Evening journal., 1889-11-15
soclAL cLua ourRAes.
Two Young Women say They We're lure'
Into the Inara Club Room.


The Wilmington Social Clubs" have
added another to the long list Of crimes
which they have perpetrated against
womsnly virtue. But few of such cases
are brought to light, and when one is,
many persons have their eyes opened.
On Saturday night last, Phoebe Len
dermsn, aged II years, and Carrie Nc
Mahon, aged IS years, were approached
by two members of the lrma Social Club,
who invited them 90 go to the rooms,
No. 4l6 Market street, and see how
nicely they were furnished The girls
went, after persuasion. The rooms Of
the club are on the second
floor Of the building, Just above
f. w. Woolworth's g. Co.'s five
cent store. Three doors open into the
room, two in the entry and one ia the
rear. The doors in the entry are all wood.
the one in the rear has two panes OF
glass in 1t. A curtain inside has on
on it the words "Irma Club" Windows
in the rear are covered with curtains
and newspapers to prevent outsiders
from seeing the orgies carried on inside
the room. The room is well-furnished
and is divided in two by partition. No
lounges are in either apartment.
This is the place into which Phoebe
LendermRu and Carrie Mcmahon were
escorted 'to see how nicely it was fur
nished," last Saturday night. When
they entered the room the door was
locked and the blinds closed and the
girls were prisoners. The gas was
turned low and the young men began to
carry out the details Of a prearranged
scheme.
According to the statement of police
officer. the rooms of this club are always
well supplied with liquor. Beer and
whiskey were brought out, the boys and
girls crank The scheme proceeded
Carrie Mcmahon was taken into the rear
room; Phoebe Lenderman stayed In the
! front. The girls had no power TO cope
against the sensual appetites Of the young
scoundrels who had lured them to the
den. The doors were made secure and
| the lights were turned still lower
Seven men were with the girl in the
front room and three with the girl in the
rear room.
The girls were released on Sunday
morning on their promise TO return that
night. The program of Saturday night
was repeated on Sunday night by the
same number of young men. The girl
in the rear room was i'll when she went.
at o'clock Monday morning the two girls
i left the den of vice and went home.
/ The elder girl became i'll suddenly and
then her mother discovered the cause.
/ Mrs. Mcmahon and Phoebe Lenderman
went TO the Office of 5the Society for the
| Prevention of Cruelty TO Children on
Tuesday morning and told Agent Frank
/ Stout the horrible tale. The young
woman spoke freely and told straight
| story. her mother, like Mrs. McMahon is a
widow; both women are heart broken at
their daughters shame.
| On Wednesday morning Mrs. Mahon
called on Agent Stout and the full parti-
culars we're given. The girls have never
been heard of by the police They lived
/ out at service and because of that theii
mothers had not the knowledge Of their
movements that they otherwise woulC
have had.
The story Of the girls was the excus,
| for raid on the rooms of the Irmi
Social Club which took place last night
Special Agent Frank Stout of the s. p
@ O., Patrol Sergeant Tucker, Patro
officers Evans and Heal aud Specia
officer Smith made the raid about
o'clock and captured the following younl
men Horace Vandogrift, d. Harry Collins
Pierce Warfeld, Henry Wall, Henr
Lodge and Lewis Owens. Their age
range from IA to 90 years. They wer
confined in the police station all night.
When City Court opened this morning
a big crowd was present, Including man,
members Of the Irma Social The young
men who were captured in the raid wer
placed in the dock. They were charges
with keeping a disorderlY house. Cit,
Solicitor Henry Clay Turner asked tina
the case be postponed until o'clock
Monday evening, so that the authoritie
may investigate the matter further. Tn,
prisoners were held in $500 bail for ap
pearance at that time.
Then the young women were placed il
the dock and held in $500 bail as wit
nesses. The younger girl has small fea
lures; the older, has large features. The,
are ordinary looking girls, not strikingl,
pretty, but comely. They have seen non
of the young men and therefore do no
know whether they were among thei
outragers.
The two girls told Matron White thi
morning that the young men arreste
were not present at the club room o.
Saturday and Sunday evening. DAME
H Collins, Jr., Henry Wall, Samus
Warfield and Henry Lodge have bee
released on bail.