Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-20

FtN"H
win be At your command, as well as the Of
7ctrs OF this court for The issuance Of any
process that yon feel, ae grand jurors. you
desire 70 issue. to have before you for in
qniry. through the necessary officials into
the conditions named.
Ths court was, for n number Of years.
connected with the District Attorneys office,
and IS somewhat familiar with difficulty OF
the police In securing the evidence neces-
cary for the conviction OF this class OF Of
tenders, and therefore, is in thorough SYM
pathy with the effort Of the police depart
mont 10 give to the citizens OF this COM
fnunity n proper and honest administration.
The insinuation appears TO have gone broad.
cast that the police officials have not been
doing their duty, and that the conditions
alleged. ss TO vice and gambling. are oper-
sting under and with the connvance and
consent OF the police department. This the
court believes TO be unfounded
''Yon as grand jurors, IL you desire 70
to DO. may have before you in an inquiry,
II you desire to conduct such an inquiry,
every official or other person that you,
as members Of the Grand Jury require
These cases will be sent before you by
that your earnest attention be given to
them"
REVIVAL OF POLICY.
At this point in the proceedings Judge
Rogers turned to Judge Finletter, of court
No Z, who had taken a seat on the bench
ferred for a moment or two and just as
the jurymen were about to retire Judge
Rogers added this postscript to his remarks:
Another thing wish TO call your at
tention to, gentlemen OF the Grand Jury.
before you retire, IL that a charge is made
there appears to have been revived in
Philadelphia a gambling game known as
poiicy-one OF the most vicious and low
est forms of gambllng-and in your In.
duiry you may, II. you desire, call before
you public officials, or others, to properly
conduct your investigation"
c. o. Mershon, real estate broker, of
1889 Spruce street, is foreman of the jury
Ordinarily the term OF service of the
Grand Jury would expire tomorrow. but Il
is likely that In view of the gravity of con-
ditions relative to vice. the jurors will be
held together until they have had suf1cient
time to summon witnesses and conduct an
inquiry into the alleged resumption Of gam
bling and alleged immortality in the city.
JURORS RESUME ROUTINE.
When Judge Rogers concluded his ad-
dress the Grand Jury returned to its room
and resumed the routine Of business during
which vice cases will como before the body
= investigation. The hearings before the
rand Jury are private and behind locked
doors. but II any instructions are needed
regarding indictments or summoning OF wit
nssses the District Attorney is communl-
Gated with. II Is not known. as yet, what
police officials or municipal authorities will
be summoned as witnesses by the Grand
Jury in their investigation of the charges
OF rampant vice conditions. II is expected
that Assistant District Attorney Taulane
will be assigned 10 wait upon the Grand
Jury for any assistance needed in the sum-
moning of witnesses in the vice cases
NO FIREWORKS" THIS TINE.
Following the disclosures that Tenderloin
characters cared little about the raid OF
Saturday. dozen arrests were made In that
section last night without any display OF
fireworks"
Plain-clothes men worked under tho di-
rection of Captain of Detectives Tate who
usually follows the plan Of working with
out spectacular effects. 1t was his first day
In charge OF the vice squad. He told the
men what would be expected of them and
advised them to be cautious and suro.
The prisoners arrested were taken to the
18th and Winter and 10th and Buttonwood
streets stations. The proprietors of several
speaSeasies were also arrested on warrants
sworn out by John BROMLEY. of the Law
and Order Society. The prisoners conducted
houses in the neighborhood of Franklin and
Callowhill and 18th and Winter streets
SEEK OTHER HAUNTs.
As result OF the Saturday raid many
of those who wlggled out of the dragnet
through the influence of petty leaders and
official hangers-on can now be seen In the
busy streets of West and Northwest Phila-
delphia.
Many OF those whose gaudy attire was
familiar in the streets OF the Tenderlon
can be found at night on SD street, between
Spruce and Market. Residents have COM
planned about them. Some of these womer
have approached men connected with re-
llgious organizations. also youths in this
section
With the evident attempt to show sin
cerity in the anti-vice crusade. the admin.
down on gambling. especially in the con-
spicuous places in the central part Of the
city.
Incidentally It has been noticed that the
handbook men who formerly worked at
Broad and at 18th and Chestnut streets
have confined their energies to the neigh.
borhood OF 18th street. which is regarded as
safer territory for their work.
Regardless of the police orders, however |
policy games are running in many places |
in the heart OF the shopping district. The |
word has gone out among those who follow |
this game. chiefly poolroom players and |
others OF indefinite pursuits, that II is back
to stay.
The policy patrons first tried the game |
out in the neighborhood OF 30th and Whar- |
ton streets and other points along Grays |
Ferry road many weeks ago. But the ne |
groes who followed IL In this sechon became |
too public in their methods and eventually |
the game crept toward the central part OF |
the city.
SOME GAMBLING HOUSES CLOSED.
Gambling houses in the goth and Attn |
Wards have closed. Those who know the |
devious ways Of politics say that they will |
soon be reoDened.
The wholesale raid conducted under the |
direction OF Director Wilson last Saturday |
evening han't resulted In the lids" being |
clamped down, according TO Tenderloin |
habitues The section where 500 persons |
were rounded up, habtues OF that locality |
said today is Just as wide open as 1t was a |
week ago
Many offenders who were caught in the |
big raid were visible on the streets in the |
10th Ward today. Some won their tenn |
porAry freedom by being released on bail /
by Magistrates.
TendeFloin habitues say they must ply |
their trade in order TO pay their commits |
sion to the bondsmen. These bondsmen |
made from 20 20 40 per cent. on the
amounts OF bail they furnished.
The big noise will soon blow over"
These seven words were on the lips Of /
dozens OF persons known 70 the underworld