The evening world., 1894-09-12
SOUBRETTE ROW,NOW
Petitioners, Police Officials and
Justice Voorhis in Conference,
Systematic Effort to Be Made TO
Purity the Block.
Capt. Price wrathy Over lmputa-
lions Upon His Neglect.

The police and judiciary finally began
to-day the long deferred investigation Of
that Noncompliance stretch of
Thirty-nlnth street. between Seventh and
Eighth avenues, known as "Soubrette
Row"
Justice Voorhis retired from the bench
at jefferson Market Court when he had
finished this mornings docket, and
presently sent from his office mys-
terlous notification to the newspaper re-
porters that he wanted them present In
his private chambers.
When the reporters entered they found
the Justice ut his desk with Inspector
McAvoy and Capt. Price standing solemn
ly on either side, while the room was
comfortably nlled with "A group of very
respectabe-looking men and women.
The Justice arose and read the follow
ing petition:
To Thomas Byrnes. Superintendent OF Police. New
York City:
The undersigned. property owners and persons
Interested In the block on Thirty ninth street be-
| tween Seventh and Eighth avenues. respectfully
| call your attention to the fact that a number Of
| houses and mats located on the block occupied
| by immoral people. and that some OF the Teputed
| owners tone OF whom has been indicted continue
to allow their premises to be occupied for immoral
purposes
| Ladies' living on the block scarcely dare to
open their front doors after nightfall. and can
not sit on tier stoops or IN their front yards
without being subjected TO insults and being
| compelled to see repugnant sights.
In house tho front shades are never raised
| for fear the children will sights in the streets
| which will bear blighting marks in after years.
l nf fahl
the street without coming into contact with young
hoodlums and drunken women and with other
| forms OF vice. drawn there by the attractions OF
| INN orRlity.
Young men congreRate In tho street at night,
and drawn into these dens OF vice. and are
seen leaving in the early hours OF the morning.
| Property-owners on account OF the above condi-
tions are unable to rent to desirable tenants or
| sell their holdings The Captain of the precinct
does not afford any relief, although we are salts
ned that he knows fully the character Of every
house In the block. We therefore apnenl to you
the chief executive ofcer of the Police Depart
ment, and We beg you will correct the existing
earnest and will adopt such measures as, are
within their power Il the Police Department fails
Longer to %oI perform arm their ,I gl.'n duty
There were about twenty signatures
to the petition, and OF these the follow
ing were sd present H. I Il Allen No. us
A. Reid. No. 272: NJ. Robinson. No, 22ii
Miss Kemble. No. 224. and g. C. ster'
ling, NO. ~. , ,,. Att.
petition last week, and I made up my
mind" said the Justice. addressing his
little audience. TO the step which we
street, which is so frequently under corn
plant. needs .purging. 1t can best b.
accomplished by a concert Of action be
tween the police. those residents ant
self. ""' ' any
~ have thought that the best way t
the mats to cal h
and the Inspector and Captain OF tn
territory this morning. Now. I woul
like to know who may be properly re
among yourselves"
Several men and women announced II
concert that their leader was d. J. Os
, good, who owns the lighthouses, 270 anC
272 West Thirty ninth street, and live
in one of them. Mr. Osgood was no
present but message was received
ems " asd 'e eSSF n ao return was
Friday, but that upon that day he woult
be glad to attend the meeting.
The Justice then said that the author
manner against the nuisances OF tn
block without knowing specifically II
which houses the Irregularities occurred
the numbers OF offending houses. Thl
proved 10 be little more than they wer
; able or willing to do.
! lHty Hdu All seen painted ana BdSl,
, dressed women and fast-lookng mel
moving up and down the block and il
and out OF houses. had seen women cal
men from the street, had heard tn
sound of drunken fights and orgies an,
all that disagreeable sort of thing. bu
when II came to giving house numbers
, they hesitated and all confessed to
dependency upon Mr.. Osgood for thos
/ points.
Capt. Price stepped forward with
paper in his hand. and said. with Sigh
sarcasm:
=. II may be able to help these ladie
, and gentlemen to locate their com
plants. / have here a list of the own
ers and occupants OF all the houses OF
the street. But l want to demand RICH
here that help from you which you hav
denied me-
Inspector McAvoy raised his hand an
told the Captain to stop.
Il demand the right of an officer" in
sisted Capt. Price. These very peopl
land he pointed out several OF them) viii
not help the police to clean that block
My policemen have been abused and in
suited"
The Captain was running on hotly
when Justice Voorhls peremptorily CON
manded him to leave off. and enforce