Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-04
ALLEGED POLICY WRITERS ARRESTED.
Police Raid House OH Front Street and
Take Three People Into Custody.

Police Raid House OH Front Street and
Take Three People Into Custody.
Police Captain George Black, Ser
geant Lyons and Patrolman Conner
made q raid on Saturday afternoon at
the house at the northwest corner OF
Front and West streets. said to be the
residence of james Walls, and took into
custody Walls, Joseph White and
Ellen Durney, against each of whom a
charge of being concerned in lottery
policy writing was preferred.
The cases were called at Mon
day. 8 session OF the City Court White
and Wallis appeared, but a physician's
certificate was received stating that
Mrs. Durney was too sick to be present
and her case was continued, ,as was also
that againstWalIs, although he expressed
bis willingness to go to trial and said
he was ready.
White was given a hearing. The
officers who made the raid testified
against him. Capt. Black said when
be entered the building White was
seated at a table, with policy book
and numerous papers in front Of HIM,
copying rows. Mrs. Ellen Durney and
Mrs Walls were in the house at the
time. Sergeant Lyons said when the
officers reached the place Walls was
standing on the corner, but he entered
the building and called to the captain,
saying: Captain, take me. but don't
take the rest There is nobody here but
me and my sick wife," Officer Conner
corroborated the captain and sergeant,
30 far as ,he saw. Mrs. Walls was not
arrested. White was held in $1,000 bail
for the Court OF General Sessions.
For several months it has been an
open secret that policy was being played
to considerable extent in this city,
and ON February 2Sth Sergeant Evans
rested John Il. Mcdowell on the charge
of being concerned in writing pulley.
| He was found in a house in White.
chanel and at the time of his arrest a
| quantity of pulicy paraphernalia was
was arraignei in the City Court anf
waived hearing, being held in bal
for the pext term of the Couit Of Gen
eral Sessions.
1t was intimated at the time tina
other arrests would follow, as there wa
a large suspicion that other writers
were within reach, but when Chief o
Police Massey was questioned, tine da,
of the arrest, he said there were nj
more warrants out-at the time. He de
olared, however, that arrests would b
made wherever the evidence could b'
obtained. Ever since that time, ac
cording to an officer of the Police De
partment, the authorities have beel
making an effort to secure evidenc
against suspects.
Recently nearly all of the polio,
writer's have been plying their yoca
tions on the streets, being what
known as walking hooks y They ha
no permanent headquarters but circu
lated each day among players, neetin
the latter on streets, in stores and a
other places, usually fixed by an under
standing with those who Indulge regu
ilarly in this form of gambling. 1t wa
j presty generally believed, however. an
! subsequent events have heightened thi
suspicion, that the chief writer's ha
$ headquarters known to the "walkin
, booka'' and q few others, and th
J walking book' class of writers wei
merely employees OF the hackers agents
| The hackers are it is understood, res
dents of Philadelphia and Washington
d. O., and they have been foxy enoug
> to keep out of the meshes OF the Law
: having their work done here throug
: agents who make daily trips to an
from Philadelphia.
Some of the 'walking books'' hay
, regular customers who are employed
4 stores and. .other places OF business an
b daily visits to those places are mad
From what can be learned, it is
losing game. as rule, for the players
Q but it appears to have fascinatin
which is bard to shake off when ii
Z tickle goddess is once tempted in tn
= manner.