE
Will Prosecute Owners Of Property
Used by Gamblers

the owners of buildings in which gam
bling rooms are conducted was an
nounced by District Attorney Swami
yesterday as a part of his program
for wiping out gambling in Manhat-
tan. Mr.. Swami made this announce
ment following a conference with Po-
lice Commissioner Enright at the
latter's office.
AS result of the conference it was
also decided to direct police captains
to furnish Mr.. Swami with reports on
vice and gambling in their precincts
and give him lists Of all suspected il
legal resorts of all kinds
Mr. Swami will also be provided
with the names Of all proprietors and
employees of gam bling houses, to-
gether with those of persons interest
ed in places of questionable repute.
Except for slight notifications, the
district attorney intends to pursue a
policy against gam blers such as was
used during the regime Of Rhine
lander Waldo as police commissioner.
Process servers and detectives will
place under surveillance persons fire.
Quenting gaming resorts and trail
them to their homes if necessary to
obtain their names
Grand jury Inquiry Next Week.
These persons will eventually be
called upon to testify before the Grand
Jury which will begin an inquiry next
week. 1t will not be essential to learn
the names of players and their adj
dresses, however, as Mr.. Swami de-
clares his men will serve John Doe
subpoenas when the identity of these
persons is not available
The district attorney said there is
no likelihood of spectacular raids be-
ing made by the authorities, and the
sensational method Of using axes to
batter down doors will be dispensed
with. Instead, the police and Mr..
Swami, working together, will proceed
strictly along well defined legal lines.
Speaking of his conference with the
police commissioner, Mr.. Swami said:
II went to see Mr.. Enright on gam
bling and nothing else. There was
also present Chief Inspector DAILY,
and both officials are in complete ac-
cord with me on the subject Of giving
short shrift to gamblers and purvey-
ors Of vice. The commissioner agreed
to furnish me a list Of all gambling
houses in Manhattan, with the names
and addresses of all proprietors end
employees.
Will Prosecute Property Owners.
Every captain of a precinct will
take care Of getting a list Of his pre-
cinct. He will furnish us with list
of every poolroom, with it's proprietor
and employees, also with every disor-
derby house and its inmates.
1--WE are also going after the own
ers of these houses under sections 9l3
and 1880 of the Penal Laws. Viola
tons of both sections means upon con-
viction, the owners are liable to three
years in the penitentiary and a fine OF
81 900 or both.
I'VE have discovered that immoral
resorts have what is known as 'shrift'
houses. where they transfer their &C
tivities when they suspect the police
are becoming too curious.
THE police commissioner has as
signed Honest Dan Costigan and
eight Of his men to my office, and wa
can have as many more as we want.
Mr.. T;nright is to give US weekly &c
port Of the changes in tn ssa houses
and will continue this policy, the IN
dividual captains being held reSpon-
sih1e for this.
|'There will be no spectacular raids.
with the changing patrol wagons and
smashing of doors with axes. We are
now getting at the mechanics of the
situation and as soon as we start we
will begin getting results"
Mr.. Swami told of comforting with
Arthur Woods, formerly Police Com
missioner, saying Mr.. Woods had
agreed to help him.
His information and experience arc
invaluable and we intend getting to-
gether soon so he may offer his sug-
gestions,'' said Mr.. Swami.
Discussing the espionage Of players
who frequent gambling houses, Mr..
Swami said it was disagreeable bust
ness but he was not going to ap~
proach the task with kid gloves. Per
sons who are subpoenaed and fail To
appear will be liable to ninety days
imprisonment for contempt of court.
Another important feature in the
gambling campaign is that all arrests
will be directed from the Distric~ At