New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-06
MR.. MORRIS'S VAIN EFFORTS.
HIS PROTESTS AGAINST VILE RESORTS.
RESORTS OF THIEVES AND Low WOMEN LICENSED

BY HAUGHTON AND MITCHELL
Excise Commissioner John J. Morris was again
before the Senate investigating Committee as VIII
ness yesterday. He said that he wished 70
Thomas j. Creamer from any charge OF ehdeaVolhS 10
procure licenses for dsre putable places, ana audeu
I" did not begin my opposition to the granting Oh
licenses to dsreputable places because OF the c9mon
ton of nv felow-commssi0ners against me- III PROOF
of this submit the case OF John Mcheoni VINO no f
Mace at No 400 Sixth-ave. On March IL 1904,
Iaptaln Williams reported that Mckeons place was
enc that respectable people did not visit except by
accident Then MSKeon moved TO No. ho a. onnar
emily res pectable McKeons place was then lcenseu
although | strongly objected. In January iast lne
police raided several places where gambling was
carried on All of these places were licensed;
tried to get this evidence obtained by the ponce
before the Excise Board. | could not do TINS, ana
some of the places which then raded are licensed
TO this day always objected TO the licensing OF me
notorious tom Gould's place. at Nos. 3O ana %
West Thirty -drstst. There were lewd women visiting
the place constantly. have watched the lace on
MANY occasions to the character OF the persons
going in there, and that they were of the most
Abandoned kind Many OF them were young girls
| told nv colleagues the result of my observations ana
strongly protested against licensing the place"
Ex-senator r. G.. L. Ecclesine, IA counsel Tor Con-
missouers Mitchell and HaughtOn, tried to nave
parts Of Mr. Morss testimony stricken out as hearsav
Chairman Gibbs told him that he could appear as
matter of courtesy but that no part OF tie testimony
would be stricken ont. lie also informed Mr. MOTIFS
that he need not answer any questions put TO hum ny
the counsel unless consent was given by the Chairman
Mr. Morris continued; c
and South Fifth-ave was granted against my protest
knew by common reputc that Coakley was burglar
and a tibet he was charged with being eohcefnea
in the Manhattan Bank robbery. asked that HIS
license be revoked, but Commissioners Mitchell ana
Haughton refused to do So
Again Mr. Ecclesme said that this evidence was
bearsay and moved that il be stricken out Chairman
Gibbs said that Mr. Morris need not answer any CUES
tions not put him by the counsel for the COMMITTEE
Mr. Morrs-I am willing to be cross-eLamin6d.
Mr. Ecclesne-Oh we know that you are the angel
of light Of the Excise Board.
Mr Morris-I do not wish to tell anything but the
truth and that Is apparently what hurts. do not
want to smirch any one, but | propose to LET the
blame for the present condition of things rest just
where it belongs. With reference to Clarendon Hall,
No II East Thirteenth-st the license had been
refused on Septmber IL by Commissioner Mitchell
and myself The next day the license was granted by
Commissioners Mitchell and Haughton, although
objection made to the place on account oil us
had character In this in other instances, Commits
soners Mitchell and lloughton licensed the place IN
my absence. Shang Diapers place, NO. 90 sixth
ave was one of the most notorious in the city. 1t
was in this place that two burglars were killed in
fight among several OF the most desperate men in tie
civ Draper was represented by dummy. had
learned good deal about this place from the reporters
for the press -
Il have always, found that the reporters could, II
they chose when asked, give very accurate INFORM
alton | also received information from the police
Mr. Whitney and | went upstairs on the second floor
of this place and endcavorcd gain adnitancc, but
were refused successfully by tour men who looked
through wicket iii the door; Then We demanded
wicket was closed and could hear bolts aud bars
shooting into place reported the result of this visit
to Mitchell and liaughton. was asked II tins was
the only evidence / had. | said thought 1t was
enough. Then they licensed the place. The case of
George f. Prescott. at No. lOs West Eghteenth-'t,
was a hagrant one. went there ana looked nj the
place II was being fitted up with saloon on the first
floor and q garden in the Teer On the second hoor
found several small rooms. Without letting myself De
known inquired of one of the French walters and
| learned what the were intended for. There
was no secret that they were intended tor immoral
purposes The report of the police was ut hrst
favorable Afterward II was reported as the resort oil
women of doubtful character The report OF the Excise
Inspector was at first favorable and a subsequent
report uniayorablc Finally new application was
made for n license in the name of Jacob Schnatz.
had told my associates what | had seen there. !
made another visit 10 the place and found number of
women there whO had no reason to doubt were
prostitutes II was asserted that the private upper
rooms had been removed. Against my protest
Commissioners Haughton aud Mitchell licensed the
place. Ii soon became most notorious resort. Ihc
neighbors protested against allowing the place TO he
licensed but for q long time nothing was done.
Finally the license revoked. In the case OF tie
Mozart in Great JCnesst, reported that II was one
of the worst places had ever visited i believed that
III the women who frequenod II were disreputable.
Commission n llaugho said that he hd visited IL ana
he believed that the young women whom be saw there
were respectable shop girls and the men clerks and
mechanics. Commissioner Mitchell said he believed
Haughtons statement rather than NINE and the place
was licensed.
Mr. Morris gave many other cases where he had un-
avanCIy protested against licensing places which had
plined bad regulations. In several Instances Com
missioner Haughton bad signed applications for
licenses after the police had reported against the places
as utterly unfit 90 be licensed Ia the case OF the
- UaymaTketn IN West Thirtcth-st he protested
against granting license. 1t was licensed last year
aud again this year by the votes OF COMMISSIONERS
Mitch ell and llaughton
senator Gibbs called upon tict-Attorncy MARITIME
Yesterday in reference. II said 10 taking before
The Grand Jury the OF NJ. b. Wilson; the broker
who refused to answer question put 10 Lin when lie
Hvna "a Wit before