The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-09
SCENES WOMEN
SAW in OPIUM
DENS SHOCK
Accompanied by Under
Sheriff Visit Resorts,
PrOprietOrS Alarmed.

There was a stir in the opium resorts,
of the city late Saturday night when
an unexpected visit was paid by
Under-Sheriff Charles M. Mason, one
of his men and Mrs. Emily Il. William
son, of the State Board of Guardians
and probation officer of Middlesex and
Union Counties. and Mrs. Frederick c.
Jacobson, of the Bureau of Associated
Charities, who was private secretary
for former Governor Franklin Murphy.
The quartet were taken in a coupe
to the various sections of the city
where the resorts were in full blast,
to which was attached team of
spirited horses in charge of Day Keeper
Cox, of the county Jail.
The party first went to Lafayette
street and walked quietly into the
places commonly called "opium joints"
and the Chinese in charge grew pale
until informed by the under sheriff
that the call was not an official one,
but simply a visit. All hands were sur
prised to find Young America" of both
sexes seated on couches using the drug,
or in plain terms hitting the pipe.
Mrs. Williamson and Mrs. jacobson
were very much surprised and won
dered why there wasn't a law to pro-
hibit such practises.
The different places which were
raided a short time ago for gambling,
Chinese style. in charge of Orientals
who were convicted and fined, were all
visited and the women were astonished
at what they saw.
Mr. Mason recognized a number OF the
patrons, and they ehuddered when they
saw him. The vehicle switched off of La
fayette street into Mulberry street and
thence into Market street, and one by one
the Chinese restaurants, known as chop
suey joints, were visited.
The party watched the manner in which
youths and girls Of tender age were
served by the Cinnamon and were aston
ished to witness the hungry ones devour
the food cooked in foreign style in rapid
order Here and there were girls smoking
cigarettes, and both of the female MEM
bers Of the party were seen TO blush.
A reporter who happened to spy the
quartet entering one Of the places fol-
lowed, Little was said or done In his pres
enee. 1t was in this way the story leaked
out, but today little could be learned from
the under sheriff and the others could not
be located.
Of the Cinnamon had been visited, trip
to the Hill section was made, and the
cheap dance halls were looked into one by
one.
When the party was passing through
Prince street number of plainclothesmen
discovered them and in order to throw
them off their guard Driver Cox decided TO
drive the team in various directions.
When the vehicle first passed Springfield
avenue and Prince street but one police
man was noticed there, but when 1t passed
a second time there was one on each corner
That the news Of the arrival of Sheriff
Sommer's subordinate was spread was evil
dent, for when the party entered a certain
dance hall roundsman and five patrolmen
were found inside, and the special police
man hired by the proprietor of the hall
took unusual pains in notifying the various
dancers as they glided around not to spiel
or dance improperly.
When the party reached another hall
which usually closes at midnight, the pro-
prietor decided not to take any chances
and he told the header of the band to
strike up Home, Sweet Home" fifteen
minutes before that time. The lights wefe
out and the hall cleared sooner than the
usual time.