The incidents attending an actual pull are in the main more laughable than impressive. The "hurry up" wagon takes its load away, and before many moments have elapsed the same faces are seen again returning to the one attractive spot in their daily lives. These rooms are munificent contributors for protection. They pay from $600 to $1,000 per month. They hold back telegraphic messages of the results of races until their confederates have placed bets. They are patronized by women of, apparently, all classes. In one raid eighteen women were captured, fifteen of whom claimed to be married. All of them, of course, gave fictitious names; three had babies in their arms; three claimed they were wives of policemen; a few were well dressed, and all were undoubtedly devotees of gambling, sporting women who fancied they had discovered the way to lead an easy and money-making life. The following extract, taken from the examination of the head of the police force of the city, will show the view entertained by that official of the nature of his duties, in this regard. Before the senatorial committee appointed January 6th, 1898, to investigate scandals in connection with the police force, its Chief was interrogated and answered as follows, viz.: Q. How many pool rooms have you pulled, how many men have been arrested and convicted for pool selling since you have been chief? A. I understand one fellow has been found guilty and fined $2,000. Q. But he was arrested by the Sheriff of Cook County, indicted by the grand jury because the police would not do it? A. I don't know whether it was because the police would not do it, or because they could not do it. Q. Well, it was because they did not do it. Do you mean to say that you, as Chief of Police, with 3,500 sworn men---- A. Don't say 3,500 men. It is 2,500 men; don't make it quite so strong. Q. Do you say to this committee, that with 2,500 sworn men in this city you are powerless to stop the public running of pool rooms in this city? A. I will say that I am powerless to stop a man from making hand books, or selling pools confidentially to his friends. Q. Do you know of any pool rooms being conducted in this city during the months of October, November and December? A. I don't know of my own knowledge; I never was in one. Q. Did any of the 2,500 men ever report anything of that kind to you? A. I never had any definite report on that subject. Q. They were giving the people a liberal government? A. Yes, things were running very easy. * * * * * Q. I will get you to state if it is not a fact that a large number of pool rooms were running openly with telegraph operators in the place, pools were being sold, money paid, and everything running at full blast? A. I never was present; I don't know anything about it. Q. Was there any complaint to you of that kind of thing being done?