, 1873-10-03
BY WHOLESALE,
Superintendent Washburn Heads Raid
on the Variety Shows.
One Hundred md Sixty-flvc Pris-
oncrs Captured.
Two Dens OIL West Randolph Street
Broken Up for While.

The corner OF Canal aud Randolph streets has
loug been infostol by many Of tho lowest class
Of Thieves and vagrants In tho city. These haye
boon drawn to this locality by tho existence In
tho vicinity Of two variety shows, both Of whicl,
llayo afforded rich folds for tho operations Of
piokpocaots, foot-pads, and mon Of TINT typo.
Tho propriotorB Of those placos, by liam
ing md disgusting show-billy, aud Bon1o
bad music, haye been enabled to
fill thoir rooms. night after night with crowds
Of mechanics and laborors, md mon in Hoaro]l
Of questionable amusement. by tho sa1e, aud
III many instances tho FREQ gift, Of
Intoxicating drinks, tho patrons of
these establishments havo been reduced to
D atate Of holploBH inebrity that made them easy
proy for villains tliat lny III wait for them. Do
yond single arrcst., now and then, nothing has
boon done by tho police towards wiplug
out this OWL. Superintendent Washburn has fro
quontly consulted with the Board Of Police
Commissioners as to what policy It was beat to
adopt regarding those plaoes. somo membors
Of tho Board having visited tho1n, and
thofr calls having boen made ut
timcs whom all was Horono In the
establishments, they woro induced to bo1ioye
that they woro institutions tint did not require
tho attention Of tho police. But tho constant
complaints that tho authorities have received
from persons that llave boeh robbed III these
Embellishments, and the common occurrence Of
disturbances haye auggeatod to thom, an wolf as
to Capt. LulE, in whose district the shows are
located that Bometlliug should bo done
that would tend towartla their suppress
Superintendent Of Police and Capt Lull hold q
consultation In reference to the mattor, aud It
was resolved that raid should DO made
GRsqis F%%ss 9arsy so@ vs''fy both f0e%' o we asa
aro located IN tho vicinity abovc roforrod TO-: 70
accomplish this resolve, the oxtra men Of all tho
police districts in tho Fifth Precinct wore or
dored to report at tho Madison stroct Station
At about o'clock Inst night, Capt. Iull got
together squad OF policemen, numbering about
twenty men, and proceeded nt once With them to
the corner Of Canal aud Randolph sroets. Whom
three pntoons, commanded respectively by
Ro,1ndHnon Simmons nnd Vesey aud Cant. Luli.
After some accommodating, simultaneous do
scent was mndo upon tho variety-sllows by tho
Gated in . damp basement, at tho
was found filled with n crowd,
composed Of thieves and vagrants. and the poor
to get hold Of their hard. earned money. Clark's
variety rooms, located on tlo second floor
while iii full tide. Tho rail was in ovory way
successful CnG ABOUT lbt lntnatcb OF the dtH-
reputable places wero taken to tho Madison
stIcot Station, from whence thoy were distributed
to tho police station on North Union street aud
other sub-statlona. Among the prisoners wore
many notorious tliores aud other low characters.
Juatco Scully will hayo his hands full this morn
lug, and it 10 to be Hoped that he will show little
morcy in his docisiona. Tho propriotors Of the
houses should TO punished as So
credit is due to Superintendent Washburn nnu
Capt. Lull for their vigorous movement agaust
these p1accs that Aayo long been the resort
of The vilest ciasses in the city, II they re-
open, 1t is to bo hoped that tho police will raid
Chicago werc broken tip.