THE WORLD « ■•* C.R.WOOLDHiDGE YEARS A FXTIVE ON I HE CHICAGO FOLICF FORCE OO ARRESTS 125 PENITENTIARY CONVICTIONS 7B :JNG GiRLS lESCLED FROM LIVES ;"IE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF STEWART S. HOWE JOURNALISM CLASS OF 1928 STEWART S. HOWE FOUNDATION 364 W882h 1906 HANDS UP! IN THE WORLD OF CRIMB OR J2 YEARS A DETECTIVE) CLIFTON R. WOOLDREDGE, Chicago's famous detective THRILLING DESCRIPTIONS GIVING CAPTURE OF BANIt ROBBERS, PANEL HOUSE WORKERS, CONFIDENCE MEN AND HUNRDEDS OTHER CRIMINALS OF ALL KINDS. TELLS IN GRAPHIC MANNER HOW CRIMINALS OF ALL CLASSES OPERATE- ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWING ARRESTS OF MURDERERS. SAFE BLOWERS, DIAMOND THIEVES, PROCURESSES OF YOUNG GIRLS, ETC., ETC. 1700 Arrests — 125 Criminals Sent to Penitentiary — $75,000 Worth of Lost and Stolen Property Re- covered — 75 Young Girls Rescued from L^^ "^^^^^^^ Inspector Commanding Fourth Division. CITY OF CHICAGO. DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. January 17, 1901. To Whom It May Concern: I have known Clifton R. Wooldridge for toe last ten years. As a police officer Mr. Wooldridge is par-excellence, absolutely with- out fear, courteous in his treatment to both superiors and inferiors, prompt to obey, and with a detective ability so strongly developed, it almost appealed to me as an extra "sense." In fact, he has what is known in police circles as "intuition," and that in a very marked degree. If I wanted to secure the arrest of a desperate man, I would put Mr. Wooldridge in charge of the case in preference to any one I know, as with his bravery he has discretion. Mr. Wooldridge is a man of education, refinement and consummate ability. He is a natural bom org^anizer and a leader of men. All the qualities that go to make up and constitute a successful and efficient commanding officer are possessed by Mr. Wooldridge. Very respectfully yours. NICHOLAS HUNT. Inspector Commanding^ Second Division. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. Chicago, May i, 1892. Mr. Clifton R. Wooldridge, City. Dear Sir: — During my term of office at the Harrison Street Police Station, I desire to say that in the performance of your duties you displayed ability, honesty and integrity in all cases to which you were assigned. I have always found you prompt, fearless and incorruptible, the qualities requisite of a police officer at the most important station of a metropolis like Chicago. Your heart is in the right place, and while I have always found you stern and persistent in the pursuit and prosecution of criminals, you were ever kind and considerate, and I can truthfully say that more than one evildoer was helped to reform and was given material assistance by you. Very respectfully, GEORGE M. SHIPPY, Captain of Police. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. January 5, 1895. Mr. Clifton R. Wooldridge, City. Dear Sir: — Having personally known you for the past six years, I had special opportunity in my capacity as Captain of Police to observe your work and intimately know your conduct as a police officer and a guardian of life and property. I take pleasure in stating that I have always found you to be an honest, sober, industrious and efficient officer, who meritoriously dis- charges his duties, together with exceptionally good judgment in emergency, and accounts of heroism are on record in the Police Department to which I respectfully refer, and state thai you are one of the best and cleverest officers in the department. Respectfully yours, WALTER M. JENKINS, Captain of Police. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. I February 13, 1901. Dear Sir: — It gives me pleasure to say that in the years I have served in this department I have never seen a more fearless officer than you have been. Your name has been absolutely free from scandal, and your work in time of danger has made you nothing short of a hero. As a successful detective you possess all the requisites, which include sobriety, a clear head, good judg- ment and integrity of the most pronounced type. Very truly, A. F. CAMPBELL, Captain Fifteenth Precinct. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. January 5, 1895. Mr. Clifton R. Wooldridge, City. Few words are required of me to express my appreciation of your excellent qualities as a police officer. While I was in com- mand of the Stanton Avenue Station, you rendered good and valuable service to the department and the public of Chicago. You possess those qualities which go to make up an efficient officer, and those qualities are intelligence, honesty, sobriety, re- liability and trustworthiness. I have never known you to shirk any duty to which you were assigned, and have always found you willing and ready for any kind of work. ' Very respectfully, THOMAS C. KANE, Captain of Police. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. May 17, 1901. To Whom It May Concern : This is to certify that I have known Clifton R. Wooldridge as a police officer for over ten years, and during the year 1896 he was under my command. I always found him to be absolutely fearless in the discharge of duty, irreproachably honest, and at all times he displayed a thoroughly comprehensive knowledge of the duties of an officer. He is possessed of great detective ability and may be relied jjpon to discharge in an efficient manner any task assigned to nim. MARTIN HAYES, Captain, Commanding Third District. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. May I, 1897. This is to testify that I have Igiown Clifton R. Wooldridge for the past five years, he having been a member of my com- mand during the greater part of that time. I have always found him to be a trustworthy and efficient officer, and I cheerfully recommend him as a man upon whom reliance can be placed in all cases. Very respectfully, CHAS. G. KOCH, Captain, Commanding Second District SI CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. January 20, 1898. Mr. Clifton R. Wcx)ldridge, City. Dear Sir: — During the six years in which I was intimately associated with you in the Police Department, I found you to be without exception the best and most efficient officer in the service of Chicago. Your police record will prove that my assertions as £0 your efficiency are entirely true. This record cannot be ex- celled by any member of any police force in the country. I am glad to be able to vouch for your ability and integrity as an officer. MATHEW HOMER, Captain Third Precinct. FROM LIEUTENANTS OF POLICE. The following letters from the lieutenants of police, in the City of Chicago, under whom and with whom De- tective Clifton R. Wooldridge worked, show the esteem in which he is held by them : CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. Chicago, January 21, 1898. It affords me great pleasure to testify to the honesty, integ- rity and efficiency of Officer Clifton R. Wooldridge. My acquain- tance with him covers a period of thirteen years. During a por- tion of that time he was in my command, and I have always found him thoroughly reliable, competent and alert in everything pertaining to his duty. Very respectfully, CHAS. C. HEALY, Lieutenant of Police, Eighteenth Precinct. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. Chicago, December 21, 1897. Mr. Clifton R. Wooldridge was under my command as^ de- tective and patrolman for two years, and it gives me pleasure to testify to his ability and good character. He at all times shows the citizens of Chicago and his superior officers that he realizes what are the proper duties of a police officer. He is worthy of any confidence that may be placed in him. Very respectfully, WILLIAM W. CUDMORE, Lieutenant, Commanding Third Precinct 2^ CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. February 20, 1893. I have known Police Officer Clifton R. Wooldridge since 1889, and he was under my command for two years. I regard him as one of the most faithful, trustworthy and efficient men who ever traveled under me. Respectfully, AUGUST C. ARCH, Lieutenant of Police, Second Precinct. