Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1907 — NEW YORK’S DIVES. [ARTICLE]

NEW YORK’S DIVES.

The Lookout Man’s Trick When the Police Show Themselves. Some of the dives about New York that are under the ban of the police have ingenious contrivances for warning occupants and patrons of the approach of a “bull” or any other suspected person. By the way, these places are never referred to in the vernacular as “dives’’ or “joints,” for the vocabulary of the inventors of slang changes as quickly as a word comes Into general use, so a suspected place is now always referred to as a “dump.” Warning of the approach of a policeman or detective is given by means of an electric buzzer. Formerly the push button connected with the buzzer was concealed under the edge of the bar in front or behind a 'yater pipe. This device, however, was discovered by the police, who thereafter on entering a suspected place kept a close watch on the barkeeper and gave him no chance to press the button. Then came the prong device. This consisted of two small metal prongs projecting from the edge of the wall. When a man suspected to be a limb of the law entered the door, the barkeeper carelessly placed a coin across the two prongs, thus making a circuit and causing the buzzer to sound In the rear. This device was discovered, too, so now a lookout is stationed outside the door of a dive. He apparently is a lounger, but he scans closely by r quick glance the face of every* person who enters. If a man doesn’t look all right the lookout presses his foot, which has a copper plate nailed to the surface of the cellar doorway outside. This makes the circuit and causes the buzzer to get busy, so that by the time the “bull” throws open the door the occupants who are wanted by the police have had time to make their escape and those who remain are seated at tables harmlessly drinking beer or engaged In a friendly game of penuchle or whist. Everything Is apparently “on the level,” and tbe “bull” is forced to withdraw without having been able to obtain any evidence. —New York Press.