The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-04-12

tninp tnat IS loui, uuu Cout"ihiuS "i'hih
them all the elements of bodily and spiritual
ruin. that these men bring respectable bn!
needy youpg girls from neighborng cities
by some plausible story about waiting on
tables in hetes at high wages. But that is
not the worst, for everything but personal
violence land for oil we know, that too, is
used to keep them there, and if they sue.
cesd in getting away, The lies and calumnies
of their deceivers follow them wherever
they may 60.
1t frequently occurs that when the girls ar
rive at the saloons they are without money,
and con soquently without means OF return
ing whence they came, and unless they re.
ceivs assistance from outside the saloon,
their ruin is only question Of few hours.
week are withheld from them if they show
any desire to escape, and applied on rea
or imaginary charges which the proprietors
of tho saloons are never at loss to find
against them. Thus, every art is used to
lure next to helpless young girls into the
saloons. and then, to make of them profess
sional prostitutes, to destroy them body
and sonl, every avenue of escape is barred.
Within the last six weeks certainly no
less than five respectable girls, and rrobab-
ly more. have been lured into saloons by
false promises Three of them effected their
escape within day or two after entering
the saloons, and, by aid of sympathzing
citizens they obtained work in hotels and
private houses in Petroleum Centre. Four
of the girls-includns the two that are row
in the saloons-were hired at an Intelligence
Office in ButinIo, where the parents of the
girls are now living.
The facts we have just given are the worst
features of crime at Petroleum Centre. but
they are by no means all. Attacked either
directly or indirectly, or as hangers On TO
the free and easys, and to other, er,institutions
equally bad, and TO the low eroggr rres and
bagnios, are q horde of cut throa,s and
thieves who, together with lot # gamblers
of every grade, from the closely shaved sect
down to the half shaved looking pitch-penny
fellows, prey upon society.
Keno. is in its glory, and sweat boards, dice
and cards are well patronized, and scarcely
a day passes without some one telling a
dolcful story OF losses the night previous.
During the past ten days not less than four
highway robb.ries and assaults have been
aa1 in one case the victim was
dangerously beeten. Tue state OF affairs at
the Centre bAs become intolerable De-
banchery and crime of every description
are rampant. The parasites of society are
banded together in one common brother
hood for the defence Of themselves against
the laws which they break with impuniiy.
and which are wholly inadequate Tor tho
protection of life aud property. These
things have brought about regin of terror,
and it is with the utmost difficulty that tho
property owners Of the place Can ,e induccd
10 taFe any prominent part in any action
loo'ting toward tie suppression or punisas,
ment OF crime The deputy sheriff. ~
Justice Of the peace, and constable at Petrc-
lenm Centre do every thing in thoir power,
to preserve peace and good order. but their
Efforts avail but little under the existing
laws and the combination oil law-bleskers.
The citizens of the place ami vicinity have
petitioned TIE legislature to pass q bill Az
thorizing the uppo;ntm Mt Of police commits
sioners and OF any number OF policemen Il c
commissioners may deem necessary, the
maintaining Of lookup, and giving the
commissioners the authority usually delegat-
el to police courts. If he legislature will
pass this bill, crime at Petroleum Centre
will receive blow from which it will new
er recover, and the Centre will become as
orderly a town as any other in the State
Lieut. II. Weiter, of Franklin. has been
appointed and confirmed Register of Public
bonds at Santa Fo. New Mexico.
y new WE'LL struck on Friday last, on tie
Columbia Oil Cos property, Storey Farm,
is doing 40 barrels.
A. d. Miller returned from tv.o weeks
trip east, on Friday last. Our readers may
expect 10 see large stock Of drugs and faa
cy articles displayed at the drug store soon
THE President issued a proclamation on
the 9Th inst, calling au extra session of tile
U. ). Senate, TO convene today. The ex-
ira session is called to act upon nominations