Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-28
THE SIEGE OF SOHO.
For Over Four Hours and a Half a
Speak-Easy Is Bombarded.
THE HOUSE ATLAST FOUND EMPTY.
Its Inmates Had Cut Their Way Into the
Adjoining Building.
THE STREET BLACK WITH SIGHT-SEERS

For four and one-half hours yester-
the siege of q dozen policemen, while
1000 people stood about and cheered
the besieged. Not. shot was fired
nor a drop of blood spilled. 1t was a
diplomatic fight, and Captain Whitehouse
and Detective Bendel won quite a victory.
Annie Linney was arrested last Sunday
for keeping speak-easy. She gave the
police 500 fine with the trimmings, and
again opened up shop. All last. week a
big business was done and in an open man
ner. Captain Whitehouse and Detective
Bendel decided to stop her. Sunday morn
ing with big squad of policemen they re-
paired to Annie's house at 727 Forbes
street. The building was evidently built
to stand siege. The doors have many in
side bolts and bars, while the windows can
be doubly locked and shuttered. This was
the condition the entrances were found in
yesterday.
1t was just 9 o'clock yesterday morning
when the attacking party marched on
Annie Linney's rum shop, and it was just
1:30 when the prisoners of war were hauled
away. This was no doubt the most re-
markable speak-easy raid ever made. The
police surrounded the house and then ad-
mittance was asked for.
Not a Sound Came From Within.
If the house had been tomb and num-
mics its inmates the quietude within could
not have been more profound. To repeated
knocks no answer came. Each rap on the
door brought a neighbor out and the
coming of one neighbor brought another
until the street was black with people, most
OF whom were sympathizers with the speak
easy proprietress. Around and around the
house Whitehouse and Bendel went, looking
for some weak spot in the fortress. At last,
after over three hours of inspection, one
at last forced up and Captain Whitehouse
led the attacking forces. As his head went
through the window, it received several
hard raps, but he was not injured. He and
Bendel were soon within and the other
officers followed.
When the triumphant entry was made the
officers found themselves in full pos
se Searched Fl from e cellar 0"se' to garret, but but
not soul could be found. The quiet that
reigned within was at last explained. In a.
found in the wall between the adjoining
through the pastering, lath and studding
during the progress of the siege.
Had to Crawl Like Groundhogs.
Like groundhogs the officers crawled
through the hole. They had another hunt
but finally found the enemy in the cellar of
that house, it, too, being surrounded. cut
ting off all avenues of escape The prisoners
were captured without a struggle Those
arrested are Mrs. Annie Linney, James Haw-
kIns and Ed Hartman. her >brother-in-law,
and Neil Brogan, Joseph Colwen and Peter
Collins, visitors.
This was possibly the Oldest speak-easy in
the town, having been handed down from
one Linney to another as a heritage. Annie
has been in control of it for three years and
her husband conducted the place for ten
years prior to his death. The Oldest citizen
of that portion of the city can re-
D'emDer the place away back in
their early manhood. 1t was known
as 'Linney's place." until the word "speak-
easy" was added - the American vocabu-
larry. 1t was then rcchristened. Under the
present administration Hartman was en-
ployed as bartender and did odd jobs of
''bouncing." Occasionally he did little
work on the outside The cellars were well
stocked. Seven eighth kegs and three
quarter barrels of beer, quarter barrel of
porter. a ten-gallon keg of whisky, II dozen
bottles of beer and number of empty kegs
and barrels were found.