davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07
POKER ROOM IN SARATOGA
HOTEL RAIDED BY POLICE
John Winter DaIies With Moonshine Until Judge Funek
Gives Him Workfarm Sentence George Weisel Falls
Into Laws Clutches-Art Shaes Takes Tumble.

The Yankee Club is the latest wrinkle
in the field of sport and easy money
by the lswless gambling route.
Colonel Claudos, alias "0audie the
Creek" who maintains a shrine where
sporty nea can WOO Lady Luck, is the
daddy Of the Yankee Club.
If yen gain entrance to Col. Claudos
gambling den in the basement of No.
307 West Superior St., you either must
be a member of the club or be spon-
sored by member. Even then, you
must have ticket to secure entrance
to the underground den where the
sports shoot the festive crap and play
the great American game Of poker.
Suppose, dear old reader, you are a
member of Col. Claudos' Yankee Club
and You have friend you wish to take
down there for bit of gambling on the
green, as the poets say. Or, suppose
you have sucker whom you desire to
take down there so that Claudos and
his .tinhorn helpers can scrape off his
scales, so to speak. - ~.
To get your sucker down into the
den and up to the skinning table, you
must get card signed by Col. Gandos
and, on that card, is your name. If,
afterwards, that sucker proves to be a
Rip-saw inspector or sleuth for Lieut..
Barber's cleanup squad, the clever
fingered Col. Claudos can hold you
responsible for his i'll luck and ban you
from future access to his underground
premises, or such other penalties as his
cunning brain may devise. r. +.
The previous issie Of the Rip-saw
STAYED that there was door between
Col. CIaudos' poker den and the. Collins
Lsnch basement. The head-sawyer
misunderstood the inspector. There is
no such door. There is ventilation
register between the den and a wash
room, but the door to the latter now is
kept locked nights, therefore no one
can stand in there and hear Col Claudos
and his patrons when gambling, on the
green.
Saratoga Poker Den Raided.
Senator Ribenack and Al. Polinsky
control the building in which. Col.
Claudos maintains his shrine for those
who seek to woo Lady Luck and those
two eminent citizens are the beneficial
ries Of the high rentals secured from
said building, including Col. Clandos
gambling den.
Senator Ribenack and associates also
are reputed to own the Saratoga hotel.
On Thursday night of last week, the
police inconsderately raided poker
game that has been running night
and day for some years in said Saratoga
hotel. .
Five gamblers were arrested and
taken to headquarters. A lawless
young chap took the onus of being the
keeper of the den. He also did grave
injustice to Darby O'Brien by using
his name. The same little louise on
the body polite was up once before
for gambling. No one around municipal
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07
OFFER DISPLEASES FIRE SUFFERERS
Terms Settlement Five Hold Meetings
Two Thousand File From Cque-KeHe River Man Gets
the First Check in 500 Line Caes-Lawyers Work Busly.

ably, the district court is an available
recourse. 30 .e~l .
There is an inclination On the part
of these pioneers, patient and long suf-
fering, unlearned in law and inexperi-
enced in big business, to fear that the
railroad administration lawyers are be-
ing too much influenced by investiga
tons made and testimony worked up
over a, period of more than two years,
by partisan investigators for the gov
eminent, in expectation Of using that
one-sided evidence in stubbornly fought
actions at law, and not in mutual
adjustment between man and man, out
side of court.
Untut0red as they are in most cases,
these claimants feel and believe that
there is distinction between stern
lawsuit and friendly adjustment.
These fire victims read the papers,
therefore they say that, if the U. s.
government can give red Russia $780,
100000 purely as charity, then the
railroad administration can afford to
pay out $20,0OO,OO0 in hslf,loaves to
pioneers who were ehopping and blast
ing out homes in Minnesota s hard him
terland, a part of the United States,
when, without real warning, holocaust,
beyond the power of man to stop, con-
sumed all their earthly possessions and
500 of the lives of their loved ones,
almost in the twinkling of an eye.
That feeling is strengthened by per
sonal knowledge, seeling, belief and
even able court decisions to the effect
that said holocaust had its chief origin
in illegal fires originating with the U.
s. railroad administration.
If these hinterland farmers are COM
PEELED to take many quarter loaves, as
they did in war times, and if they get
to milling around, holding meetings,
comparing notes and organizing 100
per cent instead of SO per cent as at
present, they are likely to make some
radical changes on the political map.
Not only can the women vote now, but
all the fire victims, with their friends
and sympathizers, control enough votes
to play havoc with quite q stretch OF
territory on the map Of politics.
The various lawyers for the fire suf.
ferers are singing rather low just now.
They are, in fact, ingguite tigM box.
They must please their clients arid they
must not displease the government law
yers. They also wish to get. their many
cases settled up as quickly, cheaply and
to as good advantage as possible.
IT, D., o1,a,,s hos felt that
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

