Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-07
STRANGER,s OBsERVATIONS.
What He Has to Say on the Curse of the
"Bad Lands"

What He Has to Say on the Curse of the
"Bad Lands"
The frequency with which complaints are
made to the police OF robberies perpetrated
upon patrons Of the dives on Galena street,
and the inability OF the officers to compel
restitution, suggests that these brazen
| nymphs enjoy immunity from punishment
for the commission OF crimes for which
Others are sent to the penitentiary.
Scarcely a night passes that one or more
persons do not make complaints of having
been robbed on Galena street." The
officers, in cases where the victims are
sober and known to be worthy OF credence,
always endeavor to make the thieving
prostitute disgorge. but it the amount
enter a brazen denial OF the charge and
fight the case in the courts.
Speaking upon this topic. last evening, a
travelling man, whose business calls him to
the larger western cities, said to a MINER
reporter: Here in Butte, in marked con.
trast to rulings elsewhere, notably in Denver
and Omaha, the testimony OF these people,
together with that Of the Infamous pinkies,
is given the same weight as that OF a reput-
able witness, and it is next to impossible
to secure a conviction. The robbery
almost invariably occurs when the siren
and her victim are alone, but
denizens OF the street will coolly take the
stand M swear they were present, and de.
clare that no robbery was perpetrated;
that the plaintiff was drunk and probably
spent or lost his money elsewhere. This
evidence, nine times out Of ten, manufac.
tured out OF whole cloth, is accorded
credence and the defendant discharged.
For long time the same condition OF
affairs existed in Denver. But the fairies
overdid the business and it finally became
such q crying evil that the police /
authorities took the matter sternly
in hand, and when q robbery |
OF this character was reported by eredita-
bic persons, the house was pulled, the in
mates landed in Jail, and a heavy fine i'm. \
posed. Even after having this punishment
melted out to them they were not permit
ted to resume business at the old stand
until they had made full restitution. The
uymphs and their male consorts refused to
submit, and one fine day last
April Holiday street awakened
find a posse OF twenty-five policemen
and u like number of deputy sheriffs
pounding ut the front doors and demand
'bk oAuiooiOA AoE ouo PuEpOoC vi surviving Il
for the arrest of all inmates oil
the dives. Nine bus loads of the frail
|airies we're bundled on board and taken to
the county Jail. That public hosiery
inadequate to accommodate the
mob, the remainder were herded in the
.a-ret uf the court house until they could
,et bonds. Indictments were found
against all OF them. The police next rid
he town OF the 'pinkies,' who were not al
to take refuge behind the plea of be- [
ng bartenders or musicians, but were ar.
ested as Migrants and the arrests contin-
led until the DISCOURAGED 'pinks' evacuated
he city. With indictment resting against
hem, the woman, almost without excep-
ion, forfeited this bonds and skipped out
'hief Farley then issued an order closing
he places, and refused to allow any newt
on,ers to carry o. this peculiar business
n the ground aoor. This order knocked
be French woman chilly, and in passing ]
long Holiday street to-day, you will not :
nd these shameless crea' ures Haunting 6
heir offensive insolence in your face. This .
ice flourishes in Butte and is more public =
any of the Western cities l have 4
isited. The a%uthori'i"s. by a d.splay OF a D
title decision Could keep the. O
Omen within the bounds OF de. b
'ncy. Only q few years ago they 4
they owned Denver, Omaha aid I.
ansas City, but OF late they have learned d
their sorrow that d'carcy and respect. q
)ility would lot tolerate their iI,fa mics, 9
I'd they have been compelled to vacate." y