New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
game. Smiths brother-in~law, Dsnnis
Quinn, came in and played In the poker


introduced me to his brother-in- law
Dennis Quinn, stating that Mr.. Quinn
would get quite few members TO join
the club and thought l could depend on
him for any service. Also, If the Op-
portunity presented itself, to allow him
to be reimbursed for any services he
might render.
II told Mr.. Smith he (Quinn) could
make quite some money by running a
small limit on the first floor, from
which he would have the entire re-
ceipts and only pay me for such drinks
and sandwiches as they used.
A "One-Two'' Game
eve were running a one-two game.
Quinn was running a 50-cent limit,
which Henry Goldsmith played in most
of the time. paid Smith on the pro-
ceeds of gambling, at the most $500.
himself. He paid some of the rent,
He paid the rent all the time. The
couple of hundred dollars l gave him
additional I limited to him was addi-
tional. said to him: Here's 500
rent
"Smith called ME up one day on the
telephone in my office and said to me:
You will have to cut that out up there.
| had not seen Jim Smith for possibly
two months previous, but knew that he
was keeping away from the club on
account of his activity in prosecuting
police officers and did not want them
to get anything on him, knowing that
our place was poker room.
$50 / asked what he meant by telling
me that I should shut down because
thought | was entitled to more of an
explanation and / said: Il come over
to see YOU and he said Yes l called
at the District Attorneys office and he
told me that it had to be and that he
knew what was best for US and to
close up.
81 cut out poker for about week
and then called on him, at which time
he advised me not to come so often,
but to see him uptown. protested that
! could not hold my trade together.
People We're gradually leaving me and
playing in other houses, and he then
said | would have to keep closed short
while longer, but could not state def
nitely how long.
Quinn as Messenger
~ told him it was costing me $40 a
day to keep closed He said, "Well, if
you run short, call on me- So few
days after | spoke to his brother-in-la
whom | sent every day, and who was
messenger between jim Smith and my
self, and told him that would not 20
on this way and something would have
to be done.
When first reopcned policemen were
sent INTO the place. | finally made up
my mind to resume in spite of Mr..
Smiths warming, and was much sur
prised to find that the first night re-
sumed two policemen came up and
stood over the table from the time we
started, which was about o'clock, to 9
O'Clock in the morning.
II do not know the names of the two
policemen. They were on Inspector
Days staff. We did not play poker
while they were there. They did not
get any shares. They scared the people
from playing. Some of the members
wanted to protest against the police
men being there.
They had been coming in for about
a week before we opened and stayed
until after we closed. when We finally
talked to some Of the members and
suggested that we call a meeting and
appoint committee to make a protest
to Inspector DAILY to take these officers
out. That was intended as a bluff, of
course, We were to try to make him
believe it was legitimate club.
FINALLY, the night of the meeting
came. There were about twenty men
there. While we were getting ready
and arranging to have this meeting
said, The meeting is off. The cops
will be called off,
Fire in Clubhouse
"There was a fire subsequently, in
that clubhouse. I put in furniture at
my own expense, and insurance in the
name of the club. In order to get the
insurance l kept stringing along tho
brother-in-law Of Mr.. Smith. I signed
the proof of loss. Mr.. Quinn advised
me that the books were destroyed as
soon as trouble came with Patrolmen
Enright and Foley"
What was the matter between Smith
and Jack Sullivan?" Goldwater was
asked
During the Becker trial there was
some talk that Sullivan was going to
squeal on Smith," replied Goldwater
Sulllvan now has club in Grand
Street. He (Sullivan) said Don't you
ever worry about Jim Smith tackling
you and |. He isn't going after any
body. He knows know people who
torneys office in the John Doe proceed
ings;'"
DO you know any others who saw
Smith in the club?" Goldwater was
asked.
Sam Shustcr, the cashier of the
club" he replied.
where is he?" was the next ques-
tion put to Goldwater.
he is now in the smoke shop, 135th
Street, near Broadway" was the
answer.
Commissioner Hirshfeld said that at
the 1918 hearing before him corre-
spondence and an original lease were
introduced into evidence.
The lease referred to, Commissioner
Hlrshfield said, is in his possession. It
is between Walter J. w. Donovan, as
landlord, and the Civitas Club, for the
private dwelling at 256 West 1O5th
Street, for three years, beginning April
l, 1918, and ending March 81, 1919
The lease provides that the premises
are to be used as clubhouse by the
Civitas Club and that the rent is
$1,000 a year, payable in monthly in
stallments Of $10O. The lease was
acknowledged March 90, 1916, and
signed "Civitas Club, by James Smith !"
Smith Makes Reply
Mr. Smith last night made the fol-
lowing, reply to the alleged disclosures
made before Commissioner Hirshfeld:
THE story told by Goldwater is alb
solutely false. Goldwater never gave
me cent pr to anybody else in that
'Clvitas Club. When was in the
club | paid the expenses of running it.
This was in 1915. left the club in
July, 1915. ! never had anything to
do with tho c1,h fro,,, 4t,o+