Los Angeles Herald, Volume 33, Number 123, 1 February 1906 — SAWTELLE CLEANED OF VILE RESORTS [ARTICLE]

SAWTELLE CLEANED OF VILE RESORTS

WHOLESALE RAID MADE UPON OLD SOLDIERS' TOWN

Aatortment of Suspects Arrested on Charge of Running Gambling Houtet, Blind Pigs and Houses of 111 Fama

In one of the best conducted ralils In tho history of Southern California. Deputy Dlntrlct Attorney Kd Klein* Itiß, Constable De la Monte nnd n number of rlepultles swooped down upon the little town of Hnwtelle yesterday afternoon ami In a ilanh hnd nrrest'jd the alleged proprietors of hnlf a ilossen Knmhliiig dens and blind pigs and hal token In churgo and released on ball four women who wore alleged to have conducted hou-es of en*y virtue. The blow ««g -tunning to the gamblers In the little, rlty, ns everytliinij was wide open. Old snldlers were spending their pensions over the gambling tables nnd through tho partly closed doors tho rattlo of the chips could be hrnrd In the street.

For weeks pust continual complaints have been received by District Attorney Fredericks of tho way In which the old soldlern have been swindled of their pensions. In former clays It was the custom for the old soldiers to draw their pay nnd Immediately take a day off and come to L>oß Angeles, where they would proceed to become Intoxicated and go back to tho government home happy and with three-fourths of their pensions still in their pockets. Recently, however, this has changed. The pensions were dealt out with the same regularity, but although they ceased to coming to the city the old soldiers would be found at sunset In an intoxicated condition and every cent of their money gone. Thin went on for some time and than It was learned that liquor was being sold In retail quantities at several places In Sawtelle. It was further learned that gambling rooms were being conducted and that the old soldiers were being robbed of their money In houses of easy virtue.

Detectives Visit Resorts

The case was turned over to Deputy Fleming and he immediately sent some of his private detectives to the place. These men entered the poker games, visited the various houses and were served at the blind pigs. ■ When sufficient evidence was collected, Tuesday was set as the day for the raid, but it wan later postponed until Wednesday afternoon.

The party of raiders left De la Montc's office at 4 o'clock. There were ten . John Doe and Mary Doe warrants taken alone: charging gambling, selling liquor without a license, conducting houses of ill fame and being Inmates of disreputable houses.

When the raiders reached the little hill city the old soldiers were lounging about the place and preparing to return to the homo for the night. There was not the slightest, notice that a raid was to be ordered and the party of officers divided; Attorney Fleming, Constable. De la Monte and three others taking one side of Fourth street, while Jack Adams and two deputies took the other side.

Into the big poor room conducted by J. F. Brown the officers marched. Brown was behind the counter and offered to serve light refreshments. "We have a warrant for your arrest," said Fleming, and Brown smiled a weak little smile and came from behind the counter. The officers then tapped a barrel only to find that the contents were hard cider. Several bottles of soda pop were then opened but no liquor was found. But Brown was arrested on evidence already secured and he was left ln charge of a deputy.

Witness Poker Game

The officers then went to the next storeroom on the street. For a moment they were compelled to stop outside and look in on the scene of happy contentment. Inside Roy O'Neal and Abner Elkins were having a quiet little game of poker with some friends. Tho chips rattled merrily as they passed hack and forth across the table and De la Monte sidled in and asked the men If they didn't think a trip to Los Angeles would be beneficial to them.

They looked over the warrants, noticed that the officers had their hands placed suggestively on their hips and both dealers decided to come along. Another deputy was placed in charge and the other playerß, after having given their names as witnesses, -were allowed to scurry away. The money in the "kitty," amounting to $6.17, was appropriated by the officers, along with cards, chips and various other gambling devices. In the meantime the sturdy little Jack Adams and his two deputies had not been having such a good time. Adams started near Ohio street and began to work back toward Indiana street.

The first place he entered was conducted by Thomas Carrlco. As the deputy started to read the warrant of arrest, a man who had escaped from the players ln a raid being conducted on the opposite side of the street, dashed breathlessly In and yelled: "Skidoo, Tom!" Then he saw the officers and he fled.

Across the street marched Adams and walked straight into a room In which nearly a dozen men were playing poker. F. Vandeldan was dealing and a party of old soldiers wore slipping loose from their money without ever a sigh.

Dealer Is Arrested

Adams marched straight up to Vandeldan, and, displaying his star, said: "Gentlemen, the house Is arrested, please be quiet." They looked at the little deputy and decided to be quiet while he read the warrant.

One old soldier - arose and excused himself, stating- that he was going to get a drink of water. He was stopped and his name taken as a witness and then he and the remaining players were allowed to depart while Vandeldan was arrested and his property confiscated.

Then Adams and a deputy proceeded to a barber shop owned by Hiram 11, Bolster, Bolster is an ex-pugillst and was arrested several . months ago for conducting a blind pig. Adams leaned in at the window and asked if Bolster was there. A barber replied < that Bolster was In the back

room. Then Attorney Fleming came out of a gambling room on tho opposite side of the street und entered the barber shop to serve tho warrant.

In the meantime tho deputy with Artnms hnd remained on guard nt one side of the place and as the officers dushed In tho front door a hasty younn: man bearing a huge demijohn of whisky attempted to make a hurried exit from the back door. The deputy hended the man off and the escaping witnesß nttempted to hit him over the head with a demijohn. Tim deputy managed to place the man under arrest nnd at that moment Adams appeared. Again the man attempted to fight and Adams drew his revolver and the flippant youth, looking down the muzzle, yielded.

The youth gave the name of Charles Langdon. He was later released. Fred Itaverkoff, an old soldier, attempted to make a hasty exit with moro of the liquor, but was halted and the whisky held as evidence.

Prisoners Herded Together

The men, six in all, were then herded ln the barber shop with the liquor and gambling evidence and two deputies left ln charge.

The offlcera then headed quickly for the houses of 111 fame. But the news of the raid spread like wildfire and men, women and children were standing in the streets.

Down Ohjo street the officers dashpd until they reached a little cottage which bore the sign "Plain Sewing." A woman, who gave her name as Mrs. Kit ie Gibbons, was arrested on a charge of conducting a disorderly house. Tho deputies then went to two more houses on the siime street and arrested the women inmates.

The lust place to be visited was the home of Carrie Norine, who conducted a bath and massage parlor on North Second street. As the officers dashed Into the yard there came the sharp click of a key in the lock and the officers dashed against the front door only to find It securely bolted. Hurdling over the porch railing De la Monte and a deputy' ran for the buck door and managed to get in just as tho woman was trying to lock It. She was arrested and a quick search revealed a quantity of empty beer and whisky bottles and several bottles containing liquor were found in a. small cellar under a sink.

This' evidence was 1 confiscated and the women were ordered to dress aaid get ready for a trip to the county Jail. They all managed ■to put up $50 ball and were released for examination before Justice Young today.

Then as the sun sank slowly ln the western sea the officers started to return to the city. Deputies were ordered to march to the car. The crowd of Inhabitants' cheered as the small parade started and the officers were escorted to the car by a. band of Salvationists, who marched along singing hymns.