The Washington times., 1895-03-08
VICE RUNS 4 RACE THERE
Alexander Island s0utIaW Course
Attracts Scores of Crooks.
ALL FLOCK TO WASHINGTON
Long List Of Thieves, Gamblers. Thimble-
Riggers, and Confidence Sharps Who
Have Been Picked Up by Headquarters
. Detectives-Visit the Track in the Day.
time and Infest This City After Dark.

Thieves. thugs, soulless bunco men, and
confidence sharps are attracted to Wash
ingtoD by the outlaw race track at Alex
ander Island, just as the giddy May flies
flock to the spluttering glare of the electric
arc light.
1t is natural for birds of a feather to
flock together. Hence Inspector Holm
berger and his corps of detectives, not to
mention the uniformed members of the
police force, are kept constantly on the alert.
They never know when a fresh consignment
of crooks from the slums OF New York,
Philadelphia, or Chicago Will be foisted
upon the community, as result of the big
gambling concern across the Potomac,
which nourishes in the very face and
teeth of the law as legitimate race course.
The silent records at detective head
quarters tell the story in black and white,
of how this community is made to suffer
the penalty for the continued existence of
the Alexander Island track, and the con-
tiguous and thoroughly lawless settlement
known as Jackson City, with its tumble
dOWH rum Inlls. tOuPH RdllDiiDS TesOrtS,
and deDs of thieves and thugs. who cross
over Long Bridge and infest Washington
during the candlelight hours after the races
are over for the day and the victims have
gone sadly home with empty pockets.
HE HAS THEM ON THE LIST.
In addition to about fifty suspected
crooks who were sent out of town since the
first of August by headquarters detectives
number arrested by the uniformed men,
Inspector Hoilinberger furnished a list of
those entered al the detective office, who
were attracted here by the races ami many
of whom are known To the police of all the
big cities as men to be looked out for. Here
is the list.
August IL last, James Hendrick and
Charles Williams, arrested by Detectives
Boyd and Horne as suspicious characters,
said to be pickpockets and all-around
thieves; personal bonds taken III the police
court to leave the city.
August IS. James Alienburg and George
Harrington, arrested by Detectives Lacey
and weldon. suspicious characters; or
deTed 10 leave town.
August 20, Louis Heck and Robert Muir
ply, pickpockets, arrested at the depot as
| they were coming intot the city by Detectives
Proctor and Rhodes and sent out of town.
There were four clippers" in the bunch,
but two of them eluded tn eofficers. Murphy
has national reputation as an all-round
thief, confidence sharp, and bunco steerer.
He is known as Peg Leg Murphy, and
said he was coming here to attend the
races at Alexander Island.
August 80, William Boone arrested by
Detective Weldon as suspicious charac-
ter and sent to the chain gang for sixty days.
September IT, Walter Janifer, arrested
by Detectives Weldon and Proctor as a
suspicious character; chain gang for two
months
October %, Thomas B. Hannah, George
c. Kennedy, and Maurice Maloney, ar
rested by Detectives Horne, Weldon, and
Rhodes as suspicious characters; two sent
TO the chain gang, the other ordered
to leave town.
November 8, George Belois. arrested by
Detectives Boyd and Horne and sent out
of the city.
November 8, William D Botto. suspicious
character, arrested by Detective Quinian
and sent out of town.
BLANCHE PALMER'S GAME.
November 81, Blanche Palmer and her
! stool, man who escaped, notorious con
! fidence game workers, who had been oper
ating On the crowds at Alexander Island;
arrested by Detectives Horne and weedon.
and sent out of the city, as her game had
! DScn COniIIeu TO virginia territory.
December IL, James II Johnson, sus-
picious character, arrested by Detectives
Carter and Gallaher; sent out of this juris
diction
January !, Walter Reeder, suspicious
character, arrested by Detective Carter and
sent 10 the workhouse for sixty days.
January ~ Edward Fitzgerald, sus-
picious character, arrested by Detectives
Weldon ard Horne; sent 10 the chain gang
! for two months
January 1 4, Frederick Donovan and
| Harry FleiShman, suspicious characters,
arrested by Detectives Horne and Boyd;
ordered to leave Washington at once.
January 16, William Harderman and
! Edward Lewis, suspicious characters, ar
rested by Detectives Horne and Weldon;
| gave bonds to leave town quickly.
January %, Hattie M Brown and
| Charles Rider, expert badger" game
workers, attracted here by the races, ar
rested by Detectives Helan and Rhodes; sent
| to the workhouse for sixty DAYS each
February 1 a, George Kopp, James
Hagerty, and Joseph Buckley, suspicious
| characters, arrested by Detective Weldon
and sent out of the city.
FIGURED AS a FLY COP"
February Is, Charles H. Martin. who
! sented himself to be a detective and secret
service officer, arrested as a suspicious
character byNDetectives Horne and Boyd,
and dismissed On his promise TO 90 better
| in the future
| The above is only the record of those
| locked up by headquarters detectives
! The records of the several precincts would
| swell the list to three times its length, and
| show all manner of crooked people who are
inflicted upon this community by the con-
! tinuance of the alleged race course which
fIaa En- 4.
| the most lawlesS settlement in the United
| States.