Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-26
TENDERLOIN SHOULDER
COLD TO THE DEMON RUM
Police Station Houses Records
Show Two-thirds' Reduc-
tion in "Drunks"

Drunkenness in the Tenderloin has de-
creased more than two-thirds since this time
last year and the police with one accord
lay this to one major cause and one minor
cause They point out that the greatest
benefit has resulted from the increase of
liquor prices and that the prevalence Of
Jobs to be had has been minor contrib
uting factor in the decrease of inebriety.
One year ago today there were twenty
six men lined up for drunkenness in the
Eleventh and Winter streets station. Today
there were five. one year ago today there
were sixteen men taken into the Tenth and
Buttonwood streets station for being drunk,
and today there were six. For several weeks
past ever since Doc" kellys hNe-cent
whisky was abolished things have been the
same IN the Tenderloin. Also, crime has
decreased.
Where l used to take a wagonload of
twenty prisoners down to Moyamensing
Prison or to the Correction boat year
ago" said Marty Heffernan, driver of the
Tenderloin van. II now have at the most ten
and sometimes only one or two"
NO PRISONERS! WHAT!
Marty nearly fell off his seat one morn.
ing last week when there were no prisoners
for his attention His territory includes the
Twentieth and Buttonwood streets district
home of the Callowhil street gang; the
Tenth and ButtonwOod streets district in
the heart of the so-called vice belt; the
Eleventh and Winter streets district which
includes Chinatown and the more garsh
Tenderlon the Fifteenth and Vine streets
district. where they get more well-dressed
drunSs than anywhere in town, and the
Eighth and jefferson streets district. Many
! times he had to make two trips to carry
| the load of prisoners.
Bill Cooper. Of the Eighth District patrol
! ,Ybn bag cd ma 1G' i,
other mems frames) into the station house
for the last ten years, says: we used to
go. places and find three and four of them
on the ground like after a battle. We used
to have to pile 'em into the patrol wagon
with the lGhtest and least loaded on top
for safety'I sake. Now we bring them in
one at time and only at long intervals
The high pr,ce OF whisky is what does
this Now we get only those who have been
working at some hlgh-paying place and
want to spend their stake. The old-lne
bums who used to hang around and get
stewed for fifteen cents have gone some
place else"
SERGEANT a SOLOMON
Sergeant Lemaitre of the Tenth and
Butte 1wood streets station, was called upon
to pull a Solomon" this morning when
four "drunks" were lined up bef re him
one fellow had. after the manner Of al
coholic joking affected sometimes, given n
friends name when he had been brought
in \ little while later the friend was
rounded up and became greatly incensed
when the cops hinted that he didn't know
mis- own name and address IAN right"
ne said and he cheerfuly gave a phoney
name Each OF the four men lined up this
morning in fact had given a phoney name,
which he didn't remember, the police who
locked them up were off duty and there
was money coming to two of the quartet.
stick around sober today unil tonight
said Sergeant LemaItre. "and then come in
The sergeant who received you may be able
20 identify you and tell which of you had
the money"
OF course this morning there was a poor
| soul who had lost his trousers in the shuttle
| and another who wanted to know where
| pig Island where they make the gov'ment
! ships was located" But these were the
| "last of the Bo.hiccoughs" you might say
they personiled the groggy efforts of
! the Demon Rum just before the final knock.
! out.