Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-23
IN THE TOLLS AGAIN.
Pittsburg Police Once More Descend
Upon the Speak-Easies.
TWO OLD-TIMERS ARE PICKED UP.
Fam GUS Florence Donaldson Was One Of
the Many Victims.
GREEK POKER PLAYERS ARE PULLED IN

The police yesterday started anew the
raid on speak-easies, capturing two old
timers at their old tricks and incidentally
picking up a gambling party. Several
weeks having passed without a raid being
made, the speak-easy people began to think
thev we're not to be molested further, and
began to conduct their business so
openly as to attract business as
we'll as the suspicious of the
police. A number of the bold ones were
notified a few days ago to stop and they
complied with the order, while others
changed their methods and admitted only
the regular customers who were acquainted
with the secret signals which gained ad-
mission. Amoug these were Mrs. Freese
and Margaret Becker, who were captured
yesterday. Informations for keeping a
disorderly house had been entered against
both by Superintendent Weir.
Hauled in the Family This Time.
Mrs. Freese owns the property, No. 2O2
Market street, where she has been doing
business. She has been arrested for keep
ing speak-easy numerous times, and has
served one term of nine months in the work
house. She has two daughters, one Of II
and one 10 years old, and son of about q.
Previously, when she was arrested, the
young girls were allowed to remain at
home to take care of the house, but the
police have learned that the girls
conducted the business Just the
same when their mother was away,
and even when she was in the workhouse
they kept the house going all the time. The
police always had difficulty in gaining
entrance to the house because of signal
system in use among the frequenters with
out which the door would not be opened.
Entrance was gained by Captain Denniston
and Detectives Bendel and McTighe last
night by stepping past Mrs. Freese's 49,
year-old daughter, who was standing at
the door. She objected and declared she
was the only person in the house, but when
the officers got inside they found two other
young girls and four men.
Florence Donaldson Caught Again.
One of the girls was Florence Donaldson,
who figured prominently in the abduction
of May Sullivan two years ago. Miss
Donaldson first came to public notice about
seven years ago, when she was accused of
poisoning the coffee taken at supper by her
own family, from which one of the children
died. She was tried and acquitted of the
crime at Wellsville, o. She was then
about l6 years of age. Since the NAV Sui
livan affair she has been arrested on
couple of other charges, but got off easy.
The use of opium and her dissoIute habits
have changed her from young girl to
prematurely old woman.
Lizzie Miller, handsome, diamond-be-
decked young woman captur ID in the raid,
is nurse for sick woman whom she lett,
expecting to return in few moments. The
sick woman, hearing of the girls arrest, got
up out OF her bed and 1imped up to Central
station, where she left a forfeit for the girls
appearance at the hearing this morning.
Mrs. Freese pretended to be sick in bed, as
she always does when raided ,and was taken
to the patrol wagon wrapped in blanket.
The house was left in charge of her son and
a police officer.
Mrs. Margaret Becker had male visitors
at her house, No. 135 Second avenue, when
the officers entered, and all were taken.
Mrs Becker has had the speak-easy charge
against her several times at various houses,
but always heretofore got off by paying
fine. She will probably be sent to court
this time. She had large stock of liquor
ON hand.
Andrew Antonio, Greek, has been con-
duct1ng gambling joint at 81 and Sc Third
avenue for some time, but the police were
kept in ignorance of it until Saturday night
when a man claimed he had been heeced out
of 5000 by Antonio and couple of Others
The officers found the proprietor with four
other Greeks at poker game when they
called last night and arrested the whole
party. Liberal forfeits were demanded and
paid by each of the prisoners.