court could give his legal name. He
certainly was too much ashamed of his
real name to give it when arrested,
The lawless, lazy, loafing little louise
who claimed to be running the game
put up 800 bail, which he forfeited.
The four patrons of the place put up
and forfeited SIS each.
John Winter Enters Limelight.
John Winter has been breaking into
the limelight quite regularly since the
previous issue of the Rip-saw. Soon
after that paper came out, this lawless
alien reported to the police that some
one had left SIS gallons of moonshine
whisky at his place at ITO First Ave
w. The authorities called for the stuff
and took it to headquarters. What
finally became Of it, affiant knoweth
not. Winter pretended to be much
| mystified by the stuff, in two contain
ers, that so mysteriously appeared on
his premises.
Those in a position to know inform
the Rip-saw that Col. Swanson brought
that booze from the still in a Stude-
baker car and delivered it in Winters
washroom for cash consideration Of
$685.. 1t, arrived at about s p. m. and
Winter did not inform the police. until
sometime later. 1t is understood that
the publicity given this lawies alien
by the Rip.saw so Jared him that he
suspected he and those containers of
booze were being watched, hence his
report to the police.
Some days later, one Eva Burns was
picked up in an intoxicated- condition.
She confessed Mat John Winter sold
tlsossat,,es4A @; skayssaxfi
alien was arrested and released on
5000 bail, he pleading not guilty when
arraigned. '.I 49, - "' e..
Winter first secured w. A. Pittenger,
the eminent advocate and champion of
light wines and beer for his lawyer.
He was easy, for Winter put up only S.
as a retainer.
"Get Ben Goldberg, a real pinch
hitter,' said Winter s more experienced
friends.
Pittinger Is Thrown Down.
The next day Winter called up Pit
finger and informed him that his legal
services would not be required any
longer. Hon. Ben. NJ. Goldberg then
took the reins for the defense.
Pittinger met Goldberg in an office
building and the canny pinch-hitter got
in front of Winter and engaged Pit
finger in an earnest conversation,
hoping to divert his attention so that
he would not see and recognize the
! evasive Winter.
1t is stated that Pittinger now is
complaining bitterly that some one has
| double him.
Winter came before Judge Funck on
Friday of last week. Mr.. Goldberg
presented an affidavit, signed by Eva
Burns, in which she swore that she did
not get the means for her drunk from
| Winter.
On the witness stand, the woman
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07
BURCS ON THE BORDERLAND
ARE WICKED AND LAWLESS
Bindpgs, Redight Dives and Gambling Dens Abound n In
ternational Falls and Rainier Judge Palmer Takes
Joy Ride With Naughty RedEght Lady

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Jan a.
Especial to the Rip-saw.)-At the pres
emit time, International Falls has six
teen blndpigs. There probably are
more, but Rip-saw inspector did not
have time to look for them. He aetu-
ally counted sixteen, however. Every
soft drink place, broadly speaking, has
gambling facilities as well as stimu-
lants.
Three redlight dives were located by
a Rip-saw inspector who recently, Wis
tied the British Lion in Ontario and
spent a few hours in the American
towns on the border. In the Phoenix
restaurant there were black, yellow and
nearly white women, anxious to sell
their bodies to sensuous males. One sad
sight was little colored girl about
nine years old, living, growing up and
absorbing all the soaring sights and
scenes Of a bawdy house. One feature
of the dive was that where So in Ameri-
can money was the fee for acting
shamefully, 81 in Canadian money was
required. The rate Of exchange is rum
ming very heavily against Canadian
coin in International Falls bagnios.
The Frederick hotel was found to be
teeming with colored women Of low
morals, Illicit booze and lunch coun-
ter. The place seemed to be enjoying
IA heavy trade.
Things were wild, woody and wide
open in LePage 8 dump. Poker, rum
my and slot machines were available
for those wishing to WOO Lady Chancs.
& There wa aroa;sl -, sus
trunks were lying around on the floor.
Booze was for sale on two floors The
basement door was locked when the in
spector tried the latch, but it Suddenly
opened. Inside, big, tall chap was
dishing out moonshine at little bar at
IS cents snort. Alleged Canadian
whiskey cost twice that.
IT is evident that the International
Falls policemen are deaf, dumb and
blind. Sheriff Van Etten made some
arrests for time, particularly among
distillers Of moonshine whisky. He
failed to secure convictions and, after
that, seemingly laid down without call
ing on federal agents for aid. -.
Much complaint is made by real
Americans about Judge Palmer who sits
on the municipal bench. When vio-
lator. of the state prohibition law comes
before him, it is alleged that the thirsty
old jurist usually administers a; gentle
little moral lecture, light judicial tap
on the wrist, and then turns. the culprit
loose. 49,. :. ~ -.
Some time ago, citizens of Rainier in
sisted on the prosecution Of very
wicked and notorious redlight girl from
Rainier. Judge Palmer found her guilty,
imposed nominal fine of $40 and then
accompanied the brazen Jezebel back to
Rainier in closed car, so it is alleged.
The local underworld considered it a
great joke on law, order and decent
citizens.
Judge Palmer is the same old politi-
clan who once had habit of toddling
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

