Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-07

Usually the habitues of the Tenderloin
don't wear silk shirts. So one day when
three observant City Hall detectives
strolled through that section they were
surprised to notice that almost every
crook, dope-fiend and confidence man
they passed on the street wore one.
Detectives know that for every effect
there is a cause, especially in the Ten
derloin And because of their training
they are wont to presume that the cause
is a criminal one. 1t is their skill III
ferreting out this reason and sustaining
their presumption with facts that stamps
them as good detectives.
These gumshoe men wondered about
the silk shirts, and they began to make
some guarded inquiries. In every under
world district there are always men VINO
are willing to tell. These are the stool
Direons" despised of their fellows ana
the poiice alike. But they are some-
times useful to the latter
There were so many men wearing SILK
shirts that 1t was not very dlfhcult TOT
the detectives to find out from some OF
them where they came from. From one
of the "suuealers" they learned that II
Was known throughout the Tenderloin
that any one who wanted to buy cheap
fine silk shirts, with an assortment Oh
some of the very loudest colors, could
get them at 91s Winter street.
The detectives bore in mind that there
had been a robbery at the store or wal
ter G. Becker, 1913 Chestnut street, ana
that 500 silk shirts had been stolen so
they raided the Winter street house. AS
a result of the raid they arrested three
men George Wilson, q years old; Harry
Walton, 90 years old. and Harry Davis
,,,hn lives at S3l Vine street.
This story was told today by Detective
Dovle. who was accompanied on the
roundup by Detectives Benz ana lie
Strange.
Today Wilson told Doyle his story. He
said that for three years he has peen
employed in a paper-boX factory at Sth
and Willow streets There he was
trusted employe and steady worker
His downfall, he said. began a month
ago. He told Detective Doyle that ne
had a wife and family living uptown VINO
believe in his honesty He is said to
live near 2lst and Master streets
Wilson says he wanted TO be near his
Dlace of employment so he took a room
at 9lS Winter street, Frequently ne VS.
tied his family He says he did not know
much about the Winter street nelghbol-
hood, but soon he became acquainted win
some of the other roOmers In the house
you're a fool 10 work so hard" he
saws they told him. Look at US, We
take ii easy, don't work, have a good time
and always have enough money to see
us through. We so out every now and
then and pull a good job. Then we're
hxed for awhile, It's soft. You come
with US sometime and see for yourself
Wilson had vision OF easy money
and he thought he would be enabled TO
provide better for his family After
a while he consented. They told MIN ne
could be the outside man. When they
decided 10 rob the Becker store they told
him 10 watch the entrance. and they
passed out packages 10 him through the
transoni. II was risky job, for there
was a great chance Of discovery by the
police and by night workers who are In
the habit Of passing the building at that
time. between and 3 o'clock