Daily Republican., 1881-12-19
The MYSTIC NUMBERS.
THE POLICE NET CAPTURES A
CROWD OF .ssWEAT,' GAMBLERS
A Saturday NixAu's RAID On Gam
bling Den aud Policy shop
Which Results In the ar
rest Of Fourteen Men.

I
bling Den aud Policy Shop
Which Results in the ar-
rest OF Fourteen Men.
For some time past the attention {
the police has been directed to sra
two and haif story shsnty, situated !
the rear OF Fifth and Orange streets
and ON Saturday evening their suspici
ons being verified, word was conveye1
to Cllef Maxwell Who inmeliatel
made preparations for raiding il, an,
capturing those engaged in the unlaw
tnl business. He accordingly sun
moned Sergeant Whelan, DOan an,
| Cannon, and officers Springer, Hardy
Ryan, Mu'Ida, Taylor, Baldwin, Han
nallan, Bernlardt and Pike, and abou
quarter Of nine the party, headed b,
Chief Maxwell, started for he scene o
action. A walk of q few minute
brought the officers to the ranch, tn
entrance 10 which is by means of
small alley on the south side of Fl ttl
street AS they approached the hous
they found it enshrouded in darkness
and everything perfectly quiet. Upol
a close examination, ,however,a gimme
of light was seen in the second story
The officers entered the lower story anl
finding it deserted and in darkness
started for the room above, officer Ryal
taking the lead followed by severa
others. AS the party entered theseconC
story room, a singular and striking
scene was presented. The small r3om
was completely filled with colored men
all crowded around little table, where
game of sweat cloth had been in pro
gress when the officers arrived. WheL
the occupants saw the police an indie
59ribable scene ensued.
The greater part Of the inmates made
for the stairway, and almost bore the
officers down, in their frantic forts to
escape, while Others kicked the glass
and sash cut of the windows and in a
short time many Of them were out on 4
portico over the door, endtavoring to
get down in the yard and thus elude the
officers. They however son discover
ell their mistake, as the police We're
equal to the emergency, and as soon AZ
they saw pair OF legs hanging down,
preparatory to makinga jump they
were seized, aud the owner drawn into
the tender clutches of the guardians Of
the law. Several of the gamblers had
pushed past the officers in the house
and made their way t" the yard, where
finding their chances Of escape cut off,
some ofthem showed fight, but were
easily su5dned by the black jacks Of the
officers. When matters became quieted
down a little, the officers touuu that
they had capture fourteen prisoners.
The procession now started for the
Police Station, and upon their arriva.
the prisoners were searched, previous
to being licked up. There were a
number oftive cent pieces found i'll one
CT the neu y pockets, bu: the remainder
Of the party were pretty well cleaned
out.
They gave their names to the Chief
as follows: Michael Clifford and J. G.
Cummerfo.d, white; William Trusty,
William Lewis, John Benson, Eiward
Williams, "Ned" Williams, David
Harrison, William Fl, Williams, Isaac
Henderson, Haywood Williams, Henry
Autweil, Samuel IlTer and Joseph
Brown. COOrtd.
The white men are hard looking spe-
cluens of humanity, ard appeared as
though they wonli rather do anything
than 10 earn their living in al honest
mauuer
There was very little Of the gambling
para phernalia captured, the onl y arti-
cles being sweat cloth numbered from
one to seven, and a blackboard and
slate, each coutaiuinga a list OF policy
numbers.
The sweat cloth YVES found in the
upper room, and the other articles
down stairs, which leads TO the belief
that tho lower room was used during
the day as policy Shop.
Yesterday morning the whole party
were brought before Mayor Allmond
for hearing The place allotted tor
prisoners not being large enough 10
hold them, eight were arranged out
side the railing, and the remainder
packed inside the dock.
The principal witness was Isaac P.
West, colored man, who testified that
he had recently come to this city from
Milford, and atpresent boards at Eighth
and Spruce streets; he bad been induc-
cd to visit the place, and on Saturday
night went there to meet TREND. He
stated that he is employed as a laborer,
and on Saturday evening when he visit.
cd the ranch, he had 80, his whole
week $ wages in his pocket
Not finding his friend as Unexpected,
he concluded to wait short time for
1 In IN vxyaS inc n
try his luck on the sweat cloth.
The witness then explained the meth
Od of playing the game, and told win
sorrow depicted in his face, how ne hau
played, sometimes winning, but oftener
losing, until he had but q single nickel
leyt. About this time he came to the
conclusion that he bad been swindled,
and reported the matter to the police,
who had previously been watching the
place. He said that he did not know
the names of the piop-ietors OF the
place, but Officer Hardy was certain
that Abraham Young, Golortd, was
acting AS banker when the officers en-
tered.
Mayor Almond stated that he
thought that the city ordinance relating
to iisorderly houses, would apply TO
this ease, and as Young appeared to he
the principal, he imposed fine OF s3o
and costs on him.
The remainder of the party were each
sentenced to pay fine of s. and costs,
the latter in each case being about IS.
1t is currently reported that Young
only runs the place, that the owner OF
it the one that furnishes the means and
reaps the profits, is a white man VINO
holds o position in a manufacturing es-
tablishment in this city and passes for
a very respectable and Jaw abiding cits-
zen. -,
There are several more dens of like
patllre in different parts of the city thas
are daily swindling poor persons, both
white and colored, out Of their hard
earnings, and if the police will succeed
in breaking them all up and making it
TOO hot for them to ever open out again
in this place, they will receive the
thanks of the comrlurity and remove =
great inducemenl to commit petit lar