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. October 31, 1898. I have known Clifton R. Wooldridge, detective, for ten years, and take pleasure in saying that he is an honest, sober and clever officer. I have frequently had occa'sion during my com- mand at the Second Precinct Station to congratulate him for his excellent police work. He is certainly a valuable acquisition to the police force. Respectfully, JOHN M. COLLINS, Lieutenant of Police. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. November i, 1897. It is with pleasure that I add a word of praise for Detective Clifton R. Wooldridge. I have known him for the past eight years; have traveled by his side, did detective work with him, and was fortunate to have him in my command at the Harrison Street Police Station. I never knew him to shirk his duty; I never heard a word against his character. Respectfully, J. A. SMITH, Lieutenant, Thirty-eighth Precinct. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. August 28, 1898. It affords me pleasure to testify to the many good qualities possessed by Clifton R. Wooldridge as a police officer. I have known him personally for the past seven years, and I have always found him to be an honest, sober and efficient officer, who dis- charged his duties unflinchingly. He is known as a fearless gHardian of the peace, as well as a careful protector of the people's lives and the people's property. Very respectfully, " TIMOTHY BARRETT, Lieutenant of Second Precinct. 83 CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. April 15, 1897. Mr. Clifton R. Woolmudge, City. Dear Sir: — While I was police magistrate at the Harrison Street Police Station I had favorable opportunity and frequent occasion to view your work as a police officer in this department. I feel it a privilege to say that I have always found you fear- less, active and efficient and one of the cleverest men on the force. Knowing the many hardships and obstacles a police officer has to contend with, I wish to give special commendation to your comprehension of your duties, and the manly and disinterested manner in which you execute them. Very truly yours, GEORGE W. UNDERWOOD, Police Magistrate. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. December 13, 1897. To Whom It May Concern: It has been my pleasure to know Clifton R. Wooldridge for the last ten years. During two years of this time I served as police magistrate at the Armory. In that time scarcely a day passed during which he would not appear as a witness before me in a criminal case, and I had advantageous opportunity to ob- serve his conduct as an officer. In my experience for five years as a police justice I never met a more efficient officer than he. In all his prosecutions he was trustworthy, fearless and honest, and my recollection now is that the records at the Armory Sta- tion show that he made more arrests of criminals than any of those on the roll. He seemed to have but one object in view, and that was to do his duty all the time. Very respectfully, EDWARD T. GLENNON, Justice of the Peace. city of chicago, jjepartment of 'police. December 4, 1897. I have known Clifton R. Wooldridge personally for the last ten years, and can say without hesitation that no more efficient officer in his line has ever been on the force in this city, and his secret-service work is unequaled. His record in this depart- ment is an enduring testimonial to his ability, energy, industry and faithfulness. Very respectfully, M. R. M. WALLACE, Justice of the Peace. M CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. Chicago, June 2, 1897. Mr. Clifton R. Wooldridge, City. My Dear Sir: — Having recently severed my connection with the Armory Police Station, I feel called upon to let you know in this manner the regard I have for you as an officer and at- tache of my court. The efficient work done by one officer in the first district, and yourself especially, calls for unlimited praise. Of all the officers who came before me with their pris- oners for trial, and taking in consideration the large number of cases in which you were interested, you always appeared to more thoroughly understand your case and to have better evi- dence to sustain your complaint than any other officer reporting to that station. The dignity and reputation of police courts are largely in the hands and control of the officers working there- from, and I can say that if all of them would enter into the de- tails of their work with the interest and businesslike manner you have always displayed, there would be less crime and more praise for the police force of Chicago. Very truly, JOHN RICHARDSON, Justice of the Peace. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. February 30, 1898. Officer Clifton R. Wooldridge worked under my command at the Harrison Street Station as detective during the period of about two years, and I can safely say that his record during that time has rarely been equaled and never excelled by anyone in this department. Very respectfully, LOUIS GOLDEN, Lieutenant, Second Precinct. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. Chicago, December 13, 1897. Clifton R. Wooldridge was under my command for about one year as a police officer. During that time I found him a thoroughly reliable man in every respect. He was always straightforward in all his dealings and at all times reliable. I consider him one of the best officers in the department. Very truly yours. GEORGE A. BENGLEY, ^ Ex-Lieutenant of Police. 86 CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. December 13, 1897. To THE Public: I have known Clifton R. Wooldridge for the past ten years. When I was magistrate at the Armory I had special opportunity to become well acquainted with him, and have watched him and his actions and work for years. There are some men on the police force for whom too much good cannot be said, and he is one of them. He has no superiors and few equals. As an officer he is absolutely honest, sober, fearless and trustworthy. He has made a record for himself through his acts of kindness, deeds of heroism and good police work. He has served this state and city faithfully, and it gives me pleasure to add my testimony to his worth and merits. Very respectfully, THOS. BRADWELL, Justice of the Peace. CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. Chicago, December 28, 1897. Clifton R. Wooldridge served under me as a patrolman for a period of three years at the Harrison Street Police Station, and was always an able and efficient officer, and thoroughly fear- less in the discharge of his duties. Very respectfully, JOHN R. BONFIELD, Lieutenant of Second Precinct Table of Contents. Page. Preface.. 5 Testimonials 20 Biography of the Author. . 31 Saved Five Lives Z7 Panel Houses 40 Emma Ford, the Levee Terror 47 Desperate Encounter with Robbers 56 Rescued a Young Girl.... 59 Arrests a Safe Blower 60 All Were Moved to Tears. 62 Take Them for Jays 66 Makes Dive-Keepers Re- spect Him 69 Five Hundred Caught in a Raid 74 Women Smoked Out 79 Traces a Murderer 80 Captures Gang of Boy Thieves 83 Found Him in a Trunk... 85 Detective an Aeronaut 89 Confidence Games 91 Was a Victim of the Graft- ers 112 Had a Winter Roof Gar- den 113 Robbers Show No Sym- pathy 115 Rides a Thief to Jail 120 Paid for His Own Extras 129 Devils in Sheep's Clothing 131 A Brave and Heroic Act. . 134 He Yielded to Temptation 134 Mystery of Rose Wallace. 137 Lost Morals and Money. . 150 Too Much Jones 152 Mary Hastings* Career. . . 