The New York herald., 1872-08-11
Terrible Depravity in the Heart
Of a Great City.
RoGUEs' RoBBERIEs
Curious Rumor About Six Hun
dred Dollars a Week.
The Manner i'm Which Legisla-
ton Is Not Effected.

the present msment calls public attention to this
most frightful source Of cultivating vilany-the
concert saloon. Some short time ago but COM
paratively few Of these dens existed on the prom-
nent thoroughfares; but they have lately grown to
such an extent as to become one Of the greatest
evils the city labOrs under When these places first
opened their doors for the destruction Of
young men the proprietors were more
or less modest in the kind of attractions
they set forth for their customers but as time went
on and the concert saloons seemed to have hit the
depraved taste OF the rowdy population they be-
came bolder and continued to grow more daring
until, finally, they assumed the magnitude of mon-
ster caravans or degradation and vice. At the out
set the greater number Of these places contented
themselves with the selling of beer but now all
kinds OF compound destruction in the shape OF
| drinks are sold In them. The wretched class OF
women employed contented themselves with cheap
calico dresses and retained such other decency of
demeanor as they knew how to put on; but lat
terly, restraint has been
| FLUNG TO THE WINDS,
| and the brazen damses who now inhabit the
saloons are bedizzened in all the gaudy nimslness
OF cheap splendOr. All pretensiOn to good be-
havior among the women has Departed and immo-
rality OF the most revolving description is the only
/ thing sought after. Limbs and bosOms are
freely displayed and the general conduct of the
women In these places is such as would offend the
sensiblity Of any man with o pretension to pro-
priety. In keeping with the attire and demeanor
or the females fs the entire get-up
Of the interior Of the saloon. The walls and
ceilings are daubed with the most glaring colors,
and the scenes attempted to be depicted are not
more than one remove from filth. Some of them
are adorned with fountains and flowers that seem
only to emit q stencil OF vice and disorder Music
Is added to the other attractions OF the dens and
1t s usually of quality that would, under ordinary
circumstances, destroy the least sensitive ear.
Tables are arranged the length OF the halls, with
chairs beside them, and at these tables the visi-
tors seat themselves, and what they want in
the shape Of drinks is brought by the women from
the general bar behind which the proprietor and
several bartenders stand. AS the first order
filed the woman, or several of them If there is
more than one man In the party, will also take
seats at the table, drinks are demanded for them
and they continue TO induce the men to keep on
ordering
THE VILE STUFF SOLD IN THE SALOON
as long as any money remains in the pockets Of the
victims. When the men are pr0vincials and not
accustomed to the ways OF city life, or fast young
men about town, with more money than brains,
the women endeavOr to make them drunk as
quickly as possible, and when they are no longer
capable OF taking care OF themselves they are
Ieu out Dy % DaCk door into dark of
street. and there comfortably and quietly relieved
OF the loose property they possess This operation
OF wedding" as It is called is performed by young
men who are in league with the women, and who
lounge about the saloons until their services are
required when, upon signal from the women,
they betake themselves to the Of the place,
await the result OF 1.-THE little game" The women
arrange the rest OF the programme, and before long
back door, and he falls heplessy on the sidewalk.
The pockets OF the unfortunate individual rined
IN an o i short Of time AND
ground. Very soon after perhaps policeman will
pass the way, going his rounds; hnding man
| OF the feet with his club until he wakes him. and
then, If he is too drunk to find his way home, the
out that he is robbed the following morning. Every
woman, without any exception, engaged In these
concert saloons has some scOundrel of this descrip-
gamblers, ':ropers-nn for skim games OF EN-.
ployed in some way about faro banks" but they
are generally thieves and thieves OF the worst and
vilest description. Sometimes the women arc en-
ployed by panel thieves to decoy strangers hav
Ing a large amount OF money about them into the
dens they keep always invitlngy open for such
birds. This is
THE MOST MODERN METHOD
OF concert saloon robbery, and is just becoming
general In this case the woman promises the
''young man about town. or the "old
very numerous irequenters Of the concert sa.
loons-t0 go to supper with him, as
before or after the supper generally after, as she
is able to gauge the weight Of his wallet while he is
paying for the repast, decoys him into the panel
house. where he will be sure to pay tile penalty or
his oolishness. The women are usually adverse to
taking up a case Of this kind early in the evening,
for the reason that it consumes good deal Of time,
and may not turn out as profitable as is desired.
There is, besid.s the chance OF being able to dis
pose of one or two young fools before the old ones
upon the scene and the parties will be able
to make the evening entertainments a lucrative one.
Young men drink faster than Old ones, and are be-
sides less able to stand the effect OF the liquor.
They are, consequently, more quickly and more
easily disposed Of The great object Of the youth is
women to devote her attention TO him exclusively
he will spend his little store In the most lavish
= TIE wHITE-nEApED REpRoBATE
is merely extravaganza He goes into the saloon to
enjoy himself after his own fashion, and the women
wa Watch a and wait Hus until the proper % moment
comes, when they make him pay for the
patience bestowed upon him ;, The young mans
the women when he enters saloon and this in
sane desire to be nodded to as an old acquaintance
many respectable youth to States Prison To
keep themselves In the memory OF these women
after night. This takes more money than they can
usually get in an honest way and the result gener-
any is that to keep up the s,ea sGquant 6
their employers. Now the old fellows avoid this
notoriety and always slip into the saloon If they
had never been in the place before. They quietly
drop into chair; wait until the particular avorite
spies them out-then there Is quiet suppressed
!How dc ye do ~ and the Old game commences
over again when the young man is very "fresh,n
that is inexperienced in the ways OF the place, q
woman will frequently devote good deal OF atten-
ton to him for the purpose OF hurrying matters to
a crisis. The male accomphce sees this In
an instant and moves into the vicinity
OF the intended victim. The young mans
neck will In all probability be encircled
by pair OF female arms or one Of his knees will be
used as q scat and while he Is being delighted with
the idea that all the men in the place are looking
with wonder on this most fortunate fellow, his
watch, money and any little trinket he may have
about him are being transmitted to the male ac-
sees the 'Job is DONE" One woman has been
known TO steal as many as six watches In the
course OF an evening, and pass them behind TO her
'iriend" In this way. OF course, when
THE VICTIM FINDS HE rs ROBBED,
he Is too much ashamed OF himself TO make any
fuss, and generally slinges' out OF the place as II