The Washington times., 1922-09-10

DECLARES Mc RcV.
Michael Gallagher.
<<rN the dozen years / have
been around here. I doubt
- II q single man crossed
that platform who was not sin.
cerely contrite and honestly sorry
for the sin he committed against
society. In q lesser degree the
same principle obtains to most Of
the others who have been in con.
finement here"
In the deepening shadows from
the piercing shafts of light that
make d jail grewsome in the late
afternoon. the Rev. Michael Gal
lagher, chaplain Of the District
penal institutions pointed to the
gallows that has seen the death
agonies of scores Of murderers In
the days he has ministered to the
spiritual wants. Of thousands who
have gone afoul Of the law. -:
'The ordinary criminal Is. of
course, a coward in trying the
short cut rather than entering
legitimateiy upon the pursuits of
hfe," continued Father Gallagher.
Around his hangout he' tries to
impress his alleged bravery and
fearlessness upon all who cross his
trail. But once he Is within the
grip Of the law he is usually cow
ering. shirking individual. In court
he cries for mercy and will 60 to
any limit to work on the sympa.
thies Of those who may jail or free
him.
LOSE THEIR BRAvADO.
Put him back Of these or other
walls and in the calmer moments
of a realization his better nature
will reassert itself and he grows
really remorseful. This may not
be lasting. mark you, but the idea
that certain desperadoes glory to
the end IN their deeds has not been
supported by my experience.
There are places OF recreation
in which billiards and pool predomi.
nate and against these there can
b no true objection. But. speak
ing broadly, the poolroom. as the
term is generally accepted. Is the
breeding place of the most vicious
element Of American society" con.
tinued Father Gallagher as he
aired his views in his modest quar-.
ters at Sixth and H streets north
west. '.-
go out any afternoon during
the hours when the seif-respecting.
ambitious young man IL In his
shop or office and you win find
literally hundreds Of youths loaf
ing with no visible means Of live
lihood.
''In their own jargon. these
- land pirates are known as 'hust-
lers' and are ready for any sort
or fashion Of crime II the proper
inducement Is offered" continued
Father Michael as they call him
within the forbidding maroon build
ing stretching back from Nine
teenth and c streets southeast.
"They specialize in bootlegging.
betting on horse races and gam
bling on the pool sharks who lurk
around the place to prey on the
unwilling casual who might drop
In for what he considers q friend.
ly game Of chance. Loaded dice
make up a part Of their kit. As
they grow more brazen they take
to narcotic peddling and each has
his GIRL
SCORES DANCE HALLS.
For the most part the girls. are
poorly-paid workers who are dis.
tinctly proud Of their 'feller.' while
he turks around the poolroom by
day, seeking his victim, she ID by
night the 'steadiest Of the patron.
nesses of the dance halls. brazen.
ly maintained in the very heart of
the city. The time was when the
low saloon was the plotting place
of these pests, who were constant
ly on the lookout for recruits to
their ranks, but with the passing
of the sroggery these parasites
find their haven in the poolroom
by day and the dance hall by
night.
Two years ago lawlessness was
utterly rampant in New York. It
was literally true one was not safe
even on the most crowded avenues
and when the police were suffi-
ciently aroused they struck at the
positive source of crime. Commits.
sioner Enright heightened the
hours Of every patrolman, can.
raled yaratiopa ana ora,,a>d his