Raided a Gambling Den

RAIDED A GAMBLING DEN. Police Swooped Down Upon a Baxter Street House and Caught Six Men With the Goods. SAID TO HAVE BROKEN IN THE PLACE. An alleged gambling den at 729 Baxter street was raided early yesterday morning by a squad of police of the Second district and a complete crap and poker paraphernalia were captured, along with six colored men. The raid was in charge of Captain Stanley, assisted by Sergeant Nowrey and Policemen Cunningham, Donovan, Matlack and Mines. The colored men were surprised by the officers and when taken to the City Hall gave their names as William Rollins, aged thirty-two years; Ernest Baker, aged twenty-nine years; Benjamin Counsellor, aged twenty-two; Frank Smothers, aged thirty-nine; Hiawatha Monroe, aged thirty-two years. The raid was made at 1 o'clock and Policeman Matlack was the first to reach the room on the second floor, where the men were playing. The appearance of the bluecoats put the game to a sudden stop. The "bones" were thrown in the corner and Matlack grabbed the "kitty," which contained nine cents, and also a dime which was lying on the table. Later the "bones," several packs of cards and a box of antiquated poker chips were found. These, along with a table about five feet long and two feet wide, were taken to the City Hall. The men all pleaded not guilty and said the place was rented by a man named Harry Hill. A statement was made by Real Estate Agent George W. Jessup, who has charge of the property, that the property was not rented to anyone and that the men had broken into the building, or, rather, it is a shanty, before and destroyed about one-third of the weather boards. The prisoners, with the exception of Rollins, said they had been in the house, which was a so-called "club," on previous occasions. On the testimony of Captain Stanley, Sergeant Nowrey and the officers the six men were found guilty and fined $5 each.