153 Page. Pumped Lead at Him.... 172 Chain Saves His Life.... 175 Saved Family from Starva- tion 180 Found Their Match 185 Hid the Money in Her Hair 187 Detective Plays the Dude 188 Shoots a Gambling King. . 191 Closes School for Crime.. 195 Veteran is Robbed and Beaten 199 Ostrich Feather Gives a Clue 201 Use a Tunnel to Escape.. 203 Too Much Revenge....... 206 Spider and the Fly 208 Opium and Its Evils 210 Interested Whole World. 223 Whiskey Made Him Steal 248 Girl Enticed from Home. 249 Crook in a Farmer's Garb 250 Thieves Slug a Farmer..., 252 Terror of Clark Street. . 253 Fled Across the Continent 256 A Desperate Encounter. . 262 Long Term for Bicycle Thief 26s Breaks Up a Cock Fight. 266 Resort to Fire Escape... 269 Ruffian Assaults a Child.. 272 Purse Snatcher is Pun- ished 275 Footprints in the Snow . . lyd Catches Three Burglars.. 278 Shot by a Maniac 280 Joke on a Police Justice. . 283 Prevents a Safe Robbery 285 Jealousy Causes a Murder 287 Used a Horse and Tackle 289 CONTENTS Page. Highway Robber is Caught 292 Cleans Out a Poolroom. . 294 Preacher Goes to Prison. . 299 Lands a Thief in Prison. . 300 Fought for His Life 303 Noted Female Bandit.... 305 Cleans Out "Coon Hollow" 312 Wore a Gainsborough Hat 319 Gives Detective a Black Eye 322 Cat Unearths a Murder. . 323 Thieves Give Clews 329 Clever Counterfeiters Are Caught 334 Ran a Fake Poolroom... 2i2i7 Lake Front Park Raided. . 344 Recovers Stolen Passes... 346 Woman Robs a Soldier. . . 349 Rescues a Stranger 352 Makes a High Dive 353 Harrison Street Station. . 355 Lottery Companies Raided 365 Mob Follows a Prisoner. 370 Woman Murders Compan- ion y7'2 Clever Tool Thief Caught 376 Birds Give Alarm 377 The Negro and His Razor 379 Prevents a Burglary 380 Mob Clamors for a Thief 383 Four Well-known Officers 383 History of the State Street Terror 385 He Saved His Star 388 Could Not Stop a Wedding 389 Murder Will Out 393 Burglar in Woman's Cloth- ing 395 Tries to Hide Her Shame 396 Women Gamble in Stocks 399 Page. Girls in Bondage 401 Not So Green As He Looks 403 Robbed of $5,000 404 He Used Bogus Checks. . 405 All Thieves Are Desperate 408 Officer is Roughly Handled 410 Tries to Rob the Detective 413 Tried to Dodge the Camera 415 Smoked in the Street.... 416 Ambitious "Pony" Moore. 418 Pake Investment Compa- nies 426 Detective as a Ragpicker. 431 Leads in Strike Duty.... 440 Was Not a Marine 446 Villain at Last Convicted 450 Detective Turns the Tables 454 Justice Overtakes an Un- grateful Man 458 Clever Capture of a Clerk 459 Shoplifters Are Caught... 464 "Stalled" for Two Robbers 466 Colored Robbers Caught. . 468 Thirty-Seven Thugs Are Caught 470 Robbers Wear Out Wit- ness 471 Tried to Corner Chewing Gum 476 New Way to Rob 479 Rifled the Letters 481 He Painted the Windows 482 Troublesome Box Car Thieves 485 Two Policemen Sentenced 487 Passion for Robbery 491 Raid on a Steamboat 494 Took Desperate Chances. 496 Ticker in the Ice Box 498 Index to Illustrations. \ Page. The Rescue 30 Interior View of Panel House 41 Making the Arrest 60 Detectives Dressed as Cattlemen 67 Raiding a Bucket Shop 76 Was Hid in a Trunk 87 Hoisted in a Barrel 90 Seven Different Confidence Games 97 Shivering on the Roof ; 114 On the Prisoner's Shoulders 121 Putting on the Extras 130 Incidents at the Police Station 140 Escaping from Den of Vice I55 "Drop that Gun, or You are a Dead Man!" 168 The Battle with the Robbers 174 The Shooting in the Hallway 177 Scene of the Shooting 193 Tunnel Under Panel House 204 Party of Smokers in a Chinese Opium Joint 212 The Chinaman's Recreation 217 The Attempt to Escape in Toronto 234 Climbing the Fire Escape 270 Girl Making Her Escape 273 Night Scenes on the Levee 314 Whitening Her Face 320 " Pony " Moore. 419 BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR. CLIFTON R. WOOLDRIDGE was bom February 25, 1854, in Franklin county, Kentucky. He re- ceived a common school education, and then start- ed out in the world to shift for himself. From 1868 to 1871, he held the position of shipping clerk and collector for the Washington Foundry in St. Louis, Missouri. Severing his connection with that company, he went to Washington, D. C, and was attached to the United States Signal Bureau from March i, 1871, to December 5, 1872. He then took up the business of railroading, and for the following nine years occupied positions as fireman, brakeman, switchman, conductor and general yard master. When the gold fever broke out in the Black Hills in 1879, Mr. Wooldridge along with many others went to that region to better his fortune. Six months later he joined the engineering corps of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad and assisted in locating the line from Canon City to Leadville, as well as several of the branches. The work was not only very difficult, but very dangerous, and at times, when he was assisting in locating the line through the Royal Gorge in the Grand Canon of the Arkansas, he was suspended from a rope, which ran from the peak of one cliff to the other, with his surveying instruments strapped to his back. This gorge is fifty feet wide at the bottom and seventy feet 31 32 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME wide at the top, the walls of solid rock rising three thou- sand feet above the level of the river below. The work was slow and required a great deal of skill, but it was accomplished successfully. Mr. Wooldridge went to Denver in 1880 and engaged in contracting and mining the following eighteen months. He then took a position as engineer and foreman of the Denver Daily Republican, where he remained until May 29, 1883. The following August he came to Chicago and took a position with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. In 1886, he severed his connection with the railroad and founded the "Switchman's Jour- nal," He conducted and edited the paper until May 26th, when he was burned out, together with the firm of Dono- hue & Henneberry, at the corner of Congress street and Wabash avenue, as well as many other business houses in that locality, entailing a loss of nearly $1,000,000. Thus the savings of many years were swept away, leav- ing him penniless and in debt. He again turned his at- tention to railroading and secured a position with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad and had accu- mulated enough money to pay the indebtedness which resulted from the fire, when the great strike was inaug- urated on that road in February, 1888. The strike in- cluded engineers, firemen and switchmen, and continued nearly a year. On October 5th of that year Mr. Wool- dridge made application for a position on the Chicago police force, and having the highest endorsements, he was appointed and al'^g^ned to the Desplaines Street Station. It was soon discovered that Wooldridge as a police officer had no superiors and few equals. Neither poli- tics, religion, creed, color, or nationality obstructed him in the performance of his police duties, and the fact BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR 3S was demonstrated and conceded times without number that he could not be bought, bribed, or intimidated. He selected for his motto, "Right wrongs no man; equal justice to all." His superior oihcers soon recognized the fact that no braver, more honest or efficient police officer ever wore a star or carried a club. The mass of records on file in the police headquarters and in the office of the clerk of the criminal court demon- strate conclusively that he has made one of the most remarkable records of any police officer in the depart- ment. Up to, and including, July i, 1901, Mr. Wool- dridge saw over twelve years of experience and train- ing in active police work. Ten years of this time he was located in what is commonly known as the Levee district, a territory where criminals congregate and where crimes of all degrees are