AS stated in the previous issue of the
Rip-saw, the local lawyers for the U. S.
railroad administration have Offered a
settlement of claims for fire damage
in five additional zones.
Zone one gets an offer of 50 per
cent for claims of $4,000 and less, as
at Cloquet and in the Irrigated Moose
Lake claims. Zone two is offered As
per. cent for claims of $4,000 and less.
In zone three, the offer is 35 per cent.
Zone four gets 80 per cent and zone
five 25 per cent.
zones feel and believe that they are not
getting offers proportionally as good
as those made to Cloquet and Moose
Lake. There is dissatisfaction and
several communities already have held
public meetings of protest. 1t is un-
derstood that other communities will
follow suit.
there is feeling and belief among the
claimants that the U. S. railroad ad-
ministration is, unconsciously perhaps,
drawing away from what the fire vic
Tins expected would be broader, more
sympathetic and liberal settlement of
their losses.
Many of the victims are in real dis
tress this winter. Several cases of dire
restitution have been reported. These
poor victims of an Act Of God, if not
locomotives of the u s. railroad ad-
ministration, have stuck to their hinter-
land farms, working, waiting, and hop.
ing for at least partial rehabilitation.
These Unexpectedly low offers now re-
veal danger of tempting them to risk
everything on the turn of a card by
going into court for whole loaf, if the
government refuses to give them half
a loaf or nearly that.
These hinterland farmers got the I'M
preston from solicitor general Nc.
Laughlin s position, when here in the
fall, that the lines would not be Sc
tightly drawn in settlement between
man and man. as would be the case in
claims settled by stubbornly fought ac.
tions in court. Being good sportmen
and needing ready money, most of the
claimants made up their minds to ac.
ceut half loaf, but few of them de.
sired or expected to take anything much
less. 2s. ~ '5ar 81
It is presumed that the government q
representatives feel they. have carried
out the spirit of the government s plans
and that anyone not satisfied has ex
peeted too much, does not understand
: and accept the situation and, presum
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

correctly, the cleanup squad is doing
good work. One good stunt was find
ing the booze under several feet of
ashes and cinders in the furnace room
of the Globe hotel, not the Home hotel,
as the daily papers reported it, at 1922
w. Superior st. Lawrence Bennett
had to take the brunt Of that offense.
A primitive pump was used to draw the
booze up from the deeply hidden barrel.
After cleaning up the Globe hotel, the
officers might profitably have visited
Evelyn's dive and dump at or near 900
Garfield Ave. 1t is said that hard
and bloody fight was pulled off there
Christmas Eve.
Rip-saw inspectors have reported that
the Orpheum hotel, right across the
street from the police station, shelters
six blindpigs. If reports are true, the
police have caught only three of them.
Another place nearby, quite popu-
lar resort, is reported to have done
mighty we'll at selling booze during the
holidays. The coal bin is said to have
given the dope a very fine flavor.
Colonel Snyder is reported to feel
peeved because his Ryan hotel at 527
w. Superior st. was not mentioned in
the previous issue of the Rip-saw. He
also runs the National hotel at No. 526
across the street. A poker game is
said to run in room 10. Jack Bennett,
the chap who is alleged to have 50 sue
cessfully "bonded' moonshine, once
occupied room 6. Col. Snyder's place
was not mentioned last time through an
oversight. ~
A correspondent claims that he once
was skinned in poker game run in Pc
terson s soft drink parlor off the Lake
avenue viaduct and near Michigan st.
He complains because the authorities
have not crimped that poker game.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

