Bridgeton pioneer., 1904-02-11
MAYOR LEADS POLICE
in MIDNIGHT RAID.

Mayor Alex II. Fithian is deter
mined to enforce the observance of
laws in this city. and Saturday night
he with the police officers served
notice that disorderly houses were to
be placed under the ban.
For long while the town has had
a reputation of being more or less
open, and there have been several
houses that have been discussed as
places that vera not fit for respect
able community.
The police found one Saturday
night, and it was running in pretty
full blast.
The raid was upon the house of
Mary Cook, No. 73 Academy street in
the Third ward Mayor Fithian per-
sonally conducted the attack with the
entire police force. Former Mayor
George Hampton also went along to
keep company with Mayor Fithian.
1t was little before midnight when
the Mayor, the former Mayor and the
officers of the force began to assemble
over in the Third ward. They all
went over singly and attracted no at
tention. When they reached Academy
street. they went directly to the house
presided over by the Cook woman.
Officer Woodruff was stationed at
the front door. while Officer Barton
took up a position at the rear exit.
Officers were placed at the side Of the
house, and Mayor Fithian and former
Mayor Hampton knocked at the front
door. They Immediately entered when
the door was opened trifie, and then
there was trouble.
In the house were ten persons, seven
men and three women. Some we're
| drinking, all were more or less under
the influence of liquor and one fellow
was genuinely drunk.
/ When Mayor Fithian walked into
the house, there was a'general scatter
ing. and several of them made at
tempts to leave the premises bnt the
officers outside showed them back in
the coop. One fellow did manage to
slip through the back door and got
past Officer Barton, but he is known
and will be sent for.
When the Mayor explained that all
Of the party were under arrest, the
officers were called in, and process
sion was formed, the entire ten being
marched down to City Hall.
Here there was preliminary ex-
animation conducted by the Mayor.
It was established that Mary Cook
conducted the house and was its re-
sponsible head.
The other persons were then singly
examined and each gave positive tas-
timony showing the nature of the
place. Little was concealed and there
was absolutely no doubt in the minds
of the Mayor that the place was a
house of i'll repute conducted for gain
by the woman, Mary Cook.
The defendant was then formally
charged with maintaining and oon-
Quoting a disorderly house, and in de-
| 1auIO VI Udll WAS CUMmltG6u To jail.
for a hearing Tuesday afternoon at
four O'Clock.
Each Of the others were held in bail
as witnesses.
One Of the women. wife, youne
woman was quite much overcome and
she cried bitterly all through the hear
ing.
There will possibly be number of
other witnesses subpoenaed from the
people VINO have been freauenting the
place. the police have long list of
such names.
This, the Mayor proolaims, is only
the beginning. The police have strin-
gent orders to ferret out all such dens,
and these places springYup and are
not discovered by the officers, the
police will be held responsible. There
will be no fiuke raids, the Mayor,de
termining moi. to moves until he has
the evidence. Then he will act and
nobody will be-protected. The elimi-
nation Of the disorderly house element
has been fully determined upon by
the Mayor.
~HN.-