In Philadelphia

District Attorney John Monaghan continued, last week, his investigation of the Philadelphia bootleg ring. During six weeks of activity he has arrested 33 policemen, a member of the State Legislature, sundry racketeers. He has set political trouserlegs a-trembling, has looked suave, representative Philadelphians squarely in the eye. Once he hustled for 44 hours without sleep.

Legislator. Matthew J. Patterson, plump, horn-spectacled member of the State Legislature and Vare-Republican leader of the 19th ward, was arrested and held in $15,000 bail, charged with extortion, bribery, conspiracy. A lawyer testified that Mr. Patterson had commissioned him to collect certain moneys "for campaign purposes." During six months up to Aug. 15, the lawyer had accordingly obtained $12,195 from one William C. Peters, a florid gentleman with a drooping moustache. The lawyer was not aware that Mr. Peters was a saloonkeeper. He was not aware that the funds were protection fees from 20 speakeasies. But his client, Patterson, knew.

This spectacle titillated the city's Democrats. They sent a summary of the testimony to all county organizations and the Democratic National Committee, charging that saloon money was being used to finance the local Republican organization. With imaginative gusto the Democrats pictured the saloons of all 48 wards turning a possible $560,000 into Republican tills.

Clubman. Joel D. Kerper, who caters to the drinking elite of Philadelphia, heard his tasty wares championed in the courtroom. Thirteen of his fastidious clientele testified. Gardner Cassatt, banker, member of the Rabbit and other Philadelphia clubs, had known 'Legger Kerper well, patronized him for over 5 years. Last May he bought several cases of champagne at $92 apiece, two cases of gin at $75.

"Did you taste the stuff and would you say it was champagne and gin?" he was asked.

"I did and it was," said Mr. Cassatt.

'Legger Kerper admitted making $30,000 a year. He was fined $20,000 and sentenced to one year and three months in the Federal penitentiary at Atlanta.

Policemen. In the downtown district a 75-gallon still was raided. A little black notebook was seized. Acting on the contents of this book, District Attorney Monaghan summoned 23 policemen to his office. They were Capt. Charles Cohen of the 20th & Berks Streets Station, seven sergeants, three detectives, twelve patrol men. For hours Mr. Monaghan was a menacing interlocutor; it was then that he lost sleep. Several of the catechized broke down, one wept convulsively. All were arrested on bribery and extortion charges. Toward midnight they lined up in the City Hall corridors. They marched to jail, ironically led by Capt. Cohen. Amid the boos of jailbirds, the catcalls of more obvious and unashamed criminals, they were debadged.

The next day, having spent a feckless night seeking means of release from politicians, they were arraigned in mufti before the Grand Jury. Mr. Monaghan began to produce his evidence of their guilt.

Schemer. In Philadelphia a policeman's berth is rapidly becoming a mare's nest. Mayor Harry A. Mackey, who has hitherto expressed many wishes to be of more momentous service to District Attorney Monaghan, gloated over a choice scheme. He ordered a complete transfer of the city police. About 4,800 officers found themselves detailed to new precincts. The order came suddenly; no policeman knew beforehand to what station he was being assigned. Before the transfer each Captain submitted a report of conditions in his precinct, a resume of the reports of sergeants and patrolmen under him. Following the transfer the new incumbents of each station were to be allowed a week to prepare a similar statement. Mayor Mackey planned to subject these reports to comparative analysis. "It will thus occur to the Captains," he said, "that their future in the police service will depend upon the accuracy and truth of the reports." Mayor Mackey was photographed.