quarters, Weisel conducted his business
in and around the Isyeeum pool hail at
or about 420 West Superior st. In
those days, too, he was business agent
for a redlight woman IN the alley be-
tween Second and Third Sts., West of
the Central high school building.
Some time ago, Weisel was under
suspicion and, possibly the police took
him in. Recollection is vague as to
that, but complaint was heard that he
had been selling high school boys some
Of his rotten moonshine.
The situation now Indicates that
Weisel either will spend nearly three
months at the work farm or else for
felt $500 bail and julap town. His
going would be a boost to law, order
and decency. g.
Art. Shales Takes q tumble.
q, Arthur Shales, so the head-sawyer
was informed at the municipal court, at
last has been caught at selling booze.
he has escaped justice for q long time.
Even his arrest and coffHiction cost him
only the modest sum Of $50. He can
make that up in one evening".
If the Rip-saw is correctly informed,
Art. Shales is the booze-s seller and rum
runner who goes by the classic name of
"Kelley." He is credited with being
a brother of the notorieas and lawless
Joe Shales. Both are reported to be
refugees from Winnipeg, where they
were consistent members tof the under
world. " .l.. q.
Joe Shales first had a soft drink en-
porium on Lake avenue s. where ne
sold hard drinks to great financial ad-
vantage. He got tangled up with the.
law there and next broke out as a
partner with Harry Wilson, a eolored
man formerly on the police department.
The two Of them opened q black and
tan dive in Maple Grove Park, about,
a mile from Proctor. AFRAID by sheriff
Magic broke up that rotten resort. Il
Since then, Joe Shales and his brother
have been running boozs into the city
from hinterland stills an distributing
il, as well as selling hsttles off the
body. They come dbwn iesaba avenue
to ". First st., park Their ears under
the incline and then carI the stuff to-
their apartments at IL 4eSknth Ave. w.
IT is supposed that the ask IS con-
'ssassu II tisS 4ssbSfsy "a "a 3 tfy: from
there. at safe OF convenient hours of
the day, the stuff is delivered by the
bottle, jug or even keg.
If the daily papers report things
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

thing secured from the federal govern
ment will be just like money found in
the road. A deadlock between the
claimants on one hand and the railroad
administration on the other will be
very undesirable. A rule of reason
seems applicable.
Settlement checks are coming steadily
to Cloquet. A few payments have
been made in the Moose Lake cases.
The first one was in favor of John H.
Michaelson, of Kettle River. His check
came on Friday of last week. His
claim was for $500.
About 1000 questionnaires have been
filed from the Cloquet zone. Lawyers
have estimated that there would be
2,100 to 1900 Cloquet cases. Over
100000 has been paid out at Cloquet,
but the Northern Lumber Co. got
81 ,426.28 and the Cloquet Lumber Co.
received $653,0O0.
Messrs. Baldwin, Baldwin, Holmes &
Mayall state that all of the territory
has been zoned in which so per cent of
the losses will be paid. 1t also is stated
500 Line or so-called Moose Lake cases
applies to only something over 1000
cases that were tried in the local dis
trict court.
Messrs. Baldwin, Baldwin, Holmes 6
NAVAL now have twelve field men,
called adjusters or investigators. Others
may be added later. A clerical force
of half dozen, supervised by Mr.. Sam
Coulter is maintained in the railroad
administration 3 office in the Fidelity
building. These offices expect to
turn out about 40 missionaries every
other day from this time on. Mr..
Holmes recently stated that he had been
agreeably surprised by the high per-
centage of honesty shown by claimants
in making out their questionnaires. His
faith in human nature has been
strengthened and augmented thereby.
Ouestionnaires in the 500. Line cases
in Carlton county now are steadily com
ing into the offices of Messrs. Fry
berger, Hoshour and associates, attor-
news for the government. The 1000
eases of Dodge & MeClearn and asso-
GATES, litigated in the local courts. will
be settled as rapidly as possible. These
offices in the Lonsdale building now
have three claim men, three cruisers
and two photographers in addition to
Messrs. Fryberger, and Hoshour. One
claim in this group at Kettle River, in
favor of Wilson 6 Martilla, lumber
men. amounts to $11S,000. Nearly 100
claims at Palisade have been settled. So
for, there have been no court claims in
the Palisade group.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