committed. The fol- lowing brief synopsis shows the work performed by him: During his service on the police force he made 17,000 arrests, the name, date, charge, and disposition of each case being accurately kept by him. Of these arrests, 1,175 wt^re made on criminal charges, and 125 of these were -convicted and sent to the state penitentiary. From 1,000 to 2,000 were sent to the House of Correction, while from 3,000 to 5,000 paid fines, and the others re- ceived jail sentences. During this time he recovered lost and stolen property to the value of $75,000, which was returned to the owners through him and the department. Seventy-five girls under age were rescued by him from houses of ill-fame and a life of shame, and returned to their parents or guardians, or sent to the Juvenile School or the House of the Good Shepherd. He closed and broke up fifty opium joints, and in the year 1896 closed 84 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME fifty-two panel houses that were then in operation on the levee. During the months of October and Decem- ber, 1898, he closed twenty houses of prostitution on Michigan avenue, and in the same months closed and broke up forty-five panel houses. In October, 1899, twenty-eight panel house keepers were, through the ef- forts of Mr. Wooldridge, indicted and convicted. Fol- lowing this, he secured ihe indictment of the landlords who rented the houses. This last stroke broke up en- tirely the panel house business in Chicago. Mr. Wooldridge's criminal knowledge of this class of people, which came through his contact with them daily, made him one of the most valuable officers in the department. It is well known in police circles that he has refused at different times bribes of from $500 to $4,000. He has in his library a scrap-book containing the clippings of city papers and police bulletins giving him credit for criminal arrests and convictions, recovery of stolen property and meritorious conduct, which will cover a space of 130 square feet. As a further testimonial to his worth and efficiency as a^ police officer, Mr. Wooldridge has complimentary letters from eight general superintendents of police, three assistant general superintendents of police, six in- spectors, six captains, nine lieutenants, six police jus- tices, and three state's attorneys. He also has letters from the superintendent of the National Bureau of Iden- tification and the superintendent of the local Bureau of Identification, besides a letter from the mayor of Chi- cago, Carter H. Harrison, and from the Chief of Detectives, Luke P. Colleran. Mr. Wooldridge has during the past few years been working out of the office of the General Superintendeui" BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR 35 of Police. He has had charge of a detail of officers in many important cases, among which may be mentioned the great building trades strike of 1900, in which 60,000 men were thrown out of employment. He also had charge of a detail of men in the Railway Men's Union strike of 1894, in which he performed valiant services and prevented the destruction of much property. Many other similar cases might be mentioned, such as being at the head of a force to suppress gambling, pool selling and serious infractions of the law, in all of which cases he secured results which were so satisfactory to the city administration and the' police department that he has been continued on duty from the office of the Chief of Police ever since. At one time while he was serving the city as patrolman he was recommended by his superior officers for the Carter H. Harrison medal for meritorious services on ■account of saving the lives of five persons from a fire, which occurred at a Clark street hotel. He has been under fire from criminals, whom he has attempted to arrest, innumerable times and bears the scars and marks of many conflicts with desperate men. His life has been threatened hundreds of times and many conspiracies have been made to kill him, but in all cases he has escaped serious injuries and it is sometimes said in the police department that he bears a charmed life. In pre- senting this work to the public, he makes no claims beyond his merits and those merits are supported by the state and city records, which are at all times open to the inspection of everyone. It is a simple history of his twelve years' connection with the Chicago police force and reveals many things which have not heretofore been 36 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME brought to light in the execution of the duties of police^ men and detectives. It may be of great interest to some, and he hopes it may be of sufficient interest to engage the attention of a great many who are not familiar with the duties and perils attending the lives of officers of the peace. Hands Up! In the World of Crime. SAVED FIVE LIVES. DETECTIVE WOOLDRIDGE RESCUES THREE WOMEN AND TWO CHILDREN FROM A BURNING BUILDING. Deeds of heroism are often performed by officers while- in the discharge of their duties, many of which are soon forgotten, but those who witnessed the daring rescue of three women and two children from a burning building, January 4, 1894, at two o'clock in the morning, by Detective Wooldridge, will never forget that act. This incident occurred at the \yaverly Hotel, 262 and 264 Clark street. The house was on fire, and great clouds of smoke were bursting from every window and doorway. Detective Wooldridge rushed to the scene "as quickly as possible. Nearly all the seventy-five guests of the hotel had been aroused and had escaped. There was the wildest confusion among them and the crowd which gathered. Then came from the top floor of the building a feeble cry of "Help !" It was learned that three women and two children were imprisoned by the smoke and flames. Their only chance of escape was by means of a set of narrow stairs which wound around the elevator shaft, and to attempt to leave by this means would be certain death by suffocation. 87 38 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME Firemen and friends of the imprisoned and helpless women and children had made repeated efforts to reach them, but each time they were driven back by the smoke and flames. Wooldridge took in the situation at a glance. That feeble cry for help was too strong an appeal to his man- hood to be unheeded, even if he went to the rescue at the imminent peril of his life. He quickly tied a silk handkerchief over his mouth, and, dashing through the blinding clouds of smoke, he stumbled and groped his way to the rooms of two of the helpless women. He took them out, and in a short time, which seemed like a century to him and the anxious watchers below, landed them, more dead than alive, in the street, where they were quickly given medical attention and revived. Though nearly exhausted from the efforts and half suffocated with the smoke, the heroic officer had not fin- ished his mission of mercy, and he rushed again into the burning building to save three other lives. He fought his way inch by inch up the dark, winding stairway on his hands and knees, until he reached the rooms occu- pied by Mrs. E. C. Dwyer and her two children. One of the children was five years old and the other was a baby only three months of age. The serious problem of getting these three people- out of the burning structure presented itself to the detective, but ther^ was no time to lose. He solved it quickly. The two children were placed in a quilt, the four corners of which were diagonally crossed and tied together. The detective lifted this precious bundle and slipped his head beneath one of the knots, thus fastening the chil- di'en on his back. Two wet towels were placed over Mrs. Dwyer's mouth. Then he took her hand and led 40 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME