The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-28
MIDNIGHT RAID
FINDS LYNBROOK
FOLK GAMBLING
State Troopers With Revol-
vers Terrorize Women in
Stylish Gowns.
GAMES IN FULL BLAST
$1,000 Chips Used in Ex-
elusive Roulette Den on
Merrick Road.
COSTS 5000 FOR EVIDENCE
Wealthy Nassau County Prop
erty Owners Behind Move
to Close Resort.
COSTS 5000 FOR EVIDENCE

. The millionaire country homes sit
ting eusterely in the midst of their
carefully Handicapped gardens along
the Nassau county boulevards fairly
rocked yesterday with the seismic dis
turbances caused by q report, we'll
founded indeed, that late Saturday
night one of the most fashionable
gambling resorts in all de luxe Mas
sau had been raided by detectives and
stats troopers with revolvery and that
two whole roulette rooms full Of So
ciety folk had been terrorized, while
the proprietor, cashier ana doorkeeper
Of the place had been served with
warrants. There was in some quar-
ters q disposition to make Aumor out
OF the affair, but in other circles,
notably among the members OF the
Nassau County Association. the stern
public duty Of the county officials was
strictly upheld.
The raided house, as the facts de-
veloped at hearing before Justice OF
the Peace Raisig at Cedarhurst, who
was reused out OF bed at 5 o'clock in
the morning, is on the Merrick road.
close to Blossom Heath Inn, and not
corners Of Lynbrook, whence main
highways from Manhattan and Brook
Iyn to both the north and south shore
radiate.
Work of County Association.
IT also appeared that the raid was
instigsted by the Nassau County Asso-
citation, of which Alfred p. Davidson,
counsel for the Third Avenue Railroad,
N president and Paul d. Cravath vice.
president. The roll OF members also
includes Mrs. willard d. Straight John
r. Pratt. Frank II. Doubleday, Mrs.
Joseph Z. Davis, George 8. Brewster
and Edward n. Floyd-Jones.
The admission was made by Neil II.
Vandewater Of Cedarhurst, a prominent
Long Island attorney, who said he had
been retained for the specific purpose
OF getting evidence on the gambling
place. For som. te complaints have
been made to tn county officials OF
the nature of the dinner parties and
entertainment going their delightful
way in the resort, and District Attorney
Charles r. Weeks had announced that
w
case he was going into the matter seri-
ously. Some attempts to get evidence
had been made. Mr.. vandewater said,
but failed.
There was every element OF drama
in the scene enacted along Merrick road
Just before l o'clock. The rain was
getting in its heaviest work. turning
Mr.. Vandewater gathered his forces for
the raid. He had enlisted for the work
two State troopers, Peter Burke and
Edwin Kruse: John s. Constable OF
Oyster Bay, John J. Mcintyre, Man
haitian lawyer. and Henry Bauman, q
special officer Of North Hampstead
Joseph Dohman, who was a mechanic for
motor racers in, the Vanderbilt cup COM
petition OF former years, piloted the
raidinS car.
Raiders in Golf Disguises.
Two members OF the party were
dressed as IL for golf or polo, under the
assumption that they had been out for
a Jolly little game somewhere near
Hampstead, and were dashed late in
getting horne. The car rolled them to
the entrance and they attempted the
door According TO their story a light
was flashed in their faces, and mo-
ment later the door swung in. Their
Inside they mingled with the crowd
about the tables. finding mostly diners
on the first floor. Then they went up
TO the second. where in a big long
room they said they found roulette
going, and so much smoke from the
gambling gentry there that ventilators
had been opened to the roof.
Outside the two State troopers were
having a different sort of a time. Their
AAA - m n
ready in case of emergency for anything
that might happen inside. Accordingly
they assaulted the latticed windows. The
lattice looked like wood, but the troop
ers' shoulders bunted against iron bars
instead OF wood, and they fiopped back
into water puddles..
The battering had the desired effect.
however. A porter came out to see what
the racket was about. and they colared
him. They forced him TO get them In
side. and then determined to take no
chances Thsy threatened a number OF
exquistely gowned women with revolt
vers. The place went wild. and there
was a dash for exits. but here IL was
found that the blind" windows operated
as e disadvantage. There was no way
out except from the front en-anoe. and
the troopers had the situation entirely in
hand.
Two Raiders Play in Game.
The two operatives VINO had been
gathering evidence at the gaming tables
up stairs then came down and served
the proprietor. who said his name was
NiIligan. with a warrant. and after him
served the cashier and the doorkeeper.
The papers were made out to John Su-
perIntendent," "John Cashier" and John
Doorman.' all resident somewhere in
the town of Hempstead," to guard
against possible contention Of error. The
polo zarbed operatives said 1t had cost
them 5000 to get the evidence, but they
were certain they had all that was nee
essary.
The habithes OF the place were then
released, and the next two hours was