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.