The sun., 1919-05-20
'LOITERERS' BARRED
. AT HEADQUARTERS
Newest Enright Attempt to
Prevent Leaks Seems Aimed
at Reporters.
ALSO HITS B0OKMAKERS
Poolroom Bets on Races Ac-
cepted by Official Police
Shoe Sinner.

Richard Enrisht. Police Commission
or. removed his young men another jot
from temptation yesterday by forbidding
them and civilians from '1oitering OF
iounging' in the corridors Of Headouar-
ters. Thus exchange OF gossip is theo-
retically prevented and the regrettable
divulgence of news Of the department
in the form of leaks becomes subject
20 the law OF diminishing returns.
Moreover, the police are protected from
the beguilemen. by runners for pool
rooms where horses are bet upon.
Ono has to go back TO the terms OF
one OF Mayor Gaynor's Police Commits
eioners to find a precedent for such an
order This Commissioner command
was aimed specifically at the newspaper
mer who covered" Headquarters. He
was irritated by what they published.
and as they kept on printing the news
he directed everybody in the building
not to talk with them and then gave
further instructions which kept them
moving either in or out whenever they
entered.
Commissioner Fnright and the report
ers were a happy family for full
year but his interviews with them we're
suspended following the demotion of In
epector Costisan. Ordinary news sources
were closed with a snap and the re-
porters had to find extraordinary ones,
which they did. The result has been
a series Of leaks mystifving to the
headquarters officials and disturbing to
the chief Of their chief at City Hall.
An iron gate was installed at the head
Of the corridor leading to the detective
bureau. 1t was thought that this might
afford some protection, but no sooner
was the gate in place than headquarters
made the discovery that so many per-
sons have to use the corridor on busi-
ness that II couldn't be kept locked. As
the department has no patrolman to
spare to stand at the gate and unlock 1t
for those with the right to pass. II was
thrown open, and there It stands to-day
n fine gate in fine frame and Just as
open as the corridor used TO be.
The most recent leak was the order
placing six patrolmen at either end OF
the Williamsburg Bridge morning and
evening, the publication of which drew
from the Mayor denial that the extra
police were there to clear the road for
his automobile. Because Of this and
other incidents the headquarters report
ers have q strong suspicion that the no
lettering. no lounging order Is directed
at them. The Commissioner says this
Is not so.
II seems impossible to put a question
to the busy Commissioner personally
these days. but after Sergeant Buckley
Of the outer office had seen Mr.. En-
right the Sergeant was permitted to say
"a 1rtota hal
order applied to everybody who goes
into the building whether policeman OF
Civilian. and was not directed agains
the newspaper men or caused by any
thing they had said or done. Just what
had inspired II was not divulged-
When not otherwise occupied or In
their offices across Centre Market place
the reporters have been in the habit OF
standing in the main corridor at the
head OF the stairs. Thus they have
been able to note who entered the build
ing at any of the doors, to pass the time
OF day or night with corridor patrolmen
and detectives moving In or out ard in
general TO observe the surface currents
OF the Police Department. That Is part
OF their Job
Yesterday morning when they ap-
peared Patrolman John Dreamer begged
not to be misunderstood but his instruc-
lions were not to let any one stand
around the corridor henceforth and for
ever. The why's and wherefores were
not In John Creamer's possession. Pos
sibly Chief Inspector John Daily had
esoteric knowledge. but he contented
himself with referring inquirers to Com.
missioner Enright's office, with the re-
suit aforementioned, and the additional
assurance that no one at headquarters
on business would be interefered with.
AS the learned courts of law have had
some difficulty in agreeing on a defni.
lion OF '1oitering" and "lounging," some
Jack of precise Interpretation may DOS.
sibly be expected from the uniformed
men upon whom execution Of the new
order devolves.
Yesterday a suggestion that a tes
case be started by reporter who SHOULD
tempt fate by walking rapidly I'D ant
down the corridor until stopped or sat
isned. met with some FAVOR. As thi,
reporter once got a summons charglns
him with furious lettering IN a fiiv
yer he Is regarded by his comrades a,
something OF an expert.
theory that the Commissioner,
order was chiefly intended TO keen hL
men out OF the clutches OF the poolroom,
was secuted by each member OF III,
force. 1t is fact however. that or
oo'Ni udy poot OhACh KNOWN as skies
because one of his hands has six fingers
lost the job Of shining headaua~teri
shoes, which he has had for six months
and that Skies admitted that for s
week--no more than a week, he swor,
he had acted as a commission man fol
poolroom in East Houston street II
taking bets on horse races.
He and his assistant were replaced
yesterday by two Italians from Brook
lyn with splendid political credentials
Perish the thought. say the police, tha'
any OF their number ever gambled or
tho races. and they are probably righ
at that, for Skies was away from head
quarters great deal and neglect %
his bootblacking duties was one OF tn,
charges laid against him. II is figured
that this privilege at headquarters II
worth about $500 a month-about 200
men each paving 81 a month TO hav,
their toes polished as often as they fee
like II.
Presumably the police raided III,
Houston street poolroom as soon as they
heard of it, but thus far the news hal
not leaked.