Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-29
BAD PHILADELPHIA.
Six Hundred Men aud Women Can
tured in Dives.
A COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL RAID.
solice Descend in Force Upon the Low
Dens Of Vice and Make
a Big Haul.

PHILADELPHIA, March 2S.-The bigges
, raid On concert dens ever made here wa
: carried into effect last night between 10 81
and 1880, under the direction Of Captain
Edgar, assisted by Captains Brown ant
Quirk. Six hundred people were captured
100 women and 500 men, many OF botl
sexes being minors. The plot for tn.
capture Of the concsrt-dive keepers and
their customers was conceived with the
object of etopp:ng the custom OF enticing
young girls under age to the low
dens and it was most successfully
carried out. For some days Captain Edgar
and Special Officers McCalls aud Meyers
have been working on the scheme. Early
last nightit vas announced that everything
was ready. and that oil preparations had
been made. SPECIAL officers in citizens
clothes were sen! out about 3 o'clock, 10
enter all the places that had been put on
the list, and spot the proprietors OF EACH
so that none should escape. The the work
Of collecting the squads Of raiders began
Men we're sum mo1ei from eleven districts.
A SUCCESSFUL swoOP.
When all the ctiicers had collected they
we're instructed 10 move quickly after be-
ing directed to the place OF attack, go that
none Of the occupants shoald escape.
Particular attention was to be paid to
women, and especially 10 young girls under
age. The endeaVor Of the authorities WAS
to make the raid simultaneously in all
places, so that no warnings might be car.
ried from one to the other. The first
place entered was Christopher Schetlle at
225 North Eighth street. There daring
man fly" was found walking across the
ceiling, head downward. An orchestra was
playing, and the tables were surrounded
with men and women drinking beer. This
raid was such quiet one that twenty-five
men and FIVE women were marched of
without creating any particular alarm in
the neighborhood. The prisoners were
taken to The Sixth District Station house.
1t was then quarter to ! | and WORK in ell
directions had begun in earnest. Harry
Roop, the notorious, at 833 Race street, and
George Miscb, 827, on the same street,
next were paid vigorous attention by about
fifty stalRart officers. Both places we're
crowded with people The pianos were
jangling, the cracked orchestra grosning
and drunken men snd women shouting
ribald songs.
The sight Of the bluecosts created the
widest CONSERVATION Beer glasses were
dropped, tables and chairs were knocked
over and broken in the wild rush for the
doors, and in Roops place so0e desperate
and adventurous young fellows leaped from
the windows and escaped. These were
very few In number, however. The bulk
OF the low jewellers were hustled off to the
station house at q rapid rae. A square
above, at 933 Race street, George Rsisb
and all bis patrons were captured, and on
the other side Of the street JCe Burns den,
at SOL, Jared no better.
FLANK MOVEMENT.
Ia the meantime several large squads Of
officers were operating with success on
Vine street. between Eighth and Ninth.
John Homeyard's place, at 8l2, was clear
ed out and simultaneously With it the
dives Kept by Harry Sensy, at SOC, and
Harry Chester, AT s!6. These people were
all taken % the Eighth district station
house, on Bottom wood street, above Tenth.
TIE capture OF TIE resort for low women at
22l Chester street, kept by Theodore
Stevens, and Ed. Mettlers den st 225, on
the same street, had filled the Sixth district
station house to overlooking. Every cell was
full. The prisoners we're packed " ,,,ke
sheep. Upstairs in the officers quarters
and the house sergesnt's room and the
hallway were crowded 90 that even the off
Gers could scarcely move about. Outside
there was bowling mob anxious 10 get in
to see what was going on, and the front
door OF the house was frequently sssailed
with kicks and blows. Magistrate Thomp
son was early on kaId. waiting with
Cheerful. smile to receive bis gussts. They
did not seem 10 enjoy his good humor.
The room, la which he stationed himself
behind high desk and railing, was loud
With cursiug and Uailing and weeping
One little girl, not over II years Of age
with big innocent brown eyes and frowsy
bang. stocd before the deck among the
crowd Of half-drqnkep, prolsne men and
hardened, lewd girls, frightened to q pitt.
ful pallor. When che had given her name
ss Annie Hoffman 10 voice that she
could not rsise above whisper, the officer
who had her in charge kindly let hercreep
over into corner, and tSsFs abe fell on
her knees, and with her hands to her white
lace. prayed huskily in an audible tone:
"Pleass, God, help me out Of this, and
I'll never 90 out again at night"
A couple Of boys standing near her
laughed coarsely, and we're promptly rushed
into the back corridor By the officers
Annie Hogmsn was held under $500 TO
keep the peace, and, failing TO furnish it,
vas locked up,
THE FRoPRIEfoRs HELD.
When the hearings began and the pro
psietcrs Of the places the women and the
girls and the boys under age were detained.
| The station houses we're cleared Of sil
other prisoners, who were set free with Q
general warning 10 keep out Of such places
in future. They went off With very cheer.
ful air, and the youths who looked a.
though they had homes sna respectable
parents had 9 srsst vsigbt lifted from their
ninds. This is the list Of females who were
caught and detained: In Joe Mestler's, 4;
Rsisch's, Is; Ed Mettler's. 3; Stevens, 2,
Barrs, 6; Roop's, 3; Misch's, 3; Schettles, 8,
5; Homeysrd's, 6; SeDsY's, Is. and Ches
trial Christian Schsttls. 22j North
Eighth street was held in 5000 bail for
keeping disorderly house and each Of the
Eve yoang girls in 500 each to keep the
peace Henry Roop was he'd for trial on
three charges, ss90 in each, tor keeping 8
disofderly house, fer selling liquor TO min.
ors and hsrboriDg girls under Is years Of
see. in vlolstioo Of The State Law. The
Others were locked up in default OF si0O
II