The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-25
THUGS THEN HAD SWAY.
"REMINISCENCES OF OLD GAMBLING
DAYS IN WASHINGTON.
Robbing n Rural COngressman-The
blazing Rag" Famous Temple
OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the Best
of "A Thief


looms on Pennsylvania avenue that com
pare with some Of the toughest places
in the slums of New York or the sailors
dram shops in Baltimore
These places vera utilized to a great
extent by thieves and policy runners, and
a man with a watch or scarf pin had
little show for escape. II used to kesp
the police busy saving men from getting
robbed in these holes. and many Skin
mish has taken place between the officers
and gangs of crooks when an arrest was
attempted.
In those days there were a good many
congressman who had never before seen
biS city, and ii took about half the force
10 Keep them from being robbed by one
or another of the many tricks resorted
TO by crooks and fiim-fammers. Occa-
slonally, however, they used TO manage
70 SCI touched and then there would be
rumofs OF an investigation. but the police
btntIdlly came out all right, and, after
congress banished some of the attrac-
tionS, the town became quieter. and the
heuhenS could come here with the assur-
ance that they We're not going TO lie
Heeceu' unless II was by another con-
gresham at a little game of draw.
or number of years the headquar-
ters Tor thieves and thugs IN the down
town section of the city was the Blaz-
ING Ras, a saloon kept by a well known
character named Reddy White. The
gang that regularly Congregated in The
Rag was the toughest to be found, ana
many crooked trick has been turned
ana many another planned amid the
Cllnklng OF beer glasses and the hum OF
the Bowery talk of the habitues
mite was just as tough as his place.
ana Wnen he nnally wound up his career
by shooting his wife and killing himself
lnere were Few tears shed, and the place
closed up from want Of patronage The
bartender was another character who
seemed TO be constructed with a design
Oh ming niche in this little temple of
crokedness. He was called 'Squint' Bay
aru, from a peculiar expression of his
eyes, ana though he was man of prac-
tlcaiiy no education, he was a well-known
local wit, ana many of his savings are
remembered by old-timers TO this day.
one trick that was turned in the Rag
made II famous as the first place whore
this city. The affair took place in No
Vember, 1887, the victim being a member
OF congress, who had just arrived in the
city TO attend his first session The
mans name Is unnecessary TO mention
but he was renowned as one of the big
gest jays that ever drifted into the city
as q member of the national legislature.
This congressman was walking along
the avenue one evening" carrying a COM
Portable load Of liquor, when he happened
TO see the name of the Blazing Rag
IL must have attracted his attention from
its similarity to one of the dives in the
oil regions, for he entered without much
hesitation and siding up TO the bar, ask
for drink. Just as the barkeeper hand
ed him the liquor another man walked up
close to him and dropped a little liquid
into the drink. His action was not no
ticed by the inebriated congressman, who
tossed off the drink, paid for IL and started
for the door. A sharp pair of eyes. how
ever, which were half hidden by the
stove, saw the entire performance and
a sharp brain quickly resolved what to
Il should say first" continued the Off
Ger, that the man who dropped the
substance in the drink was Frank Kelly
q crook, with long record, and one OF
a IfaC Il d H.nt-
this city. The man who witnessed the
trick was Frank Cronin another thief
though his reputation was a purely local
AT any rate Kelly followed the con-
gresham out of the saloon, well knowing
that the drug would soon take effect, and
give MIN an opportunity for touch
Just as the haplesS congressman reached
a tree box within fifty feet of the saloon
he fell to the ground in a swoon. Kelly
rushed up to his assistance and while
ltUng him to his feet, he carefully sneak
ed his watch and chain. and then returned
70 the saloon. His success had made him
DOld, ana he resolved on another trick
Going up TO the bar he called for a
drink, inviting Cronin and 'Reddy' White
70 Join him. While Whites attention was
diverted, he put some of the knock out
drops in his beer. intending to get him
under the influence of the drug and then
tap the TIL. White was very suspicious.
however and while Cronin engaged Kel-
~ IN conversation, the saloon-keeper
switched the glasses around and Kelly
quaned the 'doped' liquor that he had in
tended for another
Kelly then went to the window seat
and sat down, waiting for the dose to af-
rect the saloon-keeper After sitting there
awhile he became drowsy himself and In
a few moments he was as badly off as the
congressman whom he had robbed and
fell through the glass. That was Just what
the foxy CrOnin was waiting for and Kelly
had barely reached the ground before
Cronin had taken the watch and chain
ana disappeared. He ran as fast as he
could to the saloon Of another man. who
had the reputation Of being a fence and
tried TO dispose of the watch He told the
saloon-keeper where he had gotten the
watch, emitting Of course TO mcmillan
member of congress. The saioon.keener
suspected that Kelly had come by it dis
honestly, ana, fearing the consequences
he sent word to Lieut. Amiss for an Of
ficer.
"A detective responded to the call. and
a moment later Cronin was taken uJifb
the tell-tale watch in his possession AS
is usual with thieves of a low class ha
Immediately squealed,' and Kelly was
from the person of the congressman.
while similar charge was made against
Gronin for taking the watch from Kelly.
The anxiety OF the police to convict bofh
men caused some confusion and in 1hs
melee which followed in the police court
the next day, both escaped punishment
The two worthless were taken before
Judge Smell in the police court the ne<t
morning. The congressman was so badly
HlNed uD from the efects OF the previous
evening that he was unable to swear
that he owned the watch or that he ever
had one. The judge could not understand |
the case at all, so he dismissed the de- |
PENDANTS with an order that the property
be turned over to Cronin, as IL was IN |
his possession when arrested. Cronin re- |
fused 10 take it, saying that he did nor
know anything about it, and Kelly did |
likewise, swearing that he had never seen |
it.. The watch, which was quite a yalua- |
bic one. was returned to the properly |
clerk Of the police department., but If |
eventually found its way to the congress- |
man through the identification Of a mem |
Der of his family.
After that adventure Kelly went 10 |
Baltimore, where he made his home and |
was soon afterward sentenced TO i've /
years for burglariZing store Cronin |
given four years term for robbing |
A Locomotive That suIIxs