“Red Letter” Well Known — Patrons Told They Would Not Lose If Advice Was Followed
In Sullivan’s office the detectives found great quantities of advertising matter. This matter was thoroughly gone over in the search for evidence against the grain and stock broker. Pile after pile of Sullivan’s “red letter” circulars were found.
Sullivan’s “red letter” was issued daily, and printed in red ink. The circulars were written in a manner characteristic of all the advertisements, printed matter and correspondence to patrons.
In telegrams to patrons and the “red letters” Sullivan often made the proposition that he would make good all loss sustained by patrons while they were making purchases upon his advice.
The detectives were somewhat surprised when they saw at the top of the circular in bold, red type that “four exclusive offices for lady speculators” were being operated in Chicago, one in South Chicago and one in St. Louis. The addresses given for the Chicago offices were 225 Dearborn street, 159 LaSalle street, 260 Clark street and 84 Adams street. Women speculators of South Chicago had the opportunity of making their purchases at 9138 Commercial avenue.
Wooldridge was asked by the press what justification he had in making the raids, and by whose orders they were made. He said that he raided the Lincoln Commission Company at 115 Dearborn street, May 14, 1903, which was conducting a turf investment company, and found that George T. Sullivan was operating the same in connection with his bucketshop; that George T. Sullivan and 60 inmates were arrested, and eleven wagon loads of books, letters, papers and records taken to the Harrison Street Police Station. Wooldridge said that he had evidence to indict them on 50 charges, and he intended to deliver the goods, and he would not be pulled off by any man in the State of Illinois.
Wooldridge immediately took steps to get his evidence in shape. He called on John Hill, Jr., who had charge of the Board of Trade quotations and who was an expert on bucketshop methods.
Wooldridge, Hill and two clerks went to work gathering evidence for the trial; eleven wagon loads of books, papers, letters and records had to be gone through, which was done in the most careful, systematic manner.
They worked from 2 p. m. until 12 o’clock and the evidence gathered was placed in a vault.
After they had secured something to eat in a nearby restaurant and taken two hours’ sleep, they resumed their work, which was carried on until 7 o’clock Sunday morning. This evidence which was secured was locked up in another vault for safe keeping. After they had eaten their breakfast they resumed work again and worked until 6 p. m. This evidence gathered was placed in another vault. After they had eaten their supper they resumed work again and worked until 1 o’clock Sunday night, when they succeeded in going through every scrap of paper which was seized in the raid. This evidence gathered was placed in another vault.
The placing of this evidence in different vaults was for the purpose of preventing George T. Sullivan or any of his friends from securing it on a writ of replevin.
Wooldridge slept until 5 o’clock, then went to the residence of Charles S. Deneen, State’s Attorney. Arriving at his house and finding that he had not arisen from bed, Wooldridge pulled up a settee which he found on the veranda and placed it in front of his door where it would be impossible for him to get out of his house without first awaking Wooldridge.
Wooldridge laid down and went fast asleep and was found there when State’s Attorney Deneen was making his departure next morning for his office. Wooldridge, upon being aroused from his sleep, told Mr. Deneen of the raid made and the evidence gathered and showed him some 10 or 15 telegrams from reputable Board of Trade men who were worth over $20,000,000 collectively. The substance of the telegrams was as follows:
“Officer Clifton R. Wooldridge: We are informed that you raided George T. Sullivan’s bucketshop. You have done your duty and been criticised and assailed for doing it. My name is —— and my attorneys name is —— and we are at your service night or day, without any expense to you.”
Mr. Deneen asked Wooldridge how soon he would be ready to present his evidence to the Grand Jury. Wooldridge replied that he had two cases already prepared before he made the raid and would be ready in six hours with a number of additional cases.
Mr. Deneen told Wooldridge to accompany him to his office, which was done. He called Assistant State’s Attorneys Albert C. Barnes, F. L. Barnett and Howard O. Sprogle and instructed them to assist Wooldridge in preparing the cases for the Grand Jury and give him a clean road just the minute he was ready. They were further instructed to give him all the assistance and advice he should need in the matter.
The special complaints were drawn, the telegraph wires became busy and at 10 o’clock Wooldridge and witnesses went before the Grand Jury and George T. Sullivan was indicted for keeping a bucketshop and common gaming house.
George T. Sullivan was also active from Saturday until Monday morning. He had prepared writs of replevin and warrants for larceny for Wooldridge and officers who were with him.
Wooldridge was called up over the telephone by Sullivan’s friends and offered a bribe of $5,000 if he would release and turn over the books, letters and records which were seized in the raid, so Sullivan could resume business. This offer was refused by Wooldridge and the matter reported to the State’s Attorney.
Sullivan then resorted to sending various friends and powerful politicians for the paraphernalia seized. Still Wooldridge turned a deaf ear to their requests and entreaties.
Wooldridge was a very busy man at the County Court Building on Monday. Before the George T. Sullivan bucketshop raid and the indictment before the Grand Jury, Wooldridge had the case of J. J. Jacobs, manager of the Montana Mining, Loan & Investment Company, which was a lottery, on trial before Judge Chetlain.
While in the courtroom he was informed by officers that they had a writ of replevin for the goods seized in Sullivan’s bucketshop; that they also held warrants for Wooldridge and the officers who were with him, but if he would surrender the goods seized they declared the warrants would not be served and there would be no trouble.
Wooldridge called on the State’s Attorney and informed him of the demand made upon him. State’s Attorney Deneen called the officers in his office and told them that Wooldridge was there in attendance in the court and he would not permit the warrants to be served on him until after court adjourned. Further, he had instructed Wooldridge not to turn over any of the property.
Sullivan during the meantime had learned that there was an indictment against him by the Grand Jury and withdrew the order for serving of the warrants. He was indicted, convicted and paid a $500 fine.
After the police had secured the evidence, his books, letters and records were returned to him. He tried to start up in business again; also to get other parties interested with him who had money, but in this he failed. He was forced to refund $150,000 to his patrons who had advanced money to him to speculate in grain and stock. He expected financial assistance and hoped to resume business, but nothing materialized.
There were thousands of other creditors throughout the country who were not so fortunate in obtaining a settlement. These creditors combined and forced him into bankruptcy.
He was then cited in the United States Court for violating a federal injunction.
He quietly folded his tent at night and left Chicago without leaving his address. He was next heard of in England six months later. All traces of him were lost until, in August, 1907, at Pittsburg, Pa., he was arrested for running a bucketshop.
George T. Sullivan, of George T. Sullivan & Co., brokers, with offices in the Bijou Building, Pittsburg, and was arraigned before Magistrate F. J. Brady at Central Police Station, charged with a misdemeanor and violating a city ordinance.