her down through the bHnding, suffocating smoke, grop- ing his way, step by step, until he reached the street, where he fell from utter exhaustion. Wooldridge was laid up several days from the effects of his heroic efforts, but he did not suffer seriously and was soon on duty again. Officer Wooldridge was rewarded for his actions on this occasion by a recommendation from his superior officers for the Carter H. Harrison medal of "Merito- rious Services." While Carter H. Harrison, the elder, was mayor of Chicago, he gave each year to the bravest officer on the force a medal. The recipient of the medal was selected according to his record by the chief of police, inspectors, and captains, and it was usually pre- sented at the annual review. On account of the death of the mayor that year the medal was never presented. PANEL HOUSES. DESCRIPTION OF THOSE NOTORIOUS RESORTS OF VICE WHICH WERE BROKEN UP BY DETfeCTIVE WOOLDRIDGE. So much has been said in the public press about "panel houses" that it is deemed expedient to devote a few .pages in this work to a detailed description of them. With the accompanying illustration it is believed a very clear conception can be had of them by the reader. A panel house is the invention of thieves of both sexes, and in them hundreds of thousands of dollars have been stolen from the unsuspecting victims of vicious women. T't'^y >Vwed a long time in the levee district of Chicago, INTERIOR VIEW OF PANEL HOUSE. 42 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME which is that portion of the city bounded by the river on the north, Twenty-second street on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and the Chicago river on the west. The poHce gave these places the name of panel houses, the proprietors calling them simply houses of ill-repute or sporting houses. A panel house may contain, two or more rooms, a whole flat, or an entire building, and is adapted to the accommodation of a few or a large num- ber of visitors or victims according to the designs of the owner. The rooms for guests are usually small in dimension, and contain but one bed. If there is only one door, holes are bored in this, in order that every move of the visitor may be seen by some one on the outside, to whom a signal is given at the proper time to enter and secure the visitor's money. This signal is usually given by a movement of the hand or foot of the companion of the intended victim. The victim is always told to lock the door himself, which he does and is satisfied that it is safe and securely fastened against intruders. He is sadly in error, how- ever, because the bolt of the lock can be worked from the outside. This is done by the use of a small nail dr any piece of metal or wood which will fit into the slot in the woodwork of the door where the . lock is. This slot is about an inch and a half long and one- sixteenth of an inch wide. A small hole has been made in the bolt of the lock, and the tumbler or spring in the lock, which is operated by turning the key, has been partly filed away to permit the bolt to be worked back and forth by the use of the nail without causing the key to turn or to make any noise. PANEL HOUSES 43 This slot in the door is so small that it can never be discovered except by accident or close inspection. The hinges of the door have been well oiled, and it is opened without attracting the attention of the victim, who is occupying the bed at . the opposite side of the room. If perchance any noise is made by the thief, the lights are instantly extinguished by a confederate, and the intended victim is held fast until the thief makes hi.«', or her escape. If no noise is made the thief gets all the money and valuables to be found and goes out quietly, and the victim upon dressing discovers that he has been robbed. He finds the door securely locked and knows that his companion did not go near his clothes, and therefore could not have taken his money. Sometimes he is induced to believe that he was robbed before he entered the place, or that he had lost his money, and goes away without complaining to the police. A three-room flat with doors opening into each other on the side is the best adapted to working the above described panel game. Although no panels are used in this case, it is included in what is known as panel house robberies. Another method used by panel house keepers is to have secret closets tuilt in their rooms in which the thief conceals herself until the proper opportunity presents itself to rob the victim. Another method, and the one which gave these houses their name, is a moving or sliding panel. These are' placed ingeniously in the walls or doors and are operated by secret and invisible springs. These panels are usually concealed by pictures or cur- tains. In the room containing these panels, there is 44 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME only one chair or sofa, which is placed against the wall or door beneath the panel. This is done for the purpose of forcing the victim to place his clothes, when he has undressed, near the panel, he being compelled to use the sofa or chair for a clothes rack. The thief keeps informed of everything that occurs in the room by peering through the holes in the wall or door, and at the proper time quietly slides or removes the panel, reaches in for the victim's clothes, rifles them of money and jewelry, puts them back in their place, and when the poor dupe discovers his loss, he is con- fronted by a mystery which he is unable to solve. In some cases long poles are used to get the victim's clothes. If they are by accident or intention laid ofi beyond reach of the thief's crafty hand, this pole with a hook frequently accomplishes the designs of the robber. Of course, in every case the plunder is divided with the companion of the victim. The lock used on the doors of these rooms is the en- terprise and ingenuity of a well-known saloon keeper who at one time owned several panel houses. He sold a number of these locks to the keepers of other panel houses, for which he received several hundred dollars each. In cases of robbery keepers of panel houses try in many ways to prevent their victim from complaining to the police. One of these plans is to have a man or boy stationed in front of the houses, who is called a trailer. When the victim of robbery leaves the house this trailer is informed by signs made from a window, how much money has been taken. The trailer then fol- lows the victim, and if it is ascertained that he is going to the police station he is intercepted and taken back PANEL HOUSES 45 to the scene of the robbery, it having been suggested that he may be able to get some of his money back or to get some assistance. If it is found that the victim is a stranger in the city, she will offer to procure his trans- portation to his home, declaring that he was robbed by an outsider and protesting that she could not possibly afford, to allow such a thing to occur in her house. Sometimes this stops a complaint at the police station, and the victim leaves the city a poorer but wiser man. To show the vast extent to which this panel house thieving is carried, it is only necessary to state that $1,500,000 were stolen annually in 1892, 1893 and 1894. Ten thousand dollars have been taken this way in the levee district in one night, and from fifty to one hundred cases of larceny have been reported to the police in twenty-four hours. Ten thousand dollars have been offered by these panel house keepers and those who shared their ill-gotten gains for the removal of Detective Wooldridge from the secret service work of the city. These thieves often had the protection of a certain class of politicians, and it is said of some officials also, who participated in the profits of their highway robbery. It is but giving credit