New Britain herald., 1930-12-05
RICH CH|CAGOANS
 HAVE OWN POLICE
Exclusive Street Kept Free Of
 GunInen and RaCketeeTS

Chicago, Dec. 5-ChicacO may be the worlds crime capital as some unkind critics have asserted - but 1t has one district where crime IS absolutely unknown.
 This district is a narrow strip of land, hall q mile long. perhaps, that Hanks a quiet little avenue known as Astor street. It is just a little w5st Of thc spectacular gold coast" and just little east Of a conElomerarou ot cheap hotels and cheap roomIng houses. where almost anything is rather more than likely 10 happen; and, wedged n between these two con t1asuug neighborhoods. Astor street keeps tho peace and makes Eangsters stay al a respectful dis tance.
 Astor street is perhaps inc richest and most exclusive street m Chicago. It Is lined by rhe home of Cricago's most blue hloodod society folk -- the SNiLts, the Baurs, the GarbaIdls. the H. L. Hanleys, the Officials, and the J, T. Thompoons, Their mansions. al- though costly, are not as fam boyant as those o5 the nearby gold coast. but they are secure from the foraIs ot rowing gang sters.
 Organize Own Police
 Some time ago the people nho live on Astor street decided that they wanted their naighborhood kept entirely free Of crime. It had become the gangsters' habit, in Chicago. to spot some rich man downtown. trail him home in an automobile and hold him up 7s he stepped out of his ear at his front door. Then Astor street moved to make that sort ot thing impossible.
 So they organized al thclr own expense a private police f0rce-a police force de luxe. This special police force watches Astor street with sharps eyes. especially at night. It doesn't miss thing and woe to the crook who hap pens into Astor street with felo- nious intentions. He doesn't have a chance
 Here's the way it works, SUD- pose you drive an automobile into Astor street after dusk. If you stop anywhere. a police car will immediately pull ID behind you, and several uniformed officers will be Waiting for you as you step out To them you must eX- plain Fro you are and what you want.
 Must Give Password
 You must not only explain. you must give the password.
 This password is changed every month, and IS known only 10 the special police and to the residents of Astor street. It is q closely guarded secret; and the fact that one Of the streets prominent resi- dents recently forgot it was the ming that brought the existence Of he "Astor Street Protective League" out into the open re- gently.
 This man, very well 10 do had been out Of the city on q hunting trip. He returned. wearing a three or four days growth Of beard. and drove his car ID 10 the . curb i'll front of his house. As he got out Of his car a policeman stepped up.
 Hello. officer" said the man. Now 1t happened that the pass word really was Good evening, officer" The returning hunter had just got i. q bit mixed. He and the policeman instantly had a long argument: an argument that ended only when the police man summoned the butler from the mans houes and, through his identification, satisfied himself about the mans right to enter the house,
 "Word' Is Changed Often
 1ncidentallv. that Good eve ming, officer" password has since been changed several times; so if you visit Chicago don't stroll out 10 Astor street and think you have the countersign. because youll just get into trouble.
 That is the way the Astor street police force works By means Of it, the wealthy residents Of this exclusive street can be satisfied that no marauders are coming into their neigh hborhood. They can be confident that no holdup man will follow them home from late evening parties and rob them at their front doors.
 Their neighborhood -unique in Chicago - is completely free from gang trouble,