Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
TWO CHILDREN ARRESTED,
But They Claim That the Celestials
Only Gave Them Candy.
A VERY PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
The Little Ones Missing From Their Homes
Several Eays, and
no EXPLANATION CAN be OBTAINED

Dora hreller, aged L., ana bertha farkcr,
aged Is. were rescued by the police yester-
day from Chinese opium joint on
Wylie avenue Investigation of this
and other similar cases has led to
startling revelations in connection with
various innocent-lo looking Chinese wash shops
about the city, The authorities have be-
come aware that in all parts OF Pittsburg
and Allegheny young girls are enticed into
these places and drugged with opium. To
break up the custom will be the most diff
cult thing the police ever undertook.
Lung Wee and his partner, Chin Lang,
run a little laundry at No. 73 Wylie ave-
nue.. They are pair of as quiet, inoffen-
sive-looking Celestials as any in the city,an
acknowledgements show that while to all out
ward appearances centering their attention
wholly on linen and starch, they were
quietly LAYING the trap for childish inno-
cence. That they have accomplished
their aim in many cases there is
little doubt. There are, however, no
proofs on which to arrest or convict the
guilty parties, and the police are just as much
at loss for something tangible on which to
act as they have been in other cases of
like nature.
A Message Sent to the Police.
Shortly before noon yesterday message
came 10 tine Police Bureau office that
two young girls were in Lung Wees
place Inspector McKelvey and Detective
Robinson started at once for the shop,
but on arriving there found no girls.
On coming out few moments later they
discovered the two on the street a short dis
tance away The girls on being questioned
admitted they had Just left the laundry,
where they had been buying some candy
and nicknacks.
They were taken to Central police station
where an effort was made to have them tell
what they knew of the place.
The girls are both little mites in short
dresses and were so frightened at the prison
surroundings that scarcely a word could be
gotten out of them for their tears.
my name is Bertha Parker" said the
elder, as she sat crying on chair in the
matron's room. ''The other girl is Dora
Krelier. She lives at No. II Buchanan
street, Allegheny and my home is No. SO
River avenue"
"What were you doing in the Chinese
laundry"
Only Getting Some Candy.
''Nothing at all, except getting some
candy and watching the Cinnamon iron
collars"
''Did they offer you any opium ?'
''No. sir and we wouldn't have taken the
nasty stuff if they had. We were there
only about Is minutes"
"Have you ever gone to such places be-
fore?''
The question remained unanswered, as
the little prisoners broke completely down
and wept bitterly. Superintendent O'Mara
1ried to get more ont of them, but they
were too badly frightened to talk.
In the meantime word had been sent to
The parents of the girls. Their mothers
came in the evening and tried to get more
of their story, but in vain. They said the
girls had given them a great deal OF trouble,
refusing to stay at home and often going to
Chinese joints in both cities.
Missing for Several Days.
Both the girls left their homes Sunday
evening and their parents saw nothing more
of them until they found them at Central
station Where thev have been and what
they have been doing during that time is
not known. The girls refused to make any
statement of their actions either to the
police or their mothers.
The police had no grounds for holding the
girls, so they were allowed to go home with
their mothers Both of the latter stated
that they would give their daughters one
more trial, and if they still persist in their
wild WAYS, will have them sent to the Nor
ganza Reform School.
''It is a bad case," said Inspector Nc
Kelvey, "but not any worse than others we
have had to deal with. The worst feature
of the matter is that nothing can be done to
remedy the evil We know that such
things are going on about the city. but
everything is SO well covered that no move
can be made. This case is good example
of what mean.
The Girls Admit Nothing.
''If there was anything wrong the girls
refuse point blank to admit it. They are
known to have been in the place, but it
cannot be proved that they were there for
any other purpose than the purchase of
candy. Neither the police nor the parents
have anv ground for legal action"
The police will, however, make great
effort to get good case against some of the
Cinnamon who carry on such practices An
active effort will be made to wipe out this
blot on the city, moral character, and pre-
vent innocent girls from being led astray by
the allurlng charms of opium dens. 1t is
known that number of girls from the
neighborhood are frequent visitors to Lung
Wees place, whose excellent candy seems
to have made him prime favorite with the
innocents
Eacon-Shalespeare Debate POSTPONED.