to whom it belongs, however, to say that Mayor Carter H. Harrison, during his sev- eral terms as the city's chief executive, gave support and encouragement to all efforts to wipe out these panel houses. He, like other good citizens, looked upon them as a burning disgrace and a low form of lawlessness that should be exterminated. Detective Wooldridge, in his vigilance and determina- tion, closed fifty-two of these panel houses in 1896. He closed and broke up forty-five of these places in the lat- 46 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME ter part of 1898, and in 1899 he secured the indictment and conviction of twenty-eight panel house keepers at one time. Following this, he secured the indictment of the property owners who rented houses to these thieves, and this last stroke put an end to the panel house busi- ness in Chicago. Through the excellent work of Detective Wooldridge, seven of the toughest strong-arm footpad women in the world were sent to the penitentiary. Their thefts, according to the police records, are said to have amount- ed to $425,000. The names of the women follow : Em- ma Ford, Pearl Smith, Flossie Moore, Minnie Shouse, Mary White, Alice Kelly, and Mattie Smith. The names and addresses of the twenty-eight panel house keepers who were indicted and convicted through the efforts of detective Wooldridge are given below : NAME. NO. STREET. Maggie Spencer 209 Plymouth Place. Ed. Speed 147 Plymouth Place. Mamie Johnson 147 Plymouth Place. Lucy Smith 374 S Clark Street. Gypsy Vernon 374 S. Clark Street. Jessie Woods 362 S. Clark Street. Delia W^oods 364 S. Clark Street. Mary Phillips 329 S. State Street. Laura Mack 329 S. State Street. Ruby Bennett 404 S. Clark Street. Emma Dent 419 S. State Street. Pearl White 396 S. State Street. Lizzie Hall 480 S. State Street. Tillie Madison 166 Custom House PI. Maggie Grady 455 State Street. Tillie* Louis 455 State Street. Maggie Grady 49 Hubbard Court. May Marshall , 49 Hubbard Court. Lena Shields 49 Hubbard Court. EMMA .FORD 41 Sadie Cair , 196 Plymouth Place. Hattie Briggs 390 S. Clark Street. Hattie Briggs 368 S. Clark Street. Lillian Eastman 509 State Street. Mamie Mcrran 377 State Street Nellie Bly Mary Summers 420 State Street. Annie Michael 1233 State Street Jessie Vernon 18 Harmon Court. EMMA FORD, THE LEVEE TERROR. ARRESTED BY DETECTIVE WOOLDRIDGE AND SENT TO PRISON FOR TEN YEARS. There have been in Chicago many criminals and tough characters, both men and women. All grades of vice and lawlessness have held sway at different times, but there never was a thief, footpad, highwayman, rob- ber, burglar, safeblower who was more desperate and hardened in the sins of the levee than the notorious negro woman, Emma Ford. She was a terror to the police, the courts, and even to her associates. She was so steeped in crime that even while in prison at different times she could not control her desire to fight or steal. It was her occupa- tion ; her delight. She could not live without being engaged continually in some dishonest or lawless act. In this respect she was much like the habitual opium eater. She craved for crime, and if the opportunity for it did not come her way she would go out and look for it. She has been arrested hundreds of times. She has served terms in prison, until, black as she is, she almost shows the easily distinguished prison pallor. 48 HANDS UP, IN THE- WORLD OF CRIME It is estimated that in her career she has stolen $ioo,- ooo. She has done as much perhaps as any one else to make the levee district of Chicago famous. She is a remarkable specimen of physical ., develop- ment. Six feet tall, straight as an arrow, weighing two hundred pounds, and black as a starless midnight, she looks like an African giantess. She has muscles of steel, and is as fearless as she is ferocious. She dreaded nothing, and was always ready for the excite- ment of a highway robbery or the satisfaction of eluding an officey. She would never submit to an arrest except at the point of a revolver. No two men on the police force were strong enough to handle her, and she was dreaded by all of them. Emma's criminal career began soon after she was born. She first saw the light of day at Nashville, Tenn., where her mother ran one of the worst dives in that city. It was called the White Castle. Crime therefore came easy to her, and she proved such an adept pupil that, before she was out of her teens, the black giantess found Nashville too warm for her. She wa's placed on a train together with her sister, Pearl Smith, and told not to come back again. The first stop made by the colored pair was at St. Louis, Mo., where they both were arrested for robbery and sent to Jefferson City penitentiary for one year each. They next turned up in Chicago, and for larceny Emma Ford was sent to the House of Correction for one year, and Pearl Smith to the Joliet penitentiary for one year. They were no sooner out, however, than they again got into trouble for holding up a stockman, at the point of the gun, at Custom House place and Taylor EMMA FORD 49 street, while the man was on his way to a train, re- lieving him of a large amount of money. They boarded the first train that left Chicago, and were next heard of at Denver, where they attempted to rob a ranchman, who gave fight, and was killed by them. Both were arrested, found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, but they succeeded in getting a new trial, and finally secured their freedom through some flaw in the law. The acquittal of these two criminals stirred up such a storm of indignation that a mob was at once organized with the intention of lynching them. Then the women began a mad race for their lives. They jumped into a carriage, and the driver was told to "burn the street" to the railroad depot. Off went the team at full speed. The mob found that the intended victims had flown, and it started in pursuit. The driver lashed his horses into a run, and the vehicle turned the street corners on two wheels. On came the panting mob, the leaders gaining on the tired horses. The depot was reached just as a train for the east was pulling out. The fleeing women jumped from the carriage and caught the railing of the rear platform of the last car in time to escape the clutches of the maddened throng which was in pursuit. The women pulled themselves on the car just as the would-be lynchers rushed into the depot, and thus made their escape. Both returned to Chicago and took up their old work of robbery on the levee. Detective Wooldridge has arrested this Colossus of the levee a number of times, but it always took one, and sometimes two, revolvers to persuade her to submit. In 1894, Emma Ford and Alice Kelly robbed Perry James, 50 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME a colored porter in the employ of A. G. Spalding & Co. James was born in the West India islands, ana he had traveled all over the world. He had been a sailor and served in the war of the rebellion, where he was wounded and for a time drew a pension, but with all this experience he fell into the hands of these two female footpads. On the. day of the robbery he had drawn his salary, and together with his pension he intended to make a payment which was then about due on his home. On his way home he stepped into a saloon at Harrison and Dearborn streets, and while there exposed his money, which was seen by the two women. This incited the robbery which followed. James reported his loss to Inspector Lyman Lewis at the Armory, and gave a minute description of the women. A descriptive state warrant was procured, and Detective Wooldridge was sent with James to locate and arrest the guilty parties. From the descriptions given the detective suspected that Emma Ford and Alice Kelly had committed the robbery. He soon located the Kelly