New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-15

NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1870.
AMONG THE FAIR BUT FRAIL
SCENE IN THE cALABoosE

-
Saturday night, Corporal Vankirk says that
he was informed by some citizens passing
along Canal street that q row was in pro-
gress in house on Basin street. He started
for No. l6. a stylish bagnio, at the head Of
which rules Mrs. Nelly Otis, whose sands Of
life are not nearly run out. The corporal
quickly called other officers to his assist
ance, when an entrance was effected in
stantly all was confusion. After rather
rough time and successfu, hunting, sixteen
of the frail were gathered together, they
say, very unceremoniously, and marched
of to the first precinct station-house. In
less than FIVE minutes after this, not less
than g hundred men, on foot, in cabs and
carriages, hurried to and fro, making earn
eat efforts to obtain releases for fayOrites.
Recorder Houghton, Superintendent Bad
ger and Captain Schneider were diligently
hunted, and after the lapse of an hour or SO,
four releases were secured, one being for
tho Madam. At three o'clock Sunday morn
ing, when most Of those inquiring friends
had departed, the other women were per-
mitted to return to Basin street.
The scene presented in the upper cells of
the calaboose was striking. Each one WAS
richly dressed after her own peculiar style.
Some took imprisonment lightly, jestingly,
while few found vent for fear or anger in
tears, alternating with sickly smiles, while
all looked pretty. Three or four recent I'M
portations we're emphatic IN cOndeInning
New Orleans, her police and prisons as the
worst they ever saw. yet there was no
vulgar word OF loud cursing heard. Every
mind was intent on the all important qucs-
ton, when viii a release come? The cell
doors were not locked, SO they could re-
main in the hall if they choose, and when
the outer door was unbarred to permit an
official to enter, those bundles of sin, silk
and satin, crowded the steps more
earnestly than voters at poll at
sundown. Az with one voice, they implOred
to be freed from that horrible, dirty place,
they, the while, care fully folding up their
rich attire to escape from particle Of dust.
When all hope had fed for a release they
began to think seriously of the unpleasant
restraint; thoughts Of early homes, parents
and friends arose unbidden, bringing. feet
ing tears to eyes that seldom weep except
in anger Emotions long buried beneath a
superficial existence grew vivid, but Were
crowded down on the instant. Nothing leas
than the presence of once loved mothers,
fathers, brothers, sisters and dear friends
could have aroused them to n lasting i'm
preston Of their present degradation
Thoughts of all else were banished, when
the turnkey informed those poor women
that they could go down and sign bonds for
appearance Monday morning.
With childish sprightliness and maidenly
modesty they ranged themselves at the desk
and answered to their names, real OF as
sumed. Most Of them had given fictitious
names and were ready to answer to almost
anything. Male friends were there by the
dozen, and their names would look queer in
print.
Yesterday that pretty sixteen drove
up TO the Recorders Court ,all neatly attired
wearing modest airs, prepared to be pros
ecuted by the officers for violated two or
three city ordinances. Corporal Vankirk
and Patrolmen Casey and Champagne were
the only witnesses offered. Their testimony
| was to the effect that in consequence OF a
disturbance in the fashionable house they
had arrested all the female inmates. The
burden of their evidence was that consider
able loud, vulgar conversation had been IN
dulged in, but they were unable to point
! out any one of the girls as the violator.
Judge HOughton then dismissed all, ex
cept Mrs. Otis Judge AtOcha, who ap
| peared as counsel for the Madam, theI
| chose three Of them rs witnesses, intending
| to refute every statement made by the po
lice. 1t was not supposed they would agree
with the officers In relating the circum
an officer had proposed, on the road t.
! prison, to permit her to escape if she would
| give him one of her diamond rings. He
| also, she said, asked to be made depository
of her gold watch, as it was possible sh'
| might lose it. Another stated that an Off
Ger, in answer to an inquiry forexplanation
had said that they were arrested because
election was over and times We're dul1 ant
money must be made somehow. This Ian
| guage was attributed to PatrOlman Cham
| payne, but as the reporter has known this
officer from boyhood, he takes the privilege
of saying that he enjoys the reputation of {
! truthful, upright man, and excellent officer
| Evidently the court was not greatly divert
| ed by the avermenfs of the girls, for thu
Madam was fined fifteen dollars, on tht
proof that disturbance of the peace hat
| taken place in her house. The fine was in
stantly paid, when that glorious sixteen de
| parted, the observed Of all.
! Judge AtOcha, in summing up the evI
dence, was particularly severe on the police
| for their action in making this arrest. HI
contended that they were either very spite
full or bent ON blackmaling. lie alsc
dropped 6 hint that before many months q
serious change would occnr in our police
system, or . change for the better; con
tending that they had no particle Of right
| to enter that house as they did, without q
warrant, and drag innocent persons te
| prison. He made an excellent defense fOl
his clients.
| It seems somewhat strange that every
time disturbance is said to have taken
| place in any house Of llfame, the police
instead of arresting the guilty parties, arrest
| every person found in the premises. What
their object is in doing SO we do not under
stand. 1t seems very easy to discover the
persons who arc intoxicated, talk loud OF
carry concealed weapons, and such persons
only should be arrested; but our intelligent
| and vigilant police seem to take great pleas
ure i'll making wholesale arrests without the
| slightest cause. 1t is time this outrageous
| system should cease.
FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL. DISTRICT
Election Of Mercy.