The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-24

AdS odlQ ~ ROdHOkc mas SHlQ
These dives were raided at o'clock
this morning. Chief of Police Morris
commanded the raid in person, and the
entiro force, entering these houses or
breaking in when not admitted, brought
out tho negro men and women they
found thereinlhnd carried them to the
city lockup.
The dens We're accessible in many
cases only by winding one's way through
dark, narrow, filthy alleys, up rickety
staircases, leading to rooms where these
negroes congregated by halfdozens and
dozens, and scores.
The rooms were foul-smelling from
the effluvia Of the unwashed that in
habited them together with tho lack of
ventilation.
In the back yards OF tho dens are
thrown the Stops and refuse from these
houses. These areas are unspeakably
filthy and peStilcntial. One could almost
see tho grim form of disease rising from
the place, and with his skeleton-lille
fingers spreading the black mantle of
disease over the city.
The plans for the raid were we'll laid.
Part Of the force were placed in tho
alleys and yards back of the dives, to
prevent escape from the rear, while the
larger part of the force knocked for
| admittance at the front or sides.
Tho first house raided was Sallie
Fells'. 1t was blacl1ened, dingy struc-
ture, and in the first room was found
Sallie Fells, and light, gingerbread
| darby, who said he was IL dray driver.
| His name is Charles Kingsley. In
the room was 4 BARRIERS chair with
| looking-glass iii front on the wall
that spread mans image four times
its natural width; John l.. Sullivan,
with arms allimbo, looked down from
| the walls
In the back of tho house was tho room.
and separated from it by partition was
another sleeping apartment from which
| were taken three mulatto women,
| Mickey Stewart, Ella Kelso, and Lille
| Walker.
The barbcring department was said
by Charles Kingsley to be ''run by Carey
Saunders, but Charlie Morton does the
| shaving and hair-cutting."
All tho inmates but Mickey accepted
the situation philosophically. She shed
tears.
Officer Pony Wade knocked at the
door of Wilmcth's kitchen and it was
finally opened. Two old negro mon
were sitting by lullcwarm stove when
the officers entered and Two negro boys
were coilcd up on the floor with their
feet in the ashes under the stove Tire
room was dirty and pcrvaded by the
| Railroad avenue odor.
The boys gave their names as Sam
| Pascott and Will Lavcndar. They were
| turned over TO an officer who marched
| them to this, station house
Chief Morris led tho squad that
raided Morton's ranch. The door was
| locked, but n few kicks soon opened i, :,
and the policemen filed up stairs At
| the head OF the steps another locked
door was encountered but this soon
| gave way, and the officers dashed into
| this rooms.
The scene was novel and yet re-
pulsive one. In the four rooms on that
| floor men and women were huddled to-
| gether, and when thoy caught sight of
the raiding party there was confusion.
Tho occupants of the rooms were
ordered to make ready for march to
tho station-house, and they all accepted
the situation with the GOODNESS of veter-
ans. In all. six arrests were made here,
namely Lucy Pryor: the proprictress;
| G. H. Person, Bill Dickinson, Mary Mil
Ter, Rosalic Robinson and Charles Nor
ton, the owner of the restaurant below
When the time came for tho squad to
leave, it was found that Mary Miller
was too drunk to move, and it was de-
| cidcd to leave her until morning,
| When the party arrived at the station,
Chief Morris decided that the woman
should be arrested, and consequently Il
delegation of policemen, reporters and
| night owls started out to find vehicle
| to convey her to tho station.
y truck was procured at the depot
and everything made ready for the mid
night ride. bat itswas not necessary.
| Tho woman had only been shammng
ana at last concluded to go without as
slstancc. She was escorted to the
station by the entire squad and locked
| up.
At the station-housc Charles Morton
went bail for himself and Lucy Pryor
and c. II. Person did likewise for
Rosalie Robinson. No one had any
cash and demands were made for
checks which the drawers said could be
| filled out for any sum from 500 to $500.
| Chief Morris said he would not be so
hard on them as that, and only assessed
them $50 a piece. AS Bill Dickinson
and Mary Miller had neither money,
bank accounts or friends to come to their
assistance, they were locked up.
| When the entire party arrived at
| the mayors Office the men and women
were brought up and registered, after
| which tho men were searched and
locked up, the women being allowed to
| sit in the Office.
1t is doubtful If four walls ever held