The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-29
POLICY SHOPS PULLED.
BIG BATCH OF GAMBLERS CAUGHT
AT THE GAME.


AT THE GAME.
Detective Morgan and the Police Make
the Raid Under Orders OF Solicitor
General Fraser-The Bosses of the
Concerns Give Bond But Their Vic
tins 60 to Jail-The Solicitor General
Determined to Rid the City OF Gamb-
ling Houses.
When Solicitor General Fraser gave out a
few weeks ago his fiat, 1.-THE gambling
houses of Savannah must close" the gam
blers Of the city thought it meant only the
/ periodical jerking up which they had expe-
rienced for several years, but now they fully
realize that Chatham's fearless prosecutor
meant what he said in all its significance.
! He has had the proprietors Of the high
toned gambling houses of the city indicted
and heavily fined several times within few
weeks, and they have shut up their sstab-
! lishments and are preparing to seek other
pastures where the eyes Of the law will not
be so watchful. They find it a very I'M
profitable business to be operating games
aud paying the proceed3 into the courts.
Now that Solicitor General Fraser has re-
Z
to turn his attention to the dives and keep
up a vigorous warfare until every one OF
these places Is suppressed beyond the
faintest hope of resurrection. He began
hostilitics in that direction yesterday by
| ordering a raid Of the policy shops" Of the
city under authority OF special presentments
which he secured from the grand jury of
the city court against the proprietors.
SURPRISED BY THE OFFICERS.
County Detective Morgan took charge Of
the raid and was given the aid Of the day
squad OF police by Chief Green. The police
were thoroughly posted and at l O'Clock
every shop In the city was swooped down
upon by officers with drawn pistols and the
inmates surprised at the game. They were
ordered TO throw up their hands. which
they did without any ceremony and were
sent to The police barracks in the patrol
wagon, which made the rounds Of the shops
and picked up the prisoners.
The majority of the policy establishments
were located in Congress street lane, be-
tween Abercorn and Jefferson, and Bay
street lane, between Whitaker and ,JefFsr-
son, and few were scattered around in the
Fort, Yamaoraw and Robertsville. Here Is
che list OF prisoners of the raid, the three
first named being white men, who managed
some OF the concerns: Daniel Toomer, Ed
ward Wade, Thomas Howard Charley
Lewis, " ashington Brouthers, Joseph Whit
A4oiuy OhineS bhfHest EuWhTu blnydr0 w Ills
lam ii. Davis, Lucius Beard, Charles w
Crieck, Frank Porter. Frank Smith, Cab
riel Ash. Richard Ford, W. II. Hellborn
and Solomon Lane.
THE BIG BOSSES GATHERED IN,
Three of the central office" proprietors
William t. Burch (white) and William
Fletcher and William Baud (colored). were
afterward arrested by Detective Morgan,
but gave bond. The balance were sent 10
Jail in the afternoon by order OF the So
licitor.
The raid caused CONSERVATION among the
colored people, and was an exciting and alb
sorbing topic Of conversation among them
yesterday afternoon. Policy" has been
for years, next 60 ''craps," the favorfte
gambling game of the negro. Men, women
and children have played their nckels aud
dimes against it day after, day In the hope
OF winning a stake. With some it grew TO
be craze, and they would go hungry, and
would even steal, to get few cents to try
policy"
The game has been little mint for the
boss, and has nstted him thousands of dol
lars annually. 1t has been operated on a
thoroughly systematic plan. The "cen-
trail" office in Bay lane was ia charge Of two
colored managers, who organized branches
| at convenient points In charge Of sub
managers under salaries. Every night the
branch shop managers had to make their
| reports or the days receipts and disburse-
| ments TO the central office, the managers of
| which in turn made their report to the
boss, " who is said TO be a well-known
sporting character. He put up the stakes,
took charge Of all receipts and paid the
managers salaries, rents, etc.. after which
he always had a neat amount TO stow
away.
HOW THE GAME rs PLAYED.
Policy is lottery scheme on q small
scale. Tickets, bearing any three single or
double numbers the player might choose,
are sold for cents and 10 cents, and q
duplicate ticket put in box. If the 5-cent
ticket wins the player gets So minus a small
percentage for the house, and If the lO-cent
| ticket wins it calls for $40 with the same
conditions. 1t will be readily seen that bv
this arrangements the house never loses under
any circumstances But it is seldom any
ticket really draws a prize, except when
business is very dull, when occasionally
a player is allowed to win as
an advertisement TO "rope in suckers A
drawing in charge Of the managers takes
| place every day about noon, and nearly al
ways "capper" secures q prize, only to
turn 1t back into the bank when the disap-
| pointed players turn away.
The determination of Solicitor General
| Frazer to break up these places which has
| been robbing poor negroes and even a few of
| the lower class of whites as well, for several
years. is a step worthy of the highest com
mendation. Heavy penalties imposed on
the proprietors may have the effect of eff
fectually putting an end TO policy shopsn
in Savannah.
! u A % N EgG sN TyrAAV