woman and ar- rested her. After looking for two hours for the Ford woman he saw her some four hundred feet away. She also saw him and made an effort to escape by running into 120 Plymouth place, where she had a room. She was closely followed by Wooldridge and James, and the building was searched from ground floor to garret, but without avail. They were about to give up the search, when, while passing through the hall which led out to the street, Wooldridge's eyes caught something that seemed to move in the wall. Upon investigation it proved to be EMMA FORD 51 a blind panel door which led into a closet, and in this closet Emma was found. When discovered, she stepped forth, her eyes shining like balls of fire, with head erect and every nerve strung to its fullest tension. She looked for all the world like a ferocious lion. She demanded in a loud tone what was wanted, and when told they had a warrant for her arrest, she replied, "Go to h 1 with your warrant, you can't arrest me," and she made a spring to get away. Wooldridge, however, caught her by the collar and sleeve of her dress and everything was stripped from her body from neck to waist on one side, and in several bounds she reached her room at the end of the hall, twenty-five feet away, closely followed by the detective. Emma, and her sister who came to the rescue, at- tempted to close and bar the door, but Wooldridge placed his foot in the doorway, and then the women tried in vain. The officer's clothing was torn and his arm and hand badly lacerated, and the thick soles of his shoes were so mashed up that he never could wear them again. When they found that they could not close the door, Emma Ford seized an iron poker three feet long, and with it she tried to brain the detective, but he thrust a revolver in her face before she had a chance to use the poker, and then she weakened and threw, the poker down. He kept her covered with the gun and finally landed her in the station. Pending the trial of this case, she secured bonds and managed to rob Frank Adams, Charles Smith and C. Reid, three stockmen, on Custom House place. Detect- ive Wooldridge again arrested her. She resisted and pulled from her bosom an ugly-looking dirk with a blade 52 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME nine inches long, and was in the act of striking him with it ; but the detective discovered her intention in time to avoid the blow, and shoved two guns into her face, compelling her to drop the knife. She was again safely landed behind the bars. Ex-State's Attorney W. S. Elliott, who prosecuted her, now holds the knife. The three stockm.en followed her into the station, and while she was being booked, with the quickness and agility of a cat, she turned on Frank Adams and filled his eyes with cayenne pepper and snuff, nearly blinding him. For the robbery of James she was arraigned for trial on April 25, 1892, before Judge Frank Baker, found guilty of larceny and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years. She was also arraigned the following day on an additional charge of larceny, together with her sister, and again found guilty before the same judge. She took the entire blame from her sister, and was sen- tenced for five years additional in the penitentiary. Alice Kelly was given two years in the penitentiary by the same judge on March 19. While confined in the county jail, she amused herself one day by gathering up a German guard and immers- mg him in a water trough near by. Several months later, while the State Senate Commit- tee was prosecuting an investigation at the penitentiary, she was seized with one of her mad fits, and sailed into the laundry women with flat irons. Six or eight guards rushed upon her and she was overpowered. It was then discovered that half a dozen of the colored women were disfigured. For this contretemps she was placed in soli- tary confinement for weeks. Only one man, of the large number she has robbed, EMMA FORD 53 aver got the best of Emma Ford. Once she held up a cowboy and took from him all his money, amounting to $150. He rushed to the police station and reported the robbery. The officers were very busy, and he thought they were too slow in sending out after Emma. The cowboy was in a hurry, and said he would go aftet- her himself, and he went and found her. She was near the Polk street depot when he saw her. Walking close up to her, he pointed two big six shooters at her face. "You've got $150 of my money! Now shell out, nig- ger!" he said. "Go and get a warrant out and have me arrested, then," replied the big colored woman, who wanted time to hide the money. "These are good enough warrants for me," returned the cowboy, significantly, as he poked the revolvers a trifle closer to her face. "Now I'm going to count twenty, and if I don't see my money coming back before I reach twenty, I'll let go both guns." When he reached eighteen, Emma weakened. She drew out a wad and held it out toward him. But the cowboy was wise and would not touch the roll till she had walked to the nearest lamplight, under the escort of his two guns, and counted out the $150. The cowboy then returned to the station, told the officers what he had accomplished, and treated the crowd. Emma had a way of ingratiating herself into the graces of her jailers by her brute strength and smooth talk. Even while in jail she plies her trade, merely to "keep in trim," as she styles it, and she will "touch" the watches and jewelry of visitors and others. She boasts of this, too. 54 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME While in the Cook county jail, she once robbed the jailer's assistant, even after he had taken precautionary measures. F. H. Burmeister was the assistant jailer whom she robbed. He was taking Emma and another woman from the jail to the criminal court for trial. Hav- ing heard of the reputation his big prisoner had for picking pockets, he told her that he would button his coat in order that she might not "touch" him. When he handed his prisoners over to the deputy sheriff, Emma Ford called him back. "Come here, Mr. Burmeister; I have something for you," she said. The guard returned, and she presented him with his own gold watch. In going downstairs she had slipped her hand under his coat, into his vest pocket, un- fastened his watch, and placed the chain latch in his pocket without his knowledge. Another one of her boasts is the robbery of former Jailer Morris while he was taking her to the peniten- tiary to serve a term of ten years. Speaking of this episode, Emma Ford said : "Mr. Morris and I rode in the same seat to Joliet. I thought Fd just open his eyes, so I copped his turnip. When we got to Joliet I says, 'My goodness, Fd like to know what time it is.' Mr. Morris searched his pockets. No watch. He looked at me, but I swore I never saw it. I told him that perhaps he left it in the jail. He kept whining about it, so when I got to the big gate at the penitentiary, I says, 'Here, Mister Jailer, is your watch. If I didn't think a good deal of you, I never would give it to you.' " When arrested in Denver, she assaulted a jailer and EMMA FORD 55 picked him up by the whiskers. Not content with this, she jerked them out and threw the hair in his face. Emma Ford was released from the penitentiary after serving a large part of her term. She at once returned to Chicago and to the Ifevee district, but she found that it had changed very much during the long years she had been serving the state as laundress at Joliet. She was not long, however, in finding some of her old associ- ates, nor in returning to her old tricks of fleecing strangers. On March 27, 1899, she robbed W. S. Duncan, a trav- eling man from Boston, of $42. Mr. Duncan was walk- ing to the Polk street depot late in the afternoon of the day and had a satchel in