South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-09
EXPOSE INNER
RING IN VICE
CIRCLES HERE
Police Simply Grin When
Conditions Are Cited.
Gamblers Worried.

Dan Py1e, in his address before
the Lincoln Mothers club Wednes-
day afternoon on the Moral Condi-
tions in South Bend" did not tell
one-tenth OF the story, according to
further revelations made Thursday
night by those who are inside the
inner ring that controls the vice sit
uatiOn in the city.
According TO these persons, the
number of gambling houses, bawdy
houses and blind tigers in South
Bend. operating with the full know
ledge Of the police. is far greater
than that estimated by Atty. Pyle in
his talk to the mothers Of Lincoln
center. "A
It was learned Thursday night
that an exposure Of conditions in the
city was not unexpected.
Going Strong.
I'VE were going il pretty strong
and everybody seemed 10 know il, "
said one man who claims TO be on
the inside OF things connected with
the underworld. What else could
We expect" he deplored.
Added TO the revelations regard
ing disreputable resorts I'm the city
is the further revelation that an or
ganized gang Of automobile aces
sorry thieves has been operating here
for some time, and that two we'll
known gambling house attendants
are connected with the gang. IL is
now believed that these two gam
bling house attendants have long
acted as fences for the gang, and
that a quantity of stolen property
was found in the house OF fone of
l.. -
nection have been made 10y the po-
lice.
Underworld Uncertain.
The underworld Thursday night
seemed uncertain. Worry was on
the faces of gambling house pro-
prietors as well as upon the faces
of Keepers Of houses Of i'll fame.
II was much more difficult to buy
whisky than on previous nights.
The underworld did not seem 30
know what to expect from the po-
lice. The authorities themselves APP
peared not 20 know what TO do.
Chief Cassidy conferred for more
than an hour in the chiefs office
Thursday afternoon. The vice ex-
posture was discussed by the two
heads of the police department.
Earlier in the day Thursday
Mayor Carson said that the expos
ure was expected by him.
Police Grin.
Word reached police headquarters
Thursday night that the full opera
tor Of the vice system had become
public property. Some of the mem
beers Of the department only
grinned. Others appeared TO take
this piece of news with concern.
They seemed TO view with alarm
the word that what was supposed
TO be closed secrets had been told.
It was minated officially Thurs
day night that raids would be made,
but that at many places 10 be visit
ed by the police nothing OF an un-
lawful nature would be found. Word
Of the forthcoming raids is said to
have gone out.
The exposures of vice conditions
in the city are said TO have been
untimely. Official circles seem 70
fear that the exposures will provide
Bob Jones. the evangelist. who
revival. with too much material FOR
his sermons.
Three Departments.
According TO further revelations
Thursday night. vice control in the
city Is divided into three depart
ments. each department having a
separate head.
one man is said 10 be in charge
OF The gambling houses. while an
other has charge OF the houses of
I'M face, while still another looks
after the punch boards. One raid
in connection with punch boards
was made more than week ago
when the police arrested Clarence
Elliott at his place on Polk st. Eli
oft is said 20 have been I'm posses
sion Of the wrong kind Of board
Elliott's case will be heard in the
city court Saturday morning This
case was TO have been used TO i'm