Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-10
CRAP JOINTS RAlDED.
TWENTY THREE PRISONERS DAG
GED IN PINK ALLEY.
Two DISORDERLY PLACES CLOSED.
Second District Police Mako a Fig
Haul of Negro Gnmblcrs-some Luz
dicrous Scenes Enacted by the VIC
Tins In Their Attempts TO Escape.

There was a hot time in Pink Alley
last night. The negroes who are wont tc
gather around the green tables IN the
crap joints operated in the euphoniousiy-
named alley by John Thomas and John
| Wall and daily with the ever-seductiVe
| bones, were interrupted about the mid
night hour in their lirtations with the
tickle goddess, and many OF them are
now repining behind prison bars, while
the bones. together with all the dough
for which they ratified" are in the Gus
tody Of Sergeant Cosby.
Pink Alley runs from Sixth to Seventh
street between Broad and Marshall. and
at the corner OF this alley and Market
street stands the joint which John Thom-
as has run with much profit to himself.
Across the alley stands Mundy's Hail,
the name of which has lately been
changed to Music Hall, and over this
ranch" John Wall oiiciates at the pre-
siding genius.
DISORDERLY PLACES.
For some time the police have been
aware Of the nature Of the two houses,
but they have lain low, awaiting IA
vorable opportunity for making raid.
For some time disorder has reisned SUI
preme in the two joints, and on last
Saturday night a pistol was fired in one
of the houses. IT was impossible for the
police to ascertain who fired the shot, 80
a raid was determined upon. 1t was de-
cded to wait until Saturday night to
visit the houses In order that as many
Of the habitues OF the two places as pos
sible should be captured.
Accordingly, last night q Gordon of blue
coated officers assembled at the mouth
Of the alley, and with silent tread sur
rounded the two houses. AS they stood
without the windows the click of the
bones could be distinctly heard, and
mirthful peal of laughter would ever and
anon break the stiffness Of the night as
some more fortunate gambler would roll
his Seven" or capture big Dick"
THE OFFICERS RUSHED IN.
At a given signal the officers closed in
on the two houses and then the "niggers"
scattered. They made fer the doors and
the windows like rats scamping for
hole, but at every turn they were con-
fronted by brass buttons. AS each man
presented himself he was taken into GUS
tody, and when the policemen returned to
the station they had with them twenty
three prisoners, sixteen having been bag
ged in one house and seven in the other.
LUDICROUS SITUATIONS.
The situation when the officers pre-
scented themselves In the biggest estab-
lishment was truly amusing. One OF the
victims made a dash through a window
and got his body through the aperture,
but one of the minons Of the law got
grip on his leg and he was hauled back
into the room. In the mean time three |
of the darkies had secreted themselves |
beneath the table, and had endeavored |
to pull 1t down upon them and thereby |
escape detection. but, like the ostrich, |
they had hidden only their heads, and |
they were soon pulled forth.
At the statlon-house a number of the |
prisoners furnished security and were |
bailed, but a number Of them were forced |
to spend the night in a cell. All of them
will be in the Police Court tomorrow