each hand. Emma Ford came up behind him, threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged him so tight for -a. moment that he was almost breathless. During this brief demonstration of her strength and affection, she separated the traveling man from his roll of bank notes. She was arraigned for trial twice in this case. The first time the case was called her atttorney, W. S. Elliott, who was state's attorney in 1892, and secured her con- viction, was engaged in another court, and it was passed. The second time the case was called, w'nich was in Sep- tember, 1899, W. S. Duncan, the prosecuting witness, was brought to Chicago from Boston to testify, but just as it was taken up, it was found that W. S. Elliott, the attorney for the defense, had secured an understanding with Charles S. Deneen, the state's attorney, that the case should not be called until he returned from the East, where he was attending the Grand Army encamp- ment. Then a postponement was made until September 12, &6 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME when it was discovered that Mr. Duncan had to go Easi and could not return for six months. Emma was en- titled to a trial or her liberty, at this term of court. De- tective Wooldridge advised the attorney to accept a prop- osition which her attorney would submit, to the effect that his client would plead guilty and take a sentence of one year in the House of Correction. In thirty minutes she was sentenced by Judge Bren- tano, and that ended the case. Emma was released from prison in September, 1900, and immediately went back to her old life of crime on the levee. She was arrested again in December for rob- bing a man near the Polk street depot, for which she was held to the grand jury and indicted. She was tried before Judge Smith, and on January 2, 1901, was sen? ienced to another year in the House of Correction, where she is at present. During the three months she was «■*■ liberty, she confessed that she had stolen over $400 DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH ROBBERS. TWO MEN CAPTURED BY THE DETECTIVE AFTER A HAEID FIGHT AND SPEEDY RUN. When the mercury stands at thirty degrees below zero and the detective has a long and difficult night assign- ment, he is put to one of those tests which try men's nerves and their metal, but the officer who thinks of nothing but his duty does not permit the weather to deter him. Detective Wooldridge was traveling a beat in uniform during one of the coldest nights in the wmter of 189I; DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH ROBBERS 57 when at two o'clock in the morning he found a drunken man on the sidewalk at Thirty-third and State streets. Efforts of the officer to arouse the man were unsuccess- ful, and he at f^rst could not tell whether the man was drunk, injured or freezing to death. He knew that if he left him there he would soon freeze, and he went to a patrol box across the street and called the patrol wagon. Wooldridge had just recrossed the street, when two men emerged from the alley going north. Both of them seemed to be carrying something concealed under their clothes. A street car was approaching the corner, south bound, at a rapid rate. Wooldridge started towards the men to find out who they were, where they came from, and why they came out of the alley at such a late hour, and also what it was they had concealed about them. The two men, as can be readily conjectured, had not the least kind of a desire to meet such an officer as Wool- dridge, and immediately started on a run to catch the street car. - Wooldridge, however, closed in on them just as they were boarding the car, and tried his best to stop one of them, who let a bottle of brandy fall just as he was jumping on the car. The car was crowded at the time, and they forced their way through, jostling the passen- gers right and left until they reached the front platform and found Wooldridge there ready with the "goods." They immediately whirled about and started back for the rear platform . The passengers in the car were again knocked right and left in the eagerness of the men to escape the officer. But when they reached the rear of the car, Joseph Keating, one of the two, jumped off almost into the arms of Officer Wooldridge. i8 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME Keating pulled a bottle from his inside coat pocket and struck at Wooldridge with such force that the bottle broke off at the neck and fell to the street. Officer Wooldridge, however, promptly knocked the man down with his club, but he was on his feet in a second and arose with another bottle of liquor which he tried to use on the officer as before, but the latter proved too quick for him, and knocked him down again and again, break- ing his bottle to pieces and raining blow after blow with his club, which soon subdued him, whereupon he sub- mitted to arrest. The wagon rounded the corner at this time on a fast call for assistance,' and Keating and the drunken man were both placed in the wagon. Keating's partner, Edward Williams, had escaped. But a light fall of snow was on the ground, and Wooldridge, leaving Keating and the drunken man with the wagon men, followed the tracks of the other man down the al- ley to Thirty-third street, when he discovered him a block away. Wooldridge bounded to the other side of the street, and having rubbers on, made no noise as he ran. The first thing the officer did was to drop his heavy overcoat, belt, and club, for Wooldridge came from old Kentucky, where they raise the best thoroughbred running stock in the v/orld, and he went into the chase to test both the endurance and speed of the man who was mak- ing his escape. In relating his experience afterwards, Wooldridge said he never ran so fast in his life, and in describing it, he says : "Trees, lamp-posts, and houses were passed so rapidly, that they looked like teeth in a fine comb." Will- iams, the escaping prisoner, was overtaken at Cottage resk^vtev a young girl 5i» Grove avenue and Thirty-third street, nearly a mile from where he had met the officer. He was taken t( ) the Stanton Avenue Police Station, where he was searched^ and on the two prisoners were found eight bottles of brandy, two boxes of cigars, one hundred pennies, and a door key. Separating and placing them in the sweat-box, one soon weakened and confessed to entering a saloon at Thirty-seventh and La Salle streets, owned by McNally, taking the above mentioned goods, and also exchanging their clothes with the saloon keeper. They were held to the grand jury, indicted, and ar- raigned for trial March ii, 1892, and sentenced to one year each in the House of Correction. RESCUED A YOUNG GIRL. In 1897 Detective Wooldridge discovered that a young girl was being kept in a den of vice in an alley near Har- mon Court by Irene Moore. He at once rescued her, and she was sent to the Erring Woman's Home by Justice Richardson. It developed that the girl was Bessie Henry, sixteen years old, from a small town in Indiana. She was an orphan and had been living with her aunt and uncle, but the latter was out of employment, and it was decided that she should come to Chicago and seek em- ployment. When she arrived here she had but little money left, and that was soon gone. She then found shel- ter with a colored woman on Third avenue, and was taken from there to Irene Moore's house, where the de- tective found and rescued her. 60 HANDS UP, IN THE WORLD OF CRIME ARRESTS A SAFE BLOWER. DETECTIVE WHILE HANGING FROM A WINDOW LEDGE COM- PELS A MAN TO YIELD. While the police of the whole count'"y were looking for Matt Kelly, a notorious and expert safe blower. Detective Wooldridge located and arrested him May 17, 1895, but it was only after a thrilling experience for the officer. Cfosi /"firtrif wmtex Of ttO^OIHIHCi B