The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-16
DR.. Parkhursts Defence of Himself.

DR.. PARKHURST'S defence OF himself Us
detective proves that he is altogether out
OF place in the Christian ministry. 1t shows
likewise that he is not less unfit to play the
part Of social reformer in any capacity
He stands in need OF complete moral re-
form himself before he can become in any
way qualified to undertake the reform OF
anybody else.
His purpose in Disgusting himself as an
old reprobate and going forth at night as
detective. he says. was to collect evidence
with the distinct end OF showing by unim-
peachable testimony something OF the ex-
tent" to which vice exists in New York. with
the knowledge, by the license. and under the
paid protection. Of the police. In pursuit Of
such evidence he went to q place Of evil re-
sort in Twenty-seventh street. and decoyed
and hired five miserable women to dance
naked before him. He was not content to
take their acceptance OF his terms as proof OF
their depravity and OF the character OF the
house. He was not even satisfied when one
OF them actually began TO unclothe herself
in his very presence. though that would
seem to have been proof enough. He re-
manned through the whole performance,
watched his companions while they "car-
ried on" with the wretched creatures. and
formed one OF n convvial party Of the
shameless and dissoutc.
What did he accomplish by such dis
graceful proceeding toward 1.-The distinct
end" he says he had in view? The charac-
ter OF the house was already notorious, and
had been so for years. The police could not
deny that they knew exactly what it was
They cannot and do not deny that many
such houses exist in New York. They
have always existed here; and no large city
OF the Christian world Is without them.
DIR. PARKHURsT. then. discovered nothing
that was before unknown. unless it was
his own moral insensibilty. He obtained
no proof whatever Of corruption on
the part OF the police OF New York: no evil
dence on which IN indictment Of the Police
Department as whole or Of any policeman
in particular could be brought. He simply
took sensational and utterly discreditable
and dishonorable and revolving way of show
ing that tho evil is tolerated by the police,
though that there is such liberation through
out the civilized world was patent to every
body beforehand. ~ have wudcd through
quantities OF filth In order to win that
knowledge" says DR.. PARKHURsT: but no
had it already before he dcfied himself
The fact is undenlcd and undeniable. He
had only to walk tho streets for sufficient
evidence Of it. He had no need to plunge
In the filth to prove its existence by coming
forth covered with its detilcment.
Tho only evidence offered by him Is really
favorable to the police. He proved by his
experience that such depravity as he en-
couraged is hidden from the public sight.
and must be sought out by tho equally de-
PRAYED. He WAS not enticed into the place.
No provocation whatever was offered him.
The viciousness OF the establishment was
not outwardly manifest in any way. He
had to enter to find 1t out. De-
cent men and women could pass the
house without suffering any offence
to their sense of propriety and In entire
ignorance OF its character. So far. then.
the police were efficient In the exercise Of
their duty. Though the house might DO
disorderly by legal definition. 1t was not
suffered to be disordery in the sense of
producing disturbance in the neighborhood,
and advertising its character to the
passers by. The police knew of its exist
ence. as the police everywhere know of the
existence OF such houses. but they kept it
TeSLTalUeu WlLulu lllc Vi ORDER
and decency.
The evidence obtained by DR.. PARKHuRsT
was also far more favorable to the inmates
than to himself. lie had to entice and de-
coy them to their shameful display. They
did not invite him to the "circus." He had
to induce them to produce it; and it seems.
according to the testimony. that some OF
them refused to hire themselves out to him
for the purpose. He was ready to look on
and to pay for the indulgence. but they
would not consent to perform SO shame
lessy for his benefit. He did not
go in to SEQ "circus" to which
men are allured. but to tempt women to
get up the circus" for his especial obser-
walton. That is all no proved by his visit
ic showed that in " large commu-
nitv like New York it is possible for
shameless men to hire wretched and de-
PRAYED women to display their shameless
ness In the secrecy Of their sbodss. Un-
! n