The Detroit times., 1914-02-21

Detroit. II chases dirt, Of the sort
which gathers a. the scum Of . big
|city. and Commissioner Gillespie II
well satisfied that he let the ''free
lance" squad do the work. But It
would hardly be proper u use that
other term never scratched yet" 90
tha organization is prepared and At
to show its claws at any time. as q
''strong arm squad" though that
classification covers only one angle Of
its many duties. =
Inspector Downey prefers to have
his command called the "free lance"
squad.
General police duty Is what we
are out for, and II. while on the way
to raid . handbook, we run across q
panhandler who IL begging ON the
street. we will give him attention" /"
says the inspector. During our raids
and Investigations. we have picked up
much stolen property, run ACROSS sev.
eral larceny cases, and uncovered any
number Of crooks. who have been
driven out, for the good Of the city,
Friday, details from the squad
started out to clean up Q petty form
OF gambling. which the police regard
40 almost as bad 40 = "big game" run
| by professionals. because young chill
dren play. gain the gambling instinct.
anG sQuander their pennies for .
chance on . glitterfng prize. The
prey Of ther aiders, Friday. was
punch boards" and lottery cards"
where one pays . small sum for the
privilege Of obtaining Q number which
may be lucky enough to win . box
Of candy, or other prize.
In saloons, the boards are used,
with bottles Of wine. boxes Of cigars.
or pipes - prizes. The prize
boards" have got TO 60. and viii be
picked mp BY the police wherever
they are found.
The free lance" squad has struck
terror TO gamblers. and TO the hand.
book men; II has made the bold pro-
prietors and mistresses OF houses
where vice existed. either quit the
business. or operate very quietly, and
the raiders hope to clean out all re-
sorts Of the sort.
They have arrested scores Of wo-
men Of the streets, who have been
taken to the station. and warned TO
| get out of town, take up honest work,
or be prosecuted - disorderlies.
| And that phase Of the work u one
Of the biggest parts OF the "free
lance" squads Job. They intend to
crusade % mercilessly on these wo-
men Of the streets, that the thorough
fares will be cleared OF them. That
will automatically wipe out the ques-
tiODable rooming house; the cheap
hetei, and the cafe which caters to
that sort Of trade.
But the campaign for q better De-
troit has meant hard work. and lots
Of 1t, for the squad.
Out on raids and investigations un.
til : and o'clock IN the morning,
the men. who are - enthusiastic a.
their leader. report for duty ct or 8
o'clock In the morning. and work
hours on any tips or other informa-
tion at hand, only to continue their
work the following night. II there II
work for them to do.
I'VE have no hours, and no special
line Of work." says Inspector Downey,
'The men are going into this clean.
up crusade IN way that II sure 70
bring the biggest sort Of results. They
have their hearts In the work, and
L
giving most Of his time. and hin best
effort, toward the work.
| I'VE will have the rooming houses
under control sooner than some peo-
pie think. We have the gamblers on
the run right now, and We will have
tbe city clean of gambling, BY pro
fessionals, In 4 short time. II we have
70 make one continuous series OF
raids on places that We find, or that
we receive information about. And
We are receiving lots Of tips to help
~ out.
,SThe street walker n one Of the
worst elements that We have to com.
bat. We Are bringing them In 10 fast
a. We can. At the rate Of Is in one
night, IT n not gong 20 take long "a
show these women that we mean
business, and that they had better
nnd other stamping grounds, or else
quit vice and live respectfully"
Arthur H,wan. - ysavs ell, Ne. III
Me1buvy.sve.. wos thrown fvo0 Do!
automobile at 0riswoId.se and
Grand River-ave., about $40. 9atur'
II -