New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-03
Local Officials Are Super
seeded by Acting Gov.
Walker III Directing In
vestigation of Conditions
City Authorities Accused
Declared Negligent in En-
forcing Laws; Actions De-
scribed as Scandalous
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

ALBANY, July 2.-Acting Governor
Harry c. Walker ordered state in.
quiry to-day into the gambling and
vice situation in Saratoga Springs, SUI
perscding local officials for the pur-
pose. The action was taken at the re-
guest of the Chamber of Commerce OF
Saratoga Springs, and after affidavits
had been filed here in which it was as
serted that not only were social condi-
tons scandalous, but that county and
city officials had been negligent in en-
forcing the law.
Complaint concerning conditions in
Saratoga Springs had been made to
Governor Smith before his departure
for San Francisco, and he announced
at the time that unless an Improvement
was shown he would direct state troop
ers to take charge, regardless of the
local police.
The order of Acting Governor Walker
Ignores not only the police of Sara
toga Springs, but the local magistrates
and the District Attorney of the
county. Attorney General Charles D.
Newton is to direct the investigation.
foltlCS Blamed for Action
His representative will be backed by
an extraordinary trial term of the
Supreme Court called for July 10 and
by an extraordinary grand jury, which
IS to be empanelled at that time. JUS
tlce Charles c. Nankirk, of Greenwich.
will preside at the extraordinary term
and District Attorney Wyman S.
Bascom of Washington County will be
ha
On learning of the action of the Act
ing Governor. District Attorney Andrus
Of Saratoga County declared that poll
tics was at the bottom of the matter
and that he strongly suspected the
hand of Fdgar T. Bracket, Republican
boss Of the county. He said that there
was less gambling going on now than
ever before in the history of the re-
sort. If rieid enforcement of the law
was desired, Mr.. Andrus said, he could
and would promise such severity that
rot a penny would change hands at the
The aridavits filed here set forth
that for a lone time nast omen and
notorious gambling houses have been
in operation in and about the city. with
no interference or attempt to Interfere
upon the part of public otficixls of the
city of SARATOGA SPRINGS or of the
County Of Saratoga"
Officials Said to Protect Places
It is ALLEGED that between ten and
fifteen gambling houses were in full
blast under notorious ownership and
management during the racing
season of 1919, and that there were
other vicious resorts whose existence
was ignored by the authorities. It was
common report in the city, it is said,
that these places We're under the pro-
lection OF public officials
In August. 1919, it is related IN the
aflidGVts there was raid on an al
legged gambling house on Broadway,
Saratoga Springs, but the prisoners
taken were discharged by magistrate
IN spite Of the large quantity of gam
bling paraphernalia that was seized.
Three months later it is said, the men
whom the magistrate discharged were
Indicted by the Saratoga County Grand
jury, but no effort was made to ARE ~
them until last April, when they was.
locked up in New York City,
During the period of their immunity
It Is said, these men had been seen in
Saratoga Springs, and it is intimated
that they had been in communication
with some of the officials charged with
the duty of alresting and prosecuting
them