Thursday Sept 11 ,2008 Troy Record Article 100years ago Friday Sept 11, 1908 “Today is the opening day of hearings for a commission appointed by Gov Charles Evans Hughes on the petition of the Civic League of Albany who wants Sheriff Joseph Besch removal from office for neglecting his duty to prevent gambling. The governor has appointed George D. Beatty of Brooklyn as commissioner to hear the evidence.First testimony is Arthur Roy, an employee of the Dudley Laboratory who worked with the Civic League to collect evidence of gambling. Roy recounts how he and Charles Schwab of Albany stopped at 167 Lark St at a cigar shop and were able to place 5 cent bets on a 'gig', a sort of numbers game.They then went to a central Ave cafe and placed 10 cent bets on a similar game.The Arcade cigar store across from Union Station had a sign in its window"Watch our 3 numbers" and Roy was able to place a bet in the back room.Roy and Schwab went to 4 more places on Hudson,Herkimer, Beaver and Dallius Streets and placed bets. Attorney J. Fiero,defense attorney for Sheriff Besch, asks if there were any outward signs about the gambling on the establishments and Roy answers no.Fiero says the League should have reported the gambling to the police so they could have acted on it. **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)