The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-08
TOPEKA's LOWER WORLD.
Police and a Sociological Student
Make a Raid on It

''Pie" Jordan, a notorious colored
tough, and about fifty men and women
who are more or less acquainted with
the police, took possession of the ware
house of the Standard Oil company
near the Rock Island 'FY'' last night
and began dance
Jordan had the arrangements in
charge. The railroad authorities asked
the police authorities to stop the
dance, as no permission had been given
for it in their building.
At half past 10 o'clock Special officer
Watts of the Rock Island and a squad
Of policemen headed by Sergeant Tim
Donovan went to the place. The three
musicians were making lively music
and the shuttle of feet could be plainly
heard outside the building. A gasoline
lamp shed a mellow light over the
duslxy crowd and now and then an ex-
preston of joy could be heard above
the inspiring strains of the may"
It was on account of all these things
that the dancers did not notice the APP
prOach of Tim Donovan and his band.
Softly they crept to the doors of the
oil house. Two here, two there, one at
this window, another over at side
door.
Then Tim entered while the dance
went on"
Other officers entered from the doors
and windows; the music stopped and
the dancers almost turned pale. Pres
emily the noise subsidized and they list
ened to the voice Of the sergeant who
said:
EVERY one of you consider your
self under arrest"
The officers began to figure out whom
they would grab first, when Pie" Jor-
dan yelled: out wild de light" A
couple OF the dancers made dive for
the gasoline lamp, but Tim Donovan
was too fast for them and he headed
them off. Special Officer Watts OF
the Rock Island realized that there
was trouble ahead and he began reach
ing for his trusty Smith & WessDn, for
there were over fifty IN the room ana
the putting out of the light would nave
been the signal for a general rough
house"
VIII Reed. a son of Col. Geo. W.Reed,
went along with the officers on the RAID
to collect psychological statistics for
his report at the state university IN
the sociology class. He was IN the act
Of taking down the gasoline lamp ana
carrying it out when Johanna Dupree,
who is a tough mulatto woman, made a
luuge at him. She pushed him little,
Then she struck at him fairiy ana
squarely for the face, but he dodged
her blow and escaped injury. Ofncer
Bundy prevented a second attack by
era bling the woman. Young Mr.Reed' 8
report in sociology on the Sums OF
Topeka" will doubtless be eXclUng-
the next question was how to get them
all to the police station.
Pie" Jordan was given in charge OF
Burgess, and Mcdowell and Pavey
Lined up about IS of the women and
marched them double file to the police
station. Each of the other officers HAD
q squad. At the station but five names
were entered on the police register
pie" Jordan, for trespass, and johann
ma Depree, for assault. The three mu-
sicians, Henry Fuel, Isaiah Fox ana
John Hunter, were booked, but allowed
to go on the promise that they would
return as witnesses in the trial
The guests of the party were allow
ed to go
This crowd of colored toughs. is part
of the same gang that made such big
disturbance at one of the GOrmly band
concerts a few weeks ago. 1t is com
posed of desperate coIored men who do
little but gamble, and women who make
their living on the street. It is the
toughest aggregation Of people which
has been in Topeka since the notorious
Redmondvile gang of years ago. Most
of those have been sent to the peniten-
tiary, and this younger crowd seems TO
Fe travelling in their footsteps.