The sun., 1897-12-05
INFESTED By GAMBLERS.
Two Happenings Recall a Not
able Raid.
FORTY BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.
Death of George W. Humphrey anu
Decision Oh New Castle County
VS.. DOughcrty Suggestive.

sons at one time identified with the his
tory of Wilmington have been brought
prominently before the public. The
first one comes to the notice of the peo-
pie by reason of his death. The second
through decision in the Court OF Chan
Gerry on long standing case. They both
figure in one of the most important
events in our municipal government,
which occurred in lSS7-the gamblers
raid.
George W. Humphrey, formerly of this
city, died at his home, Bloomland, near
Eustis, Fla. He was the editor OF the
Every Evening at the time that paper in
augurated the successful crusade against
the gambling dens of this city. The
Chancellor OF Delaware recently granted
decision to the county OF New Castle in
it's case against ex-Tax Collector John J.
Dougherty, formerly of this city,
who embezzled the county funds
during his term of Office.
These two happenings recall what was
perhaps the greatest raid on keno joints,
gambling houses and dens of vice, that
ever took place in the United States.
The late George w. Humphrey was
editor OF Every Evening at that time
and JOHN J. Doughery was Chief OF
Police.
The movement was started by
the said newspaper for the purpose of
proving that the most dastardly condition
OF vice existed in this city under the
very eyes Of the police department. The
matter was placed in the hands of the
Mooney 4 Boland Detective Agency.
with Offices at BOP Chestnut street, PhiIa-
delphia, and on August l3, 1887, Joseph
W.Aiken, ,onc Of the Shrewdest men con-
nectcd with the agency, arrived in this
city and laid his plans whereby to oprr-
ate against the gamblers On AuguS, %
Andrew ]. Randall, Of the same agency.
joined Detective Aiken in the work. Tho
crafty and suspicious character of the
gamblers made tie work o! gathering
evidence against them no easy matter
but it steadily progressed
Mayor Calvin B. RhoalS entered the
project and gave all the help he possibly
could to the two s}cuthS. Detectives
Aiken and Randall gJt in the confidence
OF the policy writers and keno players
joining in their n"iarlou~ schemes. play
ing at their gaming tables and AL th,
time weaving an unbrok"n cham "
damaging evidence around the bIackIrg>
II was decided that the raid Oh II th'
houses operating in the city should taxi
place on September 18th, and on th
night Of the l2th, warrants were issur'
by Judge CumnllllS for the arrest Of TIN
whole let. Ten members OF thn Moonc,
and Boand ictrytivp Agency came her
and they were assisted by twcnty-tiv
local policemen. At II O'Clock on tn
morning Of September 1851 TIE warrant
were placed in the hands OF the u!liccr
and the greatest raid on the mos
thoroughly arranged gaming houses j
the United States took place. Policy
writers, keno players, poker players
operators OF the ''swet' game and thei
hackers were hauled in. The ON
particular feature OF tie raid being til
capture of the hackers OF these dastardl
gamblers.
The first victim was Perry p. Blak,
colorcd, policy writer, who operated ;
Third and Walnut streets. He W;
brought in at | l.3O a. III. and the o.hc
followed in rapid succession. Willial
Niney, policy writer, at 4O7 French stree
John Grubb, coIorcd, policy writer,
400 French street, George Beckley, polio
backer, William Weeks policy writer,
Sixth and Walnut streets, Alfred T.. Bar
policy writer Il, / French street, Jol
G. Cornegy's, policy writer, at 10 FrnC
street. Frank Layton, policy writer,
IL Tatnall stree, John Farniar, pr
prictor Of the keno and faro room, at Il
old Water Witch Fire Conpnny's hous
ON >hiplry street, between Fifth al
Sixth streets, john Clark, keno, at 3
Shiplcy street, Irnui, Sharper, ken
500 Wa!nu, street; J. c. Jrii"r-, pol
writer poker und "~N,t" p!Hy,
Eighth and lMNaIl streets; JOHN '
prico, poker player, alley oil liih sire,
Thomas White, IU3 King street: IoscI
lL,GaU,icy, policy writer, loi Mark
street: Al. Fountain, general gumbi
dcu, Filth and Market streets; VI
'Cnich' FuN policy writer, i'rn
street near United States iiutc,; :. Fl
LcmucI Stroud, bee File, and l..
Stroud keno and policy, Third stu
near Walnut: john 4. Parker, poii
writer, ~ French street. Others cuug
in the uiG wrrn: ". II. Johnson, Per
IIou~t"d, Joseph iiroWn, Perry iit@
mHn, G.r?r Fisher, Benjamin Law
John smith, Waiter Winggtc, CIa
lIcilnan, Daniel McEucmy, James y
tonahan, Obrd GIghtyn and Jo.rI
Wcntz.
One Of the biggest dcns in the city "
ghat of Stroud and File on Third str,