Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-30
PORTER SHOWS HOW
CITY WAS LOOTED


IS &RnttHNcU from huFt Vnc
buildings condemned in order to extend
Spring street. We also found that he
had been stealing the lumber from houses
torn down on Fiibert street opposite
Broad Street Station, which were torn
down for the new boulevard.
"yve also found that employees of the
city of Philadelphia, paid by the city,
performed the work Of rebuilding this
hotel for Clay.
1--WE also found that the electrical
wiring and many other things, too
numerous to mention, were done by Chief
Mclaughlin and other employees from the
Electrical Bureau. We found the plans
for the hotel we're drawn by the city
architect. zlenzlger
THE plumbing and water pipes were
taken from the City of Philadelphia.
Concrete sidewalks at the hotel were
laid by men working for the City Of
Philadelphia and on the time Of the
city Even the copper cutters and drain
leaders purchased for the Ninth district
station house, then in the course Of
construction, were sent to Beaslcy Point
for Clay's hotel, and tin cutters were
substituted for the Ninth district station
house.
"a large amount of flooring intended Tor
the fire house on Erie avenue was
shipped to Beasley Point The entire
furnishings and carpets in the hotel were
charged to the city.
"1t was found that Councilman Sykes
had 5000 bungalow constructed at
Beasley Point and constructed in the
same manner. 1t was stated that learn
ing what was being done at Beasley
Point, he called attention to It, and $1,000
worth of rugs were sent to his home to
square the matter.
This hotel of Clay's was stocked with
liquors delivered from Kugler's Reestau-
rant, the head waiter rendering a bill to
Walter Hopper, chief clerk of the De-
partment of Public Safety
I'VE also found that three carloads Of
brick were sent to Beasley Point by the
Hydraulic Pressed Brick Company. of
Room 514 Real Estate Trust Building,
also all plumbing material furnished by
Charles Scheldrake, of 1900 Ridge avenue.
I'm December, 1912, Director Porter in
structed us to investigate rumors of graft
In the Detective Bureau. The men in
volved were--and Detectives--
and--. The Director suspended the
men and ordered them for trial.
- was found to be a CRATER of the
lowest type. When he was made
he was in financial distress and his per-
sonal effects were In Carver Reeds pawn
shop on Market street. After being in
office one month, he was openly betting
In the gambling houses of Philadelphia
$500 to $1,000 dollars on race and our in
vestisators found that in his last six
months of office he lost $4,000 to Paddy
Carroll, the Philadelphia gambler.
HE drove to New York on an average
OF four night q week in a car owned by
the city and driven by a chauffeur paid
by the city and gambled in the largest
houses of that city until in the morning.
He youid leave Philadelphia on Saturday
and remain in New York until Monday
morning and gamblers andSports of New
COnpN Island
nearby resorts in n car owned by the city.
All gasoline bought. all shoes cut and
tube punctures the chauffeur paid for and
received a bill which he handed to Walter
Hopper and the money was returned to
the chauffeur.
''These weekend trips were worth s2j
to the chauffeur who did a little graft
ing himself We found that - was
the agent for the champagne company
and compelled the proprietor of every
sporting house in Philadelphia to buy
- wine. We also found that -
protected wel-known crooks and from
this source alone ne received consider
able graft.
Several cases OF this kind have come
to light recently where notorious crooks
were arrested and found to be wanted in
this city for jumping previous bail bonds,
and one instance Is the Umbrella Kid,
who was brought from Canada recently
g
two-year sentence in the Eastern Peniten-
tiary.
GAMBLING FLOURISHED."
During the investigation our operatives
found gambling in most fiourishing
condition, a fact which was due to the
protection afforded them by the previous
administration.
1--WE found a syndicate. composed of
Paddy Carroll, Barney McCauley, Kid
la1
and operated all of the large gambling
houses in Philadelphia.
"The investigation OF cocaine was
taken up by Director Porter and under
his instructions we started in to clean
up the city of its cocaine dealers
sour operatives entered the Tenderloin
and other parts of the city and worked
themselves into the confidence of cocaine
hend dealers.
1.-The desired information was obtained
by our operatives and on December IL.
1912, % warrants were sworn out for
dealers in cocaine.
'.At . p. m. on that date our operatives
working with special officers of the sixth
district, under Director Porter's instruc-
tions. arrested 81 of the largest and most
notorious cocaine dealers in the city The
raid lasted until a. m. the following
morning, and the police officers who
made the arrests confscated in the neigh
leader of the cocaine traffic of this city
was caught in this net and is now serv-
ing one year in Moyamensing prison with
a fine of $500.
I'VE sent IS of the 2l dealers to prison
for terms ranging from seven months to
one year, and fines ranging from 500 to
$500.
During this investigation We un-
earthed several of the largest cocaine
dealers in New York and New Jersey
who practically supplied Philadelphia
with its entire output of cocaine"
''Affidavits were secured against these
wholesalers. giving names and addresses,
and placed in the hands of Director Por-
ter, who forwarded them to the officials
of the respective cities in which they were
located"
Burns report:
1--WE We're instructed by Director Porter
10 Investigate the conditions in China
town We learned that. under previous
administrations. 5000 monthly in graft
had been paid for the protection OF gam
bling and the selling of opium. This
money was divided between a police Off
eial, ex-Magistrate -, and Lieutenant
-.
FITp AND FTOI