New-York tribune., 1922-12-22
Gaming Trust
OF Democrats
Accused In Raid
Police Descent Upon Fifth
District Republicans In
spired by Tammany Men,
Says Herman W. Boyer
Other Clubs POunccd On
Gamblers See Own Business
Hurt by Friendly Poker
Parties, II Is Declared

Charges that a ~DemoeTatie gam
biine trust" composed largely Of Tam
many politicians, was behind Wednes-
day nights raid on ths headquarters Of
me 5tk Assembly District Republican
organization we're made yesterday by
Herman ". Boyer, Republican lesder
q the district.
The raid revealed that this Is the
faird headquarters Of Republican dis
;riets 70 be pouneed upon By the Poliee
In the last few weeks. The other
aids were on the Sd Assembly District
Clubs house, Middle District, Of which
Renjamin r. Fox Is leader, and on the
I'd Assembly District Republican Clab'
North District, Of which Michael II.
Blake Is the organization leader.
The last named is At 2e6 West Thirty
fourth Street, and when the police
backed up a patrol wagon there about
two months ago and charged that gam
bling was going on ard drove out the
club msmbsrs Mr.. BIake closed the
upper aoor, where the card playing
had been going on, and kept the lower
aoor for routine party matters.
In telling yesterday about the raid
on his club. Mr.. Blake said;
~of course the members played
poker there, as they DO in any club,
but while some men running clubs
have been making 100000 a year and
more, no one can say that Mike Blake
ever made a cent out Of his club
Two Raids IN Sd District
The raids on the clubhouse Of the
middle sector Of the Sd Assembly Dis
frict. Of which Mr.. Fox is leader, were
Il the Oldest in the city--is- ~ 26S
Eighth Avenue and has been'the organ
ization headquarters for more than
forty years.
"The police arrested twelve of our
club MEMBERS" said Mr. Fox yesterday. /
They asked the prisoners 70 plead
guilty 20 disorderly' conduct. The
members had done 10 wrong and re-
used 20 compromise with the police,
o they we're discharged. There 10 no
Gambling going on in the club, but It
would not be hard for the police 80 find
places where all sorts Of gambling
real gambling goes on and where dice
lffowinz for 81 900 q throw goes on
nightly. Only a few nights ago q
couple Of Central 0fhee men called at
the clubhouse and one Of them said to
one Of the members: -
"T see that you gorillAs are still
"But something happened quickly
and the Central Once men made their
exit"
Mr. Boyer was indignant over the
aid on his clubhouse. which was for
msrly the gambling den Of Honest
John" Kelly, al i56 West Ferty-fourth
street.
Il moved into these new quarters
about eight months ago." said Mr..
Beyer. 81 saw Police Commissioner
Enright before doing 20, and told him
hat card-playing would 20 on there as
10 had In other elubhouses. He said
he had no objection 10 that. Last
rlght the police raided the place, took
siT tables aad fifty-six chairs and
charged about twenty-five members
With being common gamblers and three
= the club employees with maintain
lng a gambling house and having lh1oh,-
cants In their possession. All the club
members we're discharged. The three
employees we're held on the gambling
charge for further examination. The
alleged Mullan-Gage violations were
dismissed. since four bottles we're I'M
opened and the court held that any
one could have put them where they
we're they we're found.
$4,000 Loss Not There
aThe raid on my clubhouse was on
,harges made by Charles r, Meyer, Of
White Plains. who said he lost $4,000
TO Richard Menden-whO Is alleged 20
have run club in the place before
we took u over for our district club
house.
Il have no doubt that the raid on
ny clubhouse was inspired BY the
Democratic gambling trust whose
members run gambling houses oil over
town One Of the biggest is in q
suite In the -- Hotel Mr.. Boyer
named hotel overlooking Central
Park and the other is run at the
Hotel - (and Mr. Boyer named
hotel on Broadway IN the great white
ght district
'hr. Meyer does not charge he lost