The Twin City star., 1914-09-11
CATCH ONE IN RAID ON "BUF-
FET FLAT"


FET FLAT"
J. L. Gibson, a negro, was in mum
icipal court today accused of keeping
drinking place which the police
style buffet flat" Gibson was ar
rested yesterday by James c. Hardin,
colored detective, who said he had at
tempted for several weeks to get into
the flat at 627 Fifth street NJ, after
he heard that the place was carefully
guarded against the police.
Gibson was caught in the raid on
the Porters' and Walters club at 900
Hennepin avenue, second floor, when
that place was closed several weeks
ago and, according to Hardin, boasted
at that time that the police could not
get into his flat.
Hardin sent messenger boy to the
place yesterday and when the door
was opened to admit the boy, Hardin
jumped in the hallway and went into
the flat. He said he found A. J. Haw-
kins and B. Ritchie drinking beer and
that the men declared they had paid
for it. They were locked up as wit
nesses. ---
Hardin said that persons living near
the place had complained that white
women had been seen going there
and that the police had decided to
raid the flat at the first opportunity.
Minneapolis Journal.
The above clipping from a. leading
white newspaper is the result of an
interview with Detective Hardin. He
is fond of notorety and generally
makes statements to the courts and to
reporers, that often bring about race
prejudice. -. ---' ..
Hardin knows that in that locality
there has been for many years an
element of Negroes and white living
together, and the police authorities
have not ordered any special dis
contentious on account of color. We
admit that there will always be gen.
eral prejudice against these condi-
tions. Hardin appeals for sympathy.
He refers to the Porters' and Walters
Club, which has not been either
raided or closed several weeks ago.
He does not state that Hawkins and
Richie were sent to Mr. ,Gibson's on
an errand by. .him-and that he found
no white women-that he allowed
two Negro business men, Mr.. With
ers, the expressman and Mr.. Harris,
the groceryman, to remain unmolest-
ed. Neither does he state, that he
abused Mr. Gibson and threatened to
murder him. Mr.. Gibson is now suf-
fering from a burn on his eye, from a
lighted cigar-butt thrown by Hardin.
Hardin collected bottles of beer,
one half pint of whiskey as evidence
of his big raid on a blind-pig. He is
lalso careful to not make public that
he drew his gun and called Gibson a
black son - and said he would
Eget the combination. There are
rumors that Hardin's friends knew of
the proposed arrest of Gibson before
hand. He said he would get Shull,
Charley Hamilton and Gibson. He
did not tell the newspapers that Mr.
Cunningham lost $4,000 at the South
side Club and got his money back,
and nothing was done, or that he did
not send his stool pigeons to Stew
arts Big Gambling Hotel. But the
newspapers may publish that there arc
many. cases where vice is CONNER
Icialized, under the control of Hardin
land unknown to the police depart
lment His Honor, Mayor Nye, has
left the matter of police investigation
among Negroes, entirely to Hardin.
I'VE have no grievance, when he does
his duty. But why is it that so many
real houses of prostitution and buff
fet-flats are running openly? Does
Harding know about the Marie Green
lease? Did he fix Ed. Green for the
IGrand jury? Does he regulate the
traffic for financial benefit? Does he
protect only. those who pay him!
docs he tell people that he has a
"blaok list" and 81 can do what
want to until they get me?" Is Clar-
ence King of the Maceo Club 60
between? These are answerable ques-
tions and they will 'be answered al
the proper time. Mayor Nye has
ordered an investigation.
Gibson's hearing was set for Sept