The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-08-29
HENRY G. PONDS GREAT CRIME.
The vile Sin Charged Against Him
Confessed, hut the ola sinners
Pitiable Condition Appeals 90 the
nf fI.a fsonre

The vile Sin Charged Against Him
Confessed, hut the old sinners
Pttiablc Condition Appeals 90 the
Mercy of the Court.
Henry G. Pond, an old gray-haired man.
Of No. 31s Pennsylvania avenue, presented
pitiable condition as he was borne into the
Police Court this morning in the arms Of
two policemen TO stand trial for conducting
q nefarious business. He was suffering from
assesses, and though aged, is said by the
police to DO one Of our worst citizens aud
an enemy of society. He has had the repu-
tation of keeping an designation house for
score of years, and his present establish
ment, the Avenue House, was raided about
nine weeks ago as q bawdy house on COM
plant Of number Of the best citizens In
that part of the city. This establishment,
like many Others like it, are more danger
GUS to society than houses of the same char
acter below the Avenue at certain points or
neighborhoods given up to lewd purposes,
because 1t was in respectable neighborhood
and purported to be respectable house.
When the place was raded by the po-
lice moro young men and women were
caught than in any othor raid ever made in
the city.
The defendant pleaded guilty and placed
himself on the mercy Of the Court.
He said in a pitiful voice, ~ have been
sick about nine weeks with malaria and
complicated diseases. My house was raided.
and have been sick since 1t has boon
| said that / have feigned sickness, which is
not so. My furniture has been packed for
| three weeks preparatory to moving. had
| an abscess to burst about two weeks ago
| which gave me relief but l have intima-
tion of another ono forming"
Judge Mills told Pond he need waste no
moro time about this, for the Police Sur
geon sent to examine his condition made
the same report.
The prisoner then pleaded poverty.
Prosecuting Attorney Thomas stated
that he had a great deal of sym
pathy for the mans condition, but
he had been convicted before on
a similar charge, and large number of re-
| spectacle gentlemen were present who have
| complained Of the character of the house.
These gentlemen have had ladies to stop
visiting their residences because they were
afraid to be seen in the vicinity OF this
| house. He asked that fine Of $3.50 be
| imposed.
| The Court said that on account of his
| condition he would only impose q fine Of
| 800.
| Sixteen Girls on the Road 10 Ruin.
While the above proceedings were going
| on in court the witness-room was occupied
by sixteen young girls, whose ages ranged
from 10 to 25 years. They were there to
testify against Pond. These girls were all
caught in Ponds den ON the night of the
raid. Every one of the party was either
| good-looking or bore traces of former
beauty. Some of them showed plainly the
marks Of dissipation, their eyes being red
dened from the effects of strong drink and
their faces swollen. There was one little
miss who cannot be more than 10 who ap-
peared to be troubled on account Of the un-
pleasant position in which she was placed,
and gave vent to her feelings. The Others
laughed, and seemed to think that appear
ing before police judge in bawdy-houSe
case was funny thing.
Other Places Like Ponds that
Should BE Broken Up.
Ponds was not the only harbor for young
| girls in this city. There arc dozens OF
| other such places, where girls Of tender ages
| gather every night to meet men. Such
places ought to be broken up. 1t is not an
uncommon thing to see girls of IL or IL
years at these vile holes and supping beer
and whisky with their male friends. Every
such place should DO closed up, and girls
| under age who visit them should DO ar
rested and placed in an asylum Of some
| kind.
There should be society for the care Of
Maynard girls in this city.