Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-03-01
WEAVED HIS WEB.
HOW A EUMAN SPIDER WAS CAUGHT IN HIS
OWN TRAP.
A Villain in New York, Running an 0sienslbls
Dramatic Agency, Secures Young Girls for In
moral Purposes Inspector Byrnes Will
Take a Hand to Punish Him.

Take a Hand to Punish Him.
Byrnes mas decided to take a hand
in the effort to bring TO justice Mr..
August Elbogen, fake dramatic agent
aud arch-procurer of stage struck young
girls, whom he made it business to ship
TO low resorts all over the country.
The Continent has left no stone unturned
to show up the scoundrelly methods pur-
sued by this fellow Elbogen, and it is now
pretty sure that he will soon meet with his
just deserts.
To-day the father of Jennie Reckwick,
one Of the girls who was lured away by Ell
bogcn, will go before Inspector Byrnes and
make formal charges against him Of having
enticed her out of the city under promise
of securing her position in a theater.
The Chief Inspector and Chevalier was
seen by "a Continent reporter in his Office
yesterday. In answer TO some questions
he said that he had carefully followed the
revelations in the Elbogen case, and that
it was now being Investigated. II do not
desire to say what we have done in the
NATTER the Inspector continued. "It
would iniure the progress of the investiga-
ton if should make public the steps we
have taken thus far'' He told in conf
dence enough to warrant the statement
that an end will be put TO the nefarious
operations of such sharks as Elbogen in
this city at once and forever.
PLENTY OF PROOF SECURED.
Great difficulties have been experienced
in tracking Elbogen's victims, owing to
the false addresses given by him and TO
the fictitious names which the girls in
| nd kll ko,.,
ever that evidence more than sufficient to
convict MIN has now been secured. The
proof Of the mans guilt is appalling.
Scores of women, who are now employed
in low resorts on the Bowery, where they
are kept TO induce men to drink, were
brought to their present state by the mis-
representations and cunning of Elbogen.
They owe their downfall directly TO him.
II the testimony of such women would be
accepted, accusers could be found in every
nook and corner Of the land. But their
testimony will not be needed.
Many more of his innocent victims were
found yesterday One Of them is now hap
PLY married and living with her husband
in West Eighty-fourth street From
friend of hers named Bessie Rogers Con-
tinent reporter learned that she had been
sent to a notorious resort in Kansas City,
the proprietor of which also kept. house
of low reputation. When the orgies at the
Emusic hall" broke up, somewhere between
/ or o'clock in the morning, the girls
working there were expected TO entice the
frequenters Of the place to his other estab-
| lishment.
From the same source the reporter heard
of another victim, who, until Elbogen got
her into his clutches, was an innocent girl.
She was sent TO den in Baltimore, where
her ruin was accomplished. She is now
the inmate of house in that city kept by a
woman named Pearl Snow.
At an agency, not stones throw from
1 the spider-web Office where Elbogen still
sits in wait for victims, the reporter was
introduced TO a variety actress who said
that three years ago she had, through mis-
representations, been sent by Elbogen to
| the Royal Palace Saloon, in New Orleans.
1t was then kept by man named Baker.
Starvation stared her in the face, and for
week she was compelled to associate with
men of low passions. At the end Of that
time a remittance from her friends reached
her, and she escaped
VICTIMS on EVERY SIDE.
Still another of his victims, who had an
infatuation for the stage and has since
made headway in respectable theaters'
confided 10 the reporter, under promise OF
secrecy, that at the beginning of her career
she had been sent by Elbogen TO free
and-eaSy' IN Syracuse called the Grand
Central at was dirty and filthy beyond
all imagination she said, ''but Elbogen
had represented to me that it was fine
theater, where | would soon make my
mark l only remained in IL one night.
Next day foand situation as a domestic,
and when had earned the price Of ticket
returned to New York. ~ girl of my ac-
quaintance was sent by this same man to
| Schoenhausen's dive in New Orleans two
wears ago. She returned at once, and told
me that the boxes and wine room were
kept locked, and that behind bars and bolts
the frequenters of the place were allowed
to act in very indecent manner"
Colonel Denison, counsel for the ORA
matte Agents Association, was asked by
reporter yesterday if he thought the evi-
dence against Elbogeu sufficient 10 begin
proceedings against him. II have been
very busy" he said. "but our Association
is going to try and punish this man as he
deserves, | should suggest that some of
the girls who have suffered at his hands
would have him arrested and brought be-
fore Justice, and have him held over TO
await the action of the grand jury. If he
| is then indicted, the District Attorney will
take charge of the case"
MIR. GERRY's WORDS or PRAISE.
Elbridge T. Gerry, President of the So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, was seen at his office. No. 100
West Twenty-third street. He said: I'm
fortunately, our Society cannot do any
thing in the Elbogen case, as the girls rep
resented to him that they were sixteen
wears old. Beyond that age we do not in
terfere | feel heartily sorry for these
girls, and for all that arc ensnared into
| life which eventually leads 10 the brothel
| bv the lies of scoundrels like this man OF
whom you speak. 1t TO prevent this sort
of thing that | always exercise watchfIl
eve on all entertainments where children
or Young girls are used. Several years
ago broke the Juvenile Opera Company,
because foresaw that the young girls who
were being kept out late at night, treated
to champagne suppers and otherwise
TEMPTED. would soon be led TO ruin.
Manager Gustave Frohman was buried
in a mass of letters when the reporter en-
tered his Office He also had something to
say.
II read in the EUening SUM-" he began,
"when Mr.. Munsey was about 10 issue the
| Continent, that he was going to raise sheol.
I sincerely hope that he will raise sheol
with such rascals as Elbogen. The Cont
nerf articles exposing Kim have created "a
profound impression in theatrical circles.
They Will nave great Welgnt III opening
the eyes of many aspirants Tor histrlonic
honors. and will make them more careful
in the future about answering the adver-
tisements of these ''fakirs.n Our associa-
ton will act on the matter at our next
meeting. but in what way | can't say at
present"
Mr.. Frank W. Sanger, the manager Of
the Broadway Theatre, said II have been
VERY much interested in the The Continents
exnose of this man Elbogen From several
accounts that / have had of the New Or
leans dives, know they are fearful places
think there ought to be some arm of the
law that could reach these rascally agents,
who are responsible for the degradation OF
so many young girls.
Harry Cortiss, Of Milhkin q Cortlss,
dramatic agents, said: "The Continent is
certainly doing good work in exposing the
methods of Elbogen. and l think that all
GOOD citizens ought to do all in their power