The daily gazette., 1882-11-16
FRONT STREET LIQUOR
DENs OF VICE TO TRAP THE
UNWARY.
PLACES THATSh0ULD BE AVOIDED
A Nest of Dens That The City Would DO
Well to Get Rid of.-Some the Tricks
Played on strangers.

The recent cases OF bunko swipdIing that
have come to light on Front street have al.
tracted great deal of attention TO tina,
very unsavory locality. The schemes and
vile plots concocted and put In operation by
the habitues oil the dens there are numerous
aud ingenious. 1t is hardly safe for d
stranger to wander alone along the street
much less to enter one Of the vile licensed
holes where sharpers are continually laying
| In walt for victims.
Not one-third Of the cases Of robbery and
assault that occur there are ever reported
the victims In most instances being asharaed
10 make known their loss or 10 seek the aid
of the police. The officers themselves are OF
course not allowed to enter any of the dives
unless called upon, but they are kept busy
warming and protecting intoxicated men and
'grccnies" who are being led into the tolls
The sharpers and runners who frequent
the haunts, spot their victim, particularly II
he appears to have money. lie is approached
by supposed friend, perhaps given cigar,
and invited to take u drink If he yields to
the invitation ne is gone, for one glass OF
the vile Cecoction sold for liquor renders
him incaI able. The rest is always the same.
Stupefed and bewldered and without
money, he is hustled into the street, and
wanders OIL poorer, wiser, and sicker man.
known ranch near Market street, apparently
sober, wearing silk hat aud wcil-httng
clothes. He was seen to go In. Inside OF
an hour he hurriedly came out, his clothes
disordered, HIS face haggard and in place of
the SILK tile sporting an old slouch hat.
When questioned afterwards by the police
he said that he hardly knew what happened
or how he got out.
A favoritc scheme is 10 cntcc those who
arrive on the cars and are In ignorance OF
the city. Not long since a stranger having
some business in this city started for the
train. Going along Front street he entered
an "eating house" and after having some
lunch took glass Of liquor. Almost i'm
mediately he began to iHl stupid and under
the effects Of some drug. Fearing that all
was not right he fastened out and was
probably saved the loss of his watch and
money. Upon entering he had asked the
man In attendance what time the next train
for Philadelphia left and was told "not for
two hours" although he afterwards learned
II started in a few minutes.
The presence Of the low saloons is dis
grace to the city, and the Mayor has issued
stringent orders to his officers to do all in
their power to- bring the hangers-on, who
prey upon the unsuspecting, to Justice The
proprietors are very careful not to directly
III lHlIlUtT, DuL
offer, 1t is charged, the shelter of their
places TO the swindlers.
Hardly a day passes but that n watch or
pocket book is missing. Thrce-fourths of
the arrests for drunkenness made in the
city are along Front street, and two-thirds
of that number between Market and Walnut
streets.
Mayor Wales feels assured that the evil
will notbe abated so long as the system of
license now In vogue continues. He favors
the fixing Of the license fee at such figure
that the cheap and nasty dens will be driven
out of the city. There will always be liquor
saloons as q matter of course, and they
should be kept as respectable as possible.
A facetlous gentleman thinks 1t would be
good plan for the City Council to erect
sign posts in the ncighborhood of the depot
reading, beware of Front street rum and
thus save trouble to the uninitiatcd.