The raid by Detective C. R. Wooldridge on the Lincoln Commission
Company, a race track scheme, in the Portland Block, 115 Dearborn
street, May 14, 1903, developed the peculiar relations between this
concern and Sullivan, and the police department was somewhat astounded
to find among the papers of the Lincoln Commission Company conclusive
evidence, in the shape of telegrams and correspondence, proving that
Sullivan's agents on his private wires were acting as the agents of
the turf scheme, and that the employees and private wires of the
Sullivan concern were used in common by the Lincoln Commission Company
with the consent and approval of Sullivan.
More than twenty of Sullivan's agents were posting in his various
offices the tips sent out by the Lincoln Commission Company and
accepting bets which were transmitted over Sullivan's wires to be
placed ostensibly by the Lincoln Commission Company on the horses
which they tipped off as sure winners.
The mixing up of a turf scheme with a so-called grain and stock
business was something new to the police, and Detective Wooldridge
prosecuted the investigation, and, upon becoming fully acquainted
with Sullivan's methods, concluded that he was not only running a
bucketshop, but was interested in the turf scheme to a greater extent.
The evidence gathered in the raid on the Lincoln Commission Company
fully established the fact. The Cook County Grand Jury was in session
at the time and the evidence was presented to them. Detective
Wooldridge was ordered to make a full investigation and report to
them, which he did.
The Grand Jury instructed Wooldridge to lay the matter before the
General Superintendent of Police, Francis O'Neill, and say: "The Grand
Jury requested immediate action should be taken by the police to
enforce the state law, which was being violated."
Wooldridge submitted the case to Chief O'Neill. He asked if
Wooldridge had secured the necessary evidence to prove that Sullivan
was conducting an illegitimate business. He was answered in the
affirmative.