Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-08
'WARRING ON SPEAK-EASIES
The Police Commissioners
VIII Close Them.
MORE PRISON ROOM WANTED
The City Hall Police Station
Not Large Enough.
IN Addition to Being Too Small They
arc bisgustingly Foul and Unhealthy
fatroi Must Come Up the Back Way.


The Board of Police Commissioners
neld short session Monday night at
which some means of getting rid Of the
lepeak-easies existing in the city were
discussed. The board were led to be-
heve that these places existed in many
parts of tho city in open violation Of
The law and that feasible plans should
be devised to wipe them out of existence.
Mayor Wiley stated that this work
would require considerable money, but
the lines and costs imposed upon the
guilty parties II convicted, would more
than recoup any outlay made by the
city. He referred to the large sum ex
+, pended by EVERY EVENING in break
Wing up the gambling dens in the city and
stated that Notwithstanding the plan
devised by that paper was very sue
cessful one and succeeded In relieving
the city of great evil, still he thought
too much money had been laid out, and
and that the Board of Police Commits
sloners could raid the speak-easies and
destroy them at less expense. Besides,
the fines and costs saddled upon the vic
Inns would doubly repay the city finan-
cially Tor their work. The board rea-
LIKED how difficult it is to secure CON
vlncing proof against these violators of
the law, and when the raid begins, have
decided to leave no stone unturned to
secure the conviction of all engaged in
Illicit liquor-seling. Since the policy
shops and gambling dens were broken
up by EVERY EVENING, Mayor WILEY
believed that very few had existed since
and he hoped that the speak-easies could
he AZ succasafuIlr raidnJ
On motion of Commissioner Lawson
Chief blackburn was instructed to have
the police patrol wagon hereafter bring
all prisoners to the King street entrance
OF the city hall in order to avoid such
q public parading in front of the
city hall. The motion made by
Mr.. Lawson was heartily sanctioned by
Mayor Wiley and Commissioner Jester
and considered an excellent plan.
Mayor Wiley moved that the chief of
police give notice to h. j. Fougeray and
Henry Blouth that after the expiration
of three months new contracts must be
made with the board concerning the
renting of the police patrol stables. All
Others owning property tenanted by the
board were similarly notified.
Police Surgeon Baird submitted his
report OF examination of the police de.
partment during the month, which was
approved.
The insufficient room at the city hall
was again discussed at some length by
the board and plans were discussed by
the members with respect to an enlarge
ment at the hall in case such improve
ments could be carried out Mayor
Wiley to provo the dsgraceful condi-
dition of the police headquarters and the
insufficient room there, cited the case of
an elderly woman detained in the
upper tier of the police station cells.
The mayor stated that the woman was
apparently respectable and well-dressed
and retained her self-respect even under
disadvantageous circumstances. He
visited the woman In the cell in the
upper tier and she informed him that
taken sick in the streets she was com
PEELED to seek shelter in the DO
lice department. There was no other
place for the woman but cell in which
two or more negro women of lewd
character were confined. Among these
outcasts and low women the stranger
spent the night. In the morning the
mayor had her sent to the Homeopathic
Hospital of which he is member of
the board of trustees.
Commissioner Lawson stated that in
the case Of a woman and child, taken
sick at the p, w. g. b. railroad station.
he refused to allow her to spend the
night in the police station and had her
taken to hotel and paid her expenses
there. The board were unanimously Of
the opinion that something should be
done to increase the capacity of the
police station. Mayor Wiley thought
that in the very shadow of the Christian
church and in the time when civilization
was so rapidly advancing, it was dis
grace that such affairs existed at the
city hall. II some benevolent person
would use little of their money towards
helping to improve this public institu-
ton instead of sending the money out
among the Indians and to foreign
points, he thought the community
would profit by 1t and be grateful to
tho benefactor. The board was of the
E, opinion that little missionary work
+, right here in this city would prove
profitable.
Commissioner Lawson thought the
present quarters might BIO extended in
the rear until II reached the first raise
in the yard back of the city hall. After
discussing the matter thoroughly the
board adjourned.