Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-07-03
RAID IN PHILADELPHIA.

NO Idiu mOIc CObpielc anu SnPhaeO
than that of Saturday night has ever been
made in Philadelphia. At IL o'clock
800 policemen, divided into squads and
led by agents of the Law and Order So
ciety, under the general direction of d.
Clarence Gibboney, secretary of that or
ganization, swooped down upon 105
houses. Most of these were mere dens.
A large number were also speak.easies
and few were gambling houses. More
than five hundred women, girls, men and
boys were netted in the haul. All-night
hearings were held in Central Police
Station and in several district station
houses.
The rule fixed by Magistrate Eisen-
brown for bail and fines was followed
generally. He set the bail for keepers
of the houses at 5000, for women inmates
at $500, and fined the men $40 and costs.
1t was mixed lot of men and women,
boys and girls, for some of the prisoners
were scarcely more than children. Most
of the women we're dressed in striking
| duu III many CdSCS, uduucOmC NOotuihCns
Diamonds cleaned from not few.
Not few were, according to their own
stories, married women, who realized
keenly the terrible situation in which
they were placed A number proclaim
ed their entire innocence, and indulge
freely in tears aud mysteries.
Many prisoners presented pitiablespec-
tacles. Several women became hysteri-
cal and others, during the raids, attemp-
ted to jump from .ndows. One woman
nearly succeeded in throwing herself
from third-story window. Still others
threw themselves on the floors, struck
the boards with their heads and in heart
rending tones cried that their husbands
would kill them if they discovered they
were arrested.
1t was evident at glance that the re-
sorts raided comprised some of the most
fashionable in the city. Not one of the
women was slovenly orshabbily clothed
Some were in rather scant attire, having
been compelled to accom- pany the officers
on rather short notice; but the material
and cut of the garments worn were fash
iOnablc and expensive.
Represented in the throng Of hand
somely dressed, bejeweled women we're
the proprietresses ofsome of the most no.
torious resorts in the city. Some of
them for years had aourished openly and
without mOlestation, and their owners
had grown wealthy.
Some of the women prisoners were
weeping bitterly and continued to sob
violently during the night. Some bore
themselves in defiant manner and we're
loud in their denuncations TO what they
called "the outrage" Others evidently
regarded the affair as mere episode,
and were apparently indifferent.
Several of the women tainted and were
turned over to the ministiatiOns of the
assistant matron, Miss Maggie Cooper,
who during the night and until noon
yesterday cared for her prisoners.
Among the men the contrasts were
even more striking THAI among the wo-
men. They comprised the hardened and
habitual lrequenters of such resorts,
dressed in loud and cheap clothes, and
the fashionable clubman, in faultless
evening dress
But by far the most pathetic sight vas
the humber of youths who made up
considerable portion of the masculine
contingent. Some Of them gave their
ages as Is and II years, and quite
number bad not yet attained their ma
jority.
In house on Oxford street near
Seventh four couples were found. They
had been at theatre and were liz even
ing dress. the cries of the women were
pitiful as their male friends pleaded for
their release, declaring that they be-
longed to good families and had only
called at the place because the hotels
closed at II O'Clock With others they
were loaded into patrol wagon aud
taken to the Twelfth police district.
Three of the women swOOned after vain
ly offering valuable jewelry to be released.
Their companions had already offered
what money they had in their possession.
Inc i0ur magistrates who had charge
Of the hearing resulting from the cily'S
big raid are not through with the job by
any means. From the earliest possible
moment this morning, the friends OF
hundreds of women who were still in
jail were hunting up people who were
willing to become surety for the unfor-
Inmates or to pay the fines of those who
had been caught without the necessary
funds. While the raid was one of the
largest in the history OF the police annals
Of the city, the fight against such places
ha' not ye; been ended. There We re
585 prisoners taken 1t is under .,ood
that there are still nearly folr ',undre d
warrants which will be served tonight
If this is the case tonight's haul promises
to eclipse that of SatuyJ,v night.