The Washington times., 1902-03-17
POLICE RAID TRIO
OF SPBAKBASIBS
Drag Net Holds Fifty Negro
Men and Women.
Places Located in Alleys Cause Police
Much Annoyance-Effort to
Clean Them Out.

The Second precinct police station was
| crowded all day yesterday and last night
as the result of a roundup made by the
police of three alleged iourishing speak
easies located within the precinct.
More than fifty negro men and women.
who had been caught in the police drag
net while enjoying Sabbath drink. made
| the station house corridors ring with their
songs and laughter, until it became al
\ most impossible for the tired bluecoats to
/ sleep. (
The raids had been planned early in the
week by Lieutenant Byrnes. who has de-
termined to place ban on all speak
easies in his district. Those taking part in
the operations were Sergeants Sprinkle,
LYDIA, Precinct Detective Evans. and Po-
licemcn Forteney, McGrath. and Barte-
man. There was no end of excitement,
and, owing to the frequent attempts made
by some Of the negroes to escape the po
licemcn were kept busy.
In Plain Clothes.
The squad OF officers left the station
early in the morning in citizens attire
and proceeded first to the home of an old
colored woman bearing the historic name
of Martha Washington. 466 Kings Court.
Martha was not expecting the bluecoats.
and when they entered the house they
met with anything but pleasant recep-
tion. A number of negroes were found
sitting in a middle room enjoying a sus-
picious- looking beverage. After making a
thorough search. the police escorted Mar
tha to the station along with her guests.
The next place visited by the raiding
party was the home of Annie Richardson.
II Fenton Street. a negro woman of the
plantation type. weighing more than 300
pounds. After six or eight men guests hadl
been corralled in the front parlor, search
was made for any liquors that might be
concealed in the house. One large pint
bottle Of liquor was found on a table. The
police continued their search and found
in small bureau drawer nearly a half
and the Richardson woman with her
guests were given a ride.
The next one to fall into the police drag
net was Fannie Carter. Hardly had the
members of the raiding party reached
her house at 46 Pierce Street northwest
before one negro stationed outside gave
the signal. and the bluecoats were com
PEELED TO rush. Upon entering the back
room tw. bottles of wliskey were found
on a table while eight or nine negroes
seated around were imbibing freely
Tried TO Escape
At the sight of the bluecoats a num-
Der of the inmates made efforts to es-
cape by jumping out OF windows and off
back porches, but were caught and
brought back. The patrol wagon was
once more summoned. and the inmates
loaded in and taken TO the station.
Just as the little squad of bluecoats
was about to return one big negro
wrenched himself free from the grasp of
a policeman. and, running to a back porch.
plunged headlong to the pavement He
fell, but scrambled quickly to his feet
and. before Sergeant Sprinkle could catch
him. disappeared down an alley Only
two weeks ago the police raided the same
place. The woman's husband. who is a
cripple. assumed all blame. generating
her. He is now serving Il sixty days
sentence in the workhouse.
This ended the series of raids, and grad
ual calm settled over the various alleys.
An Effort TO Purify.
II is only by making such raids, II is
asserted by police officials, that law
lessness in the alleys can be brought to a
stop. In discussing the matter of driv-
ing out ''speakeasics" from this city's
alleys. Lieutenant Byrnes. of the Twen-
ty-third precinct, last night said
by raiding these places We arc able
to prevent assaults and probable mur-
ders. II we were to let them flourish
there would DE any number of deadly as
saults. because the negroes would con-
gregate in the houses. become drunk. and
then get into fight, with possible serious
results. Thus. as long as we can locate
these place we intend to put them out OF
business. 'Speakeasies' are in my esti-
nation. the root of all evil, SO far as
murders in Washington are concerned"
Would Do Their Best.
Fat thcr-Now remember I have forbid