The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-04


mind letter from Miss Francis II.
Willard. whichappeared a few weeks ago,
regarding the dens Of iniquity that ex-
istod in this Northern country and the
means employed to keep them filled with
inmates. The appended rather lengthy
letter in answer from Judge @. b. Grant,
as published Ia the Union Signal tenn
pcrance organ, viii be very interesting
reading:
AlIss FRANCIS II. WILI.ARD,
DEAR MADAM Your letter of the
goth uIt. would have been answered
cHlcr but for the serious illness OF my
vile.
have carefully noted the contents Of
your letter, and the enclosure cut from
the New York World. l should incline To
the opinion that the statements made by
thocotrespnndento OF the World are some
what exaggerated, still have no doubt
but that the keepers Of these ,lens Of in-
fanny are fully capable of doing all that
the correspondent says. From informa-
ton which / consider reliable. feel sale
i'm saving that ! do not believe thdt n
single one OF those dens everexistel for "A
year ON the Wisconsin and Michigan
borders without witnessing a murder.
Less than two years ago one oF these
dens ON the Wisconsin side 81 the river
cost the county OF Menuminee, Mrh.,
nearly three thousand dollars for three
murder trials. A Disgrncefull row oc-
CURED early in the evening, before IL WAS
dark, between the keeper and two visitors
The row ended upon the street IN the
presence and hearing 81 many boys and
girls, with profanity and vulgarity Of the
bascst kind. One uf the two visitors, who
lived in MeDomince, threatened 20 pros
ecute the keeper. In his haste he sent
his inmates In oncdifectiun, while he fled
To. the river and crossed over 60 the
Michigan side tie did not dare 80 back
e. Marinettewhile This Witness asliNing,
40 he hired two men 60 kill him, which
they did about ten o'clock at night, on
one OF the most public streets OF Menom-
inoe All three are now serving out life
sentences IN the penitentIary for the
murder.
That girls are abducted and induced to
enter these dcns under false pretences, /
have no doubt. | have Keen the adyer-
tisement- OF these Infamous wrotchcs in
tho Chicago papers. While was holding
a term OF court in Menominee last year,
three girls came irO4n Chicago in answer
W Afit WtlNtfitrtbitlll WI AiI lltfAViHfuH
Morrison, who is now serving out a term
in the penitentiary fnr keeping a house Of
ill-iame. The dvcrtisement wasall right
upon it's face. The girls arrived without
money. and were sent back tG their homes
through charity The nit hal cf Iron
Mountain came 10 the ca, house and
informed me of the case of the last two
girls cent word 20 Morrison by the
marshal that he must send them both
back To Chicago. also instructed the
prosecuting attorney to see that they
were sent hack at the expense oi the
county, il Morrison did not do 40.
Thatmany Of these girls are brutally
and innmanly treated in these dens is
beyond doubt. ! have talked with ms
many ns fifteen or twenty Of them, whom
| have sentenced, In regard To their lives
there. | talked with them separately,
and after had sentenced them. Their
stories were substantially the same, and
/ was convinced oi their truth, ns were
the Others who heard them. They are
beaten, tined and kept in debt aud never
allowed TO have money enough to get
away. Last year two brothers by the
name az King were arrested together
with all the inmates, for keeping den in
Delta county, Mich The officers secured
an account book extending over quite "A
long period, in which appeared nn nc
count with each Girl who had been an
inmate In each ease they were charged
with drinks, cigars and fines, and were
always in debt. While boing taken to
Jail after their arrest, one oI the Kings
brutnlly struck one of the girls
have had some of those places point
ed out 60 me Ey the officers, and have
seen the high hoarlfcnces. lean conceive
oI no other purpose of these tight and
/ high board ienccs than 20 prevent the
escape of the inmates. Some Of the girls
have told me OF their attempts TO escape
and receiving brutal beatings in conse-
quence. But IL Is idle to rehearsc the
disgusting details of the Infamous places.
The public knows them; theofficers ofthc
law know them, and still nothing ~ done
| 60 exterminate them. The murders at
Menomince was not afraid of any inter-
! ference from the public authorities
whose duty IL was 10 prosecute him. but
only afraid ofthe man with whom he had
"a quarrel. IL is su all over the northern
border OF Wisconsin. These wrctchcs do
not fear the officers. On the other hand,
there IL the beat rcasOnfO believing that
the officers stand IN with them, and in
stead ofprosecuting, protect them. This
condition of Affairs is standing disgrace
| to civilization, and Wisconsin ought TO
wipc IL out. IL ftiaeasily done II only the
anthorities will act In earnest. So long
~ Judges, prosecuting attorneys, sbcriiIs
nj ~ Irr A fIiccra orf hurI< Ira their official