Bridgeton pioneer., 1901-10-03
OFFICERS RAID
A TOUGH HOUSE.

Three Girls and Six Young Fellows
Caught in Net That was Spread
by the Police officers Early Yes
terday Morning.
Sunday morning just past the
midnight hour, the local police Off
GERS dragged its net on Elizabeth
street and made big catch of dis
reputable fish in that obnoxious quar-
ter
The police have been preparing for
this haul for some time, and Saturday
night they made all arrangements for
the raid and they requested the Mayor
to go along and take in the scene.
Just after midnight officers Smith,
Betchner and Woodruff went down
in this tough whitechapel district,
and the Mayor and Officer Woodruff
took position in the rear of the little
house just south of Nat. Atkinson S
livery stable. Officers Smith and
Betchner then went to the front door
and demanded admission.
Immediately a knock was sounded
on the door, it was evident that some
thing was doing. Noises were heard
inside, and moment later black faces
were protruding through the little
trapdoor in the roof Officer Wood
ruff allowed these rats to get a
glimpse of his revolver and the heads
dropped down to place of safety.
Meanwhile the officers inside the
house were discovering things. They
found couple of young colored fell
lows down stairs, and the door lead
ing to the second story was locked.
By and by that was opened, and when
the policemen got up stairs they
rounded up seven more human be-
ings, all in one room. Three Of the
party were girls and none of them
were dressed The young fellows
were not attired for the street.
The whole nine were punched up
and taken to the City Hall, where
they were separately examined by the
Mayor. What he learned was most
disgusting.
Here is the roster of the gang:
Della Wilson, 18 years old, pro-
prietress of the place.
Hannah Gross, 16 years old, guest
OF the house.
Florence Demby, IL years old, an
other guest.
Frank Ward, 90 years old, visitor.
George Brown, II years old, visitor.
John Barcus, 16 years old, visitor.
George Branch, II years old, Wis
itor.
Jerry Brown, % years old, visitor.
After a full investigation the Mayor
sent the whole bunch over to Jail.
Della Wilson is held for keeping a
disorderly house and will have hear
ing on Wednesday. Frank Ward is
charged with rape.
The other girls are held as disorder
ly persons, and the young men as wit
nesses.
The officers visited the house yester-
day morning after daylight and found
it to be most filthy hole. There is
no furniture in the establishment.
Downstairs there is frame of an old
lounge. In the upstairs room where
the parties were found there is an old
lounge, and in one corner of the room
is an old bed tick. ALL the light there
was in the house was furnished by an
old tin lamp stuck in the neck of a
coffee pot.
The place has had bad reputation
for some time. 1t is alleged that
whites go there as well as colored
people. A story is told of a white
man going there recently and having
a watch stolen from him.
1t is also charged that the inmates
of this place furnish entertain
ment for another disreputable house
in that locality which is conducted by
whites.
Last night Louise Lewis, another
colored woman, was arrested in con-
nection with this den and locked up
in the station house. She will be dis
posed of this afternoon with the other