New-York tribune., 1918-02-08
Gamblers Paid
$100 a Day Into
"Club's" Golfers
'Beansy" Rosenfeld's Place
Shows Annual Surplus,
President Asserts

Examination of several "members"
of "Beansy" Roscnfeld's "Central Mer-
chants Club" 1OS East Seventeenth
Street, by Judge Wadhams, in the John
Doe inquiry into the gambling situa-
ton in New York, yesterday. brought
admissions that the club has about two
hundred members and that the annual
receipts in "rakeoffs" from draw poker
amount approximately to S36,500, or
500 day. Each member pays S12 a
year as dues, which entities him TO
three meals day. All the members
who took the stand testified that about
luxuriously appointed place was to
"cat, drink and play poker"
They said the limit of the place was
from 81 to 50. The "rakcoff" on the
first draw was 1919 cents, represented
by white chip. If more than Two
players remained and the kitty" ran
up to 81 or SO another white chip was
taken off, making 25 cents. A stack of
chips cost $40.
While Emanuel Jackson of 1868
Forty seventh Street, Borough Park
Brooklyn, president of the club, was
trying to refresh his memory as to
the names of members who might be
able to tell who eventually received
the "ralSeotfs," Judge Wadhams said:
~ have a letter here which l received
to-day. l will read it, and then ask
you if you have any idea who wrote it,
This was the letter:
ITO the Honorable Judge Wadhams,
| Dear Sir: / hereby give you list of only
a few poker houses that | have frcquented
for years and which the of my
wife and daughter leaving me- 1t has
taken such hold upon that | would
leave my business at = y. M and stay in
until and a m. forgetting all about
home and business. The rakeoH is from
hours play the house would have all my
! money. therefore would be very happy
man if such places would not exist any
more. and they should not by all mcans.".
"A CITIZEN. DOWN AND OUT"
an the list given here appears the
name of the Central Merchants Club
10S East Seventeenth Street." said
Judge Wadhams. "Have you any idea
who wrote that letter? he asked.
Jackson replied with negative
shake of his head.
"Look at the handwriting and see
whether you recognize it, said Judge
Is and again shook his head. "No"
President Jackson said he was a curb
broker, with an office at 80 Broac
Street. He believed he was elected i,
1916, and was pretty sure that he was
reelected in 1917. He thought there
was another annual meeting coming or
in about month, but wasn't sure oil
the date He said he never saw a copy
of the constitution and bylaws. III
was able to state with accuracy that hi
once appointed as board of governors
Jesse Mann. Charles f. Schlengcr ant
Louis Hyman. Louis Hyman, he said
was the treasurer.
There IS q surplus every year." HI
explained. "of about $500. This is dis
posed of by an annual New Years eve
dinner to members and by purchasing
souvenirs" ne told Assistant Distric
Attorney Smith. in charge of the in
quiry. zone year we bought travel
ling bags, another year it was gol.
knives and chains and last year it wa.
silver match boxes"
Jackson said Leo Roscnthal, now il
the regular army. was treasurer befor'
Louis Hyman. The ice-president, HI
said. was Harry D. Young and Sidne,
Feldman was secretary
Rosenfeld wasn't among those aske,
to take the stand. He wen. to th
Criminal Courts Building, however, an,
remained outside the courtroom Whe,
asked about this Mr.. Smith said h
did not intend to give immunity t.
any one VINO might later be name
as a defendant in the inquiry.
The proceedings will continue to da
before Judge Wadhams at 2 p. m