The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-21
POLICY DENS RAIDED
CITY DETECTIVES SWOOPED DOWN
ON THE WRITER'S.
GOT BOOKS AND PAPERS.
ELEVEN PRISONERS SENT IN WITH
PARAPHERNALIA.

tiVes stark, Murphy mad wall
and Escnped-Others in Place
Kept in Line at Point of ReVOlv-
ers-Omcers Have Positive Proof
That One of the Prisoners Is n
Writer-OriEinaI Genuine, Chat
ham and Savannah Wheels Suf-
fer.
With drawn revolvers the city de-
tectives swooped down upon the
branch offices of three policy wheels at
l o'clock yesterday afternoon and elev-
en- prisoners We're caught. The raid
was almost complete success, and the
paraphernalia of the Chatham, Savan-
nah and Original Genuine wheels was
sent to police headquarters along with
the prisoners.
The raid was planned by Detectives
Stark, Murphy and Wall, acting I'M
der Instructions from Mayor Myers and
Supt. Reilly. The officers located two
rooms in Congress street lane, between
Barnard and jefferson streets, which
they learned We're being used by writ
ers, representing three policy wheels.
The drawings did not take place in
either of the rooms. ans the headquar-
ters were MOI found. The place was
used by the writer's just before their
departure twice a day for headquar-
ters, where the drawings take place
at 2 o'clock and o'clock.
One of the rooms was used by Sandy
White as a restaurant, and the pro-
prietor was arrested with the others
found in his place. He at first admit
ted being pastor of the Good Will Bap-
fist Church, but later declared that he
is only a member. White claimed to
have no connection with any of the
policy wheels, and alleges that the
writing was done in an adjoining room.
He admitted that the writer's frequent
ly patronized his shop, and that he was
aware of the nature of their business.
When searched 40 cents and lottery
drawings We're found on him.
The detectives are quite certain of
the arrest of one of the writers, and
some of the other prisoners have been
connected with policy before. w. H.
Telfair was found with books, tickets,
drawings and the amounts received
from the morning sales of tickets on
the wheel which he represented in his
district. 1t is believed that two of
the writer's made their escape, and one
of them left a costly raglan which
will probably remain unclaimed at po-
lice headquarters. Telfair had only
hoo To-, l.
he was bailed out. The other prisoners,
with the exception of three women
whom the detectives say were proba-
bly, prospective purchasers, were sur-
Tered to remain incarcerated when
makes it likely that they were little
more than players. The experience of
the police has been that the writers
are always promptly baied out.
According to the detectives the game
has been worked recently by means
of hand books, and the money taken
in at the place where the raid was
made was from belated customers who
didn't have their money ready when
the rounds were made. The writers
were figuring up the morning receipts,
and getting ready to present dupli-
Gates of the tickets issued to head
quarters so that the first drawing
could take place. Copies of the tick
to headquarters before the drawing
takes place. The hand books, rubber
stamps of the trade marks of the
wheels, slips. ink pads, envelopes, car
bon paper, pencils and the sheets for
headquarters were all taken in charge
by the detectives.
One of these sheets Telfair was try
ing to destroy when discovered by Pa
trolman Umbach. He had $685. when
searched, the amount collected from
the sale of tickets during the morn
ing. Emma Redfield, Rebecca Burn
side and Dora Webb had a total of so
cents when searched, but had not yet
purchased any tickets. They denied
that it had been their intention to play
the game, and explained their pres
ence in the shops in various and sun
dry ways.
Hardee benson, an aged shoemaker.
was the only prisoner who admitted
that he visited the place in the interest
of the game. The old man explained
that he went into the place to see if
he could cotch 'um" and that before
he had time to realize what had hap
pened dem protectives cotched me-
went fur to git de drawings an 1 got
drawed," explained the shoemaker. He
had 10 cents and the drawing of the
day before on his person. Charles
| Thomas, claiming to be painter, had
five knives and a slip of drawings,
which he claims he picked up in the
yard. L. ii. Rivers, whom the detec-
tives say is a writer. had $1.90, draw
ings and other paraphernalia. He de-
MES his guilt and claims that a book
containing figures was used by him to
make notes when he went visiting. W.
T. Kennedy, calling himself a mill
| hand, had sos and claimed to have
no connection with any of the wheels.
Peter Howard, a painter and glazler,
claimed to have gone to the restaurant
for bucket of paint which he had left
there earlier in the day. Erwin Pope.
| employed at the Southern Cotton Oil
Mills, alleges that he visited the restau-
rant for the purpose of warming.
The raid by the detectives was not
suspected, and was accomplished
| quietly and effectively. although two
of the writer's saw the officers APP
! preaching, and managed to make their
escape. The sight of the revolvers
| frightened the others. and they were
unable to get away. The news of the
/ big haul made by the detective force
was not generally known among the
! players, and during the early evening
| a large number of persons called at
Whites restaurant for the purpose of
getting tickets. A glance at the place
| was sufficient to show that the officers
had been active, and with disappointed
! expressions the would-be purchasers
shuffled out of the restaurant The
prisoners will be given a preliminary
examination by Recorder Myrick in
DrIf sr N...-