held to her original story. that Winter
sold her the whisky with which she 60,
drunk. When confronted with .hs
affidavit, made in Mr.. Goldberg's Of
flee, the woman testified that she
signed something, but she knew moi
what, the document not being read ia
her.. D.. --..
Mr.. Goldberg took the stand, him.
self, and solemnly swore that the affi.
davit was read to Eva Burns before
she signed it. The court seemed to
take the woman 5 word for it, for John
Winter was found guilty and given a
sentence of IS days at Fred Ward g
sheltering old workfarm.
Winter Takes A Stay.
Winter, through Mr.. Goldberg, then
took stay of 20 days. Judge Funck
met that ante by raising Winter Is bail
from $500 to $500.
That same afternoon, Messrs. Gold
berg and Cohen presented an order to
the clerk of the municipal court for
such part of the $500 cash bail as might
be left after paying all legal require
ments. Since the sentence was to the
workfarmj nothing can be taken out of
the $500, therefore it is safe to assume
that Messrs. Goldberg and Cohen will
get all Of it.
Whether Winter is going to jump
town, 60 to workfarm for IS days at
the end of his stay or appeal to a
higher court, has not been revealed to
the Rip-saw. Some remark was made
in municipal court about appealing,
but that was taken as camouflage or a
bluff by those who heard it.
George Weisel GETS Caught.
Another notorious, law-breaker who
got caught last week was George Wei
sci. He was found guilty of illegal
sale of illicit booze and sentenced to
Fred Wards workfarm for IS days.
When he took stay of 20 days, his
bail was raised to $400. (. q. ].
For some months past, this Weisel
has been selling pints in the st. Louis
hotel pool room, The Vessel supply
of moonshine has been d sweet boon for
the sports who play the festive Rose.
Garden.
Whom rounder has wished to feel
funny or to get up his fighting blood,
tHu Z ma 4 D She 81 E,D0iss
hotel pool room, hunted up George
Weisel and exchanged coin of the realm
for pint or two. e.. ....s. i, ~ s.
Before locating in the st. Louis hotel
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

into the Victoria hotel every hour OF
the day, but not for a drink Of iee-
water.
Justice usually sheds big tears of
shame and sorrow when Judge Palmer
toddles into sight. 3 IS
Rainier is a sort of Gomorrah 20 In.
ternational Falls Sodom. The Rip-saw
inspector found six blindpigs and three
redlight dives in Writ 81. Cooks q spite,
town." No attempt was made to check
up the bootleggers. Gambling, booze
selling and the shiny rediight trade
flourish on every hand. Colored moon
shine and alleged Canadian whisky sell
for so cents a snort, while ordinary
white mules costs only IS cents ~
dose.
The inspector entered shack near
the river, proudly owned and operated
by a chap called Gagnon, Gonyea or
some such name. He was at She dinky
bar and, when the visitor entered, the
big boss called to the back room:
There's 4 teller out here.
7tpsI N come in a minute, y replied a
female voice. :
After short time, out came vet
eran redlight lady Of the wild border
land. 30,
"Hello, deariei exclaimed the frail
creature! sit $ long time since i
saw you. Where have you beeng 3,
Oh, Ay ban working in lmnbereamp
on Big Fork, replied the visitor.
Are you going to buy me a drink,
deare was the next remark.
& s 3 U. ssll yisk j here ! suestiensd
Yes, sen both booze and my
body, was the shameless response
81 guess I better be getting out of
here, remarked the Rainier chief Of
police as soon as the poor creature
made her ribald remark.
The visitor bought the drinks and, on
later occasion, he bought round of
drinks for the house, which included
three prostitutes, the male proprietor of
the Uncovered dive and the. dear old
chief Of police
1t is barely possible, of course, that
Ranier's police headquarters are main
tanned in that miserable dive The Wis
itor did not get definite information
las to that. He does know, however,
that every time he called at the dive
he found the dear old chief of police.
in there, spearing free drinks and TAX
q the fun Of his eyes of the ladies'
This story touches only few of the
high spots in international Falls and
Rainier. Other spots will be touched at
same future time and, perhaps, some Of
the spots in Ft. Frances, burg across
Rainy River that is inhabited by our
Canadian cousins.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07
TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

So she didn t accept you when you
proposeds ~ ,- 4
She sure did = e. -s
sIBut you said she threw you down. Z
She did, and held me there till ]
gave her the ring. stanford Chap
arrai.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07
PAINFUL ALL AROUND.

"Those are the smallest shoes at the
beach. They must hurt you
"They do"
"Then why wear themso
"Well, they hurt the other women,
too. ''-Ex. a-a