Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-20
PHASES OF CRIME.

PHASES OF CRIME.
A New Phase of Villainy Developed in New
YOrk.-EmplOyment Agents as Auxiliaries
to Robbers Und Cut-throats. I.4
A gang of thieves and blacklegs in
New York have adopted new and most
extraordinary method of carrying out
their nefarious business. They go to
the employment bureaus, run under
the auspices of religious societies, and
register their names as Ostensibly re-
curing work. Respectable people who
desire to hire servants apply at the Of
fee, and are shown the registered names
of persons wanting work, and are thus
decoyed in visiting the dens of scoun-
drels, where they are often robbed, and
Saturday the wife of Mr.. Leroy c. Cove,
a prominent lawyer doing business on
Wall street, visited the "New York
colored MISSION" and stated to the par
ties in charge she wished to employ
colored man servant. She was told
that she could find such servant as she
desired at No. 81 Thompson street, in
the rear. She proceeded to the street
and number indicated, raped at the
door Of a flthy-looking tenement, and
was admitted. A colored man and white
woman, apparently his wife, were the
occupants. The lady made known her
errand to the "man who wished to
procure situation as servant" The
white woman went out Of the room, os-
tensibly for leaving the visitor alone
| with Tho otnr Of tho MI
The rascal suddenly addressing the
visitor, said: 81 want you to give me
some money" The lady was astonish-
ed, and replied, that she was not in the
habit of donating money for such pur-
poses. The fellow then began to abuse
her, using very profane and improper
language. He told her that he would
have some money before she left the
room. The lady naturally was much
frightened, and attempted to leave the
place, but the negro stepped between
her and the door and pulled her back.
Then the rascal placed his back against
the door and held it shut, exclaiming:
snow, my fine lady, I'll keep you pris-
oner here until you come down with the
stamps" The lady had quite large
sum of money, and fortunately she had
some fractional currency in her pocket,
and this she gave the robber. This did
not satisfy him, and he told her he knew
she had larger sum with her, and
insisted on having more. He made a
motion as if to seize her, and rob her
by force, when his white wife returned
into the room and begged him to desist
and let her go. At this juncture the
robber glanced through the window
and saw policeman standing in the
street. This frightened him. and he
b astily opened the door and allowed
the lady to depart. On gaining the
street the latter told the policeman what
had happened, and the officer urged her
to go to the police station with him and
make complaint, but the lady declin-
ed SO doing.
No place in the notorious Give
Points,, in the halcyon days of that To-
cality, was ever SO dangerous as is" Afri-
ca, of the eighth ward. The miserable
wretches who inhabit the place defy
the best efforts of the police to preserve
order. Instances have occurred where
persons have visited these dens and
have never been heard of afterward.
In the main hallway the following
notice is conspicuously posted:
"New York Colored Mission, Employ
ment Office and Chapel Religious SER
vice and Sabbath school for colored peo-
pie, walters, hostlers, gardeners, and
all kinds of colored help furnished
No charges to those furnished employ
ment Woman's lodging house. No
standing about the doors allowed"
The institution has the appearance
of frst-class religious charity, and
receives the support of a large number
of the wealthiest and most fashionable
churches in the city. In several of the
Methodist congregations a stated sum
is set apart quarterly for the support
of the colored mission. Little do the
good charitable people who contribute
SO literally imagine that they are Civ
ing aid and comfort to unmitigated ras-
calls. It is said that the management
does not inquire thoroughly into the
antecedents Of parties who apply to
have their names registered on the
books as desiring employment A lit
tie care in this respect would no doubt
prevent respectable people from being
entrapped into the den and robbed.
The matter caused considerable ex-
element, and the police authorit les
have taken the matter in hand for i'm
mediate investigation.
| A Rraach Of Promise