The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
a GAMBLING HOUSE RAID
POLICE GET FIFTEEN MEN AT THE
NOTORIOUS "LAN-SHA."
Dice and Chips Found on the Players,
Who Had Escaped to an Adj
Joining Room.

A squad of police sergeants and patrol
men under Captain Dawson raided the
"Lan-Sha," 17S South Illinois street, at II
O'Clock last night, and captured besides the
proprietors of the place, fifteen men, who
were slated on charges of visiting gam
bling house. The police have been trying
to catch game IN operation at this place
for several days. Captain Kruger and Ser
geant Lowe have gone through the place
several times, and their reports showed that
the place had the appearance Of being
gambling house, but no game was ever
found. Last night the place was surrounded
and the several entrances were forced.
When the police reached the second floor.
where the gambling was thought to be go
ing on, they found a billiard table and
round table, presumably used for playing
oontz and poker There were no players,
however. The house was searched and in
the front room on the second noor nIteen
men were found They were standing about
IN the dark, and when searched some OF
them hau dice and 'cnips" in their peck
cts. A number of chips were also found
about the room.
The first search OF the room revealed only
thirteen men, and the police thought they
had made a good eaten as 1t was, but IN
rumaglng about the fourteenth man was
found hiding behind a dresser. lie was
pulled out and searched, and nothing in
eliminating was found on his person. Inc
fifteenth man was found outside the VIM
dow. He was clinging tor dear life to the
sill, and declared atterward that II was
great relief to be arrested, as he was nearly
frozen and his strength was waning. The
crowd gave him the laugh" when ne was
hauled in, and shouted for joy that boy
from home should be among the unfor-
tunate. A well-known gambler named
Woods was in the place at the time the
police appeared, but he and some OF his
friends found egress through back Win
dow. They had to jump distance of
twenty feet.
to Woods, for his legs almost reached. the
ground. He was last seen going through
the tunnel. He was met at the north END
by two well-known local gamblers.
What 1t iz,' asked one of the latter, in
great excitement. HAT de coppers pulled
de houze?"
He vas assured that such was the case.
"Und dot beautiful billiard table; vat did
dey done wild dot?
Mr.. Woods told him he did not know.
but he remembered the police had carried
away a safe at Dan Smiths place few
days ago.
''Vell den go and Sc de police carry
away de table," he exclaimed, ''and dere
will be many dead policeman before dey
gets dot table oudt.''
Meanwhile Captain Dawson and his men
were busy. They searched the men and
then sent them to the police station in the
patrol wagon. The proprietors of the sa-
loon were charged with keeping a gambling
house. and the fifteen others with visiting
gambling house. The visitors gave fictitious
names. Ollie Larham and John Shea are
the proprietors of the saloon.
All the men arrested We're released on
bond. Some of them deposited the required
amount of cash. and Fred Heller signed a
bond for the others.