Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-11
THOSE STATISTICS.
CHEF DELBR UGGE NOT IN ACCORD WITH MR
CUSaING'S FIGURES.
The Reverend Gentleman Still Maintains Bis Position
on Whesling's Wicksdnsss Figures
by the Chief Of Police.

on Wlttlllk WlCAtuutSS-CViAr
BY the Chief Of Police.
The sermon by Rev. C. W. Cushing
last Sunday evening bearing on the
wickedness of Wheeling appears to have
excited good deal of attention about
town, and even some OF the old round
ers' appear TO be astounded at the
figures. Many are 10th to believe that
there are seventy-fve public houses OF
prostitution in this city, and in addition
to that thirty more private houses.
Lest mistake may have been made
| in taking the notes Of the discourse
REGISTER reporter called on Rev. Mr..
Cushing yesterday afternoon and learned
that the report was practically correct.
Il have it from reliable information"
said the reverend gentleman, THAT
there are 70 places in Wheeling. The
figures may seem little high, but the
statements made were the outcome OF
long and careful investigation by COM
petent persons; an investigation that
dates some ways back Of the Law and
Order movement. This is not guess
work. have basis upon which to
place these facts. | could probably To-
cate them all if necessary. In regard
to the house where girls are procured,
or rather the house which acts as an
agency for other houses, can also give
the exact geographical location, but
should prefer not at present"
Mr.. Cushing said he had had consider
able experience in this reform work. and
knew whereof he spoke. He said he
had visited several houses of prostitu-
ton in Boston with high police officials
To inquire into the cause OF their preva-
lence, and had also looked largely into
these places Of iniquity in Quebec. He
said that this Canadian city was so well
managed that the Chief of Police there
told him there was not one Of these
houses inside the walls of the town.
Mt. Cushing said If some Of the prom
inent ladies would take hold Of this re-
form movement he would cndeayor to |
furnish them with list of the fast |
Young girls of Wheeling who have no |
regular rendezvous, but frequent the
streets continually. Mr.. Cushing said |
all the figures in regard TO the saloons |
were substantially as he had given |
them in his sermon. Mr.. Cushing pre-
fcrred not TO give the sources of his in
formation at present.
The REGISTER reporter called upon
Chief Delbrugge yesterday afternoon to
see II his figures were In accord with
those OF Mr. Cushing. He was consid-
erably surprised that such an alarming
layout of figures should have been pre-
scented by the pastor. "Why. he is en-
tirely wrong" said the Chief, there is
nothing like IS houses in this city. !
can't see where he got his figures. !
suppose the police officers and myself
are better acquainted with the by-ways
and highways of this city than anyone
else by reason Of our official duties, and
it is safe to say that that statement is
very far fetched"
Chief Delbrugge then took book
down from shelf in which is kept
record of the places in the city, and
figured out only nineteen places. OF
course there were other names on the
book, but some had moved away, some
had died, and others had gone out of the
business. There are not over twenty
houses said the chief. There may be
others, but never heard of them, and
think we officers know the city pretty
we'll" The Chief laughed at the idea
of their being all agcncy for girls in the
city, as he knew of none, and lac didn't
think any OF the officers did. 7
sin regard to the 100 saloons that are
run in this city outside of the l27 licensed q
ones. must say don't knoy where
they are. don't know what Mr.. Cush- i
ing means by saloons that are not
licensed unless he refers to the private q
houses where beer is delivered regularly l
for home consumption. There is not y
to-day an unlicensed saloon in the city a
that | know of. There were one or
two Italian places in the city while a
ago, but they were quickly broken up"
So far as n majority Of the saloons
permitting gambling on the premises
the Chief knew nothing of it, nor OF
their connection with houses of prosti-
tuition. The Chief was entirely taken
back at what was termed the private
houses, and knew nothing of their ex-
istence.
In regard to the houses of designation
the Chief was Of the opinion that there
were very few in existence now. There
were quite number some years ago,
but they have nearly all been broken up.
With the seventy-iive public and
thirty private houses as mentioned by
Mr. Cushing, with an average Of three
inmates t. each house the total number
OF confirmed prostitutes in regular hire
reaches the somewhat alarming figure of
3l5. not to speak of those engaged In the :
business in other ways. 1t is hard to
believe that this condition of things
exists in Wheeling, still the source of
information may be sufficiently strong
to bear out these appalling statistics.
Stunning up the average of the opinions
Of those persons about town most likely
to know, the total number Of houses is
set down at "a. with perhaps half
dozen places of designation.
II it is possible that such place as
an agency" spoken OF by Mr.. Cushing
exists in this city, it is certainly
dark blot on the name of the city, and
all lawabiding citizens should rise in
their might against this deplorable in.
Stitution. And not only this. bnt the
other iniquities as well, for If Mr.. Cush-
lng's statistics are true, we are living in
4 most unenvlabe community so far as
morals are concerned.
SCHIRRTs CANCER CURED In ISL had