The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-08
POLICE DRAGNET
ROUNDS UP |DLERS
Vicious Characters Without Visi-
bic Means Of Support Placed
Under Arrest.
TWO RAIDS BRING IN 1903
Recent Epidemic OF Petty Crimes
Leads to Sitting OF
Underworld.

Following out a policy inaugurated
several weeks ago as preventive
against the smaller crimes and mlsde-
meanors committed by the idle ana
vicious class, double raid was made
by the police early yesterday morn
ing, and as n result more than nun
dred negroes, alleged to be OF the idie
and vicious class, were locked up IN
both police stations on various charges
OF disorderly conduct. vagrahcy anu
protiigacy.
raids in each district were begun
simultaneously. Sergeants Shoemaker
and Neisz led the raid in the Second
District. with Privates Walker. Clarke,
Krengel. AGREE. Richardson and
Shields. In the First District the men
were led by Sergeants Sowell. thinner
and Wiley, who were followed ny Fri-
Yates Brantley, Folkes, Smith, AKIN
son. warriner, Bernstein, GENTRY,
Kuhn. Griffin. Mitchell, Jennings and
Bryant sixty men and women OIL al
ages, varieties and sizes were coi
rallied In the First District, and forty
three were run in from the secoho
District.
Raids Quietly Conducted.
II was shortly after o'clock when
the forces moved quietly out OF 'ne
station houses and set out on their
quest In the First District the raid
extended from Ryans Alley, down on
lower Main Street up TO College Al
ley, which runs north of Broad. 30
quiet was the work done that Few or
those for whom the police were look
ing had an opportunity of escapins.
They were caught like sheep, ana
We're so closely surrounded that any
attempt to break away was quickly
foiled by discretionary use OF the
night stick. They were lined up IN
an alley, while the patrol wagon
made several trips to take them all
into the station They cursed pleaded
and wept. The women cried. protest
ing their innocence. But they were
mainly old customers. nearly all OF
them were known and recognized as
crapshooters idlers and pro-
fiigates, men and women who live by
sleight of hand rather than by honest
work. 1t is hard to catch them in any
specific act, and often, when caught,
the vagaries of the law afford only
too many loopholes of escape. There
fore, the authorities decided. after
continued reports of petty thefts.
and other like crimes
and misdemeanors had poured into
headquarters. that the only thing to
do was TO corral the whole lot OF sus-
poets on charges from which they
could not escape and bring them into
court. The first time raid of this
sort was made Justice Crutchfeld sent
nearly the whole gang to jail and
there was noticeable decrease in
petty offenses. So. It was decided to
make second raid, so that all the
bad characters who were not caught
before might be caught IN the big
dragnet this time
Seven WagOnloads.
In the Second District the raid was
confined mostly to Brook Avenue.
Most OF the crowd was caught within
one block The officers started at
both ends of the block. and closed In
on the negroes. gradually getting
tnem closer and closer until all were
huddled together in group. One or
two dashed away and escaped The
others were backed up against q wall.
ana held until the patrol automobile
made several trips to carry them
away. There were many women ~
the crowd, but their characters were
believed to be as questionable as thosa
of the men.
The police did not attempt to arrest
nose VINO were not known to be pro-
hisates and idlers, and in every in
stance those negroes who are known
TO be workers and to have good char
acters. were released IL they we're
caught accidentally in the dragnet
The police confined their operations
only to those who they have reason
70 oelieve do not work for their llv-
ing ana never show visible means OF
support.
me raids were effective. Few es-
capped: 1t is believed that the result
w" WI, De wholesome influence for
others VINO are prone to lives of vice
ana crime And whenever 1T is deemed
'ieceseary, other raids will be made |