Page:Chicago Race Riots (Sandburg, 1919).djvu/70

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60
THE CHICAGO RACE RIOTS

ducted by "Billy" Lewis. He has another at 14 East 35th street, where the second and third floors are used as a temple of the gods of chance. Also he has another at 37 West 22d street.

"Louie Joe" presides over craps at a place in the 3000 block on South State street, second floor front. "Mexican Frank" has his establishment at 3436 South State street, second floor front. "Wiley" Coleman is in the same block on South State street, second floor front.

It should be stated here that in most cases the neighboring shops, stores and flat dwellers do not enjoy the proximity of the poker and craps enthusiasts. In every instance where inquiry was made the neighbors said they wished the police would stop the games.

W. M. Bass has been operating craps and poker games night and day in the rear of a real estate ofllice on East 31st street, near Cottage Grove avenue. From an alley entrance at 3512 South State street, one may enter a temple of chance conducted by one McFallin. Two men known as "Williams" and "Kennedy" maintain a laboratory for the study oF the laws of chance on South State street, near 35th street, entrances front and rear. T. Jones has a similar laboratory on South State street, near 39th street, second floor, front and rear entrances.

"From 22d street to 39th street on South State street there is some kind of a game going here and there, usually craps and poker, and often day and night," said an informant who knows the district from constant residence in it and wide acquaintance.

"I'm no reformer," he commented further, "I don't want to have the duty of changing what is in men's natures. But you can take it from me, they're going too far out here now. There ain't many places where the game