The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-16
POLICY SHOP RAIDED.
Police Make an Unexpected Descent
on the Place.

Saturday afternoon as Chief of Po-
lice Henry NJ. Steele reposed quietly on
a chair in a down town barber shop
and the tOnsorial artist skilfuny WELD
ed razor over his face, several young
men entered at different times, and
the policy game was discussed. The
chief lay there listening to the CONVEX
SatiOn, and occasionally turned his
eyes enough to catch a glimpse of the
ones speaking. One of the BARRIERS
said that he had Won 80 at the game.
which was run in an upstairs room on
East seventh street. A customer an
nOunced that he was indignant that he
had paid in money, but had not re-
ceived a cent in prizes.
Several others told Of their expert
enceS at 'bucking the tiger all of
which the chief took note. Sunday he
secured more information about the
game.
O. NJ. CaprOn and James Kesson, Spe-
ciaI Policeman John Haisch and
Jailer John Dagg went to the place
armed with a warrant for the arrest of
the keeper of the place. The room in
which the policy game has been run
was on the north side of Seventh street
near the alley, between Kansas ave
nue. and Quincy street. Capron and
KeSsOn went to the front entrance and
in response to a mysterious knock
were admitted. In this room, which is
largee one, there were fully 40 people,
most of whom were cOlOred. DagE
and Haisch went to the rear entrance.
and they too, soon entered. The Of
hcers were in the room fully three min
utes before their identity was discov-
cred.
The men were looking toward a black
board which was posted at the end of
the room on which the drawings were
about to be announced. The men were
intent on reading from the black board
when CaprOn advanced. At this point
he was recognized and a wild rush was
made for the doors, but they were
hV
Sam Edgerton, notorious gambler.
was in charge of the game On an i'm
prOvised table was his cash box and
the stamped tickets for the drawings
Capron advanced rapidly and said to
EdgertOn;
You are my prisoner. Give ms
those things
The latter by this time was making
an effort to make away with the
stamps and cash box But CaprOn was
too quick for him, and he soon had the
stuff in n s possession John Ewing. a
large cOlOred man who lives in Ten
neSseetOwn, grabbed revolver which
was lying on a shelf under the table.
and when Jailer Dagg demanded il of
him, he slipped it to Nick Chiles. who
happened to be there. Mike Thomp-
son, the gambler and jOintist, was Ed
gertOn's right hand man last night.
and he tried to make way with the
stamps, but was prevented. The 40
colOred men in the place became noisy
and the officers We're beginning to
think tnat trouble was not lar distant
Dagg followed the revolver around the
room. 1t was hurriedly passed from
one man to another, and then it was
thrown from one side of the room to
the other, each time being caught by
some one of the colOred men. Finally
a very tall cOlOred man caught the re-
volver. and as he turned to pass il on
he looked squarely into the A. calibre
barrel of Caprons revolver. He drop
ped the revolver instantly and Days
soon recovered it. Sam EdgeTton Waz
the only man arrested. The charge OF
maintaining a gambling house was
placed against him and he was re-
leased on $50 cash bond. The cash box
and the stamps and policy tickets were
all taken in charge by the police. Ed
gerton will have his trial Thursday. 1t
is probable that he Will not fight the
case, as the whole game was recovered
and will be introduced in evidence in
addition to the testimony Of those who
Chief Steele heard tell of it. EdSerton
is well known in Topeka sporting cir
cles. He used to be here and was
known as a shrewd gambler. His wife,
Grace Edgerton, has been living in To-
peka since Edgerton was away but as
soon as he returned to this city, she
Iaf