The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-20
A TRIP IN CHINATOWN
1t Nearly Resulted in Disaster
to Two Curious Young
Girls.
DECEIVED BY THEIR GUIDES.
We're Enticed Into a Disreputable
House-A Very Narrow
Escape.

John King, Chinatown guide, is under
arrest on a charge of enticing two minor
girls into disreputable resort on Sunday
last King is a well-known character
about Chinatown but until recently he
has not been molested much by the police.
The evidence against him is of such a
character as to convince the public that
sightseeing in the Chinese quarter by
young girls is not unattended by grave
dangers.
Last Sunday afternoon Eva Sheldon,
aged Is years, of $40 Hayes street, accom-
panied Myrtle Cossotti, aged II, OF 7O4
Laguna street, to Chinatown. Both girls
are attractive in appearance. While stand
ing at the corner of Clay and Dupont
streets they were approached by King and
Dominic McAuliffe, also guide, and asked
by them if they would not like to "see the
sights"
Il wanted to run away" said Miss Shell
don, ''When the men spoke to us, but Myr-
tie said she had long wished for chance
to see Chinatown, and if we could see the
different places for nothing we ought to
take advantage of the offer. King did all
the talking. He said he would take care
of us and see that we would come to no
AIs "
afternoon, for l had to be at home at
o'clock to prepare supper for my parents.
After some talk we decided to meet King
and McAuliffe at o'clock and make the
trip"
Miss Sheldon returned home and pre-
pared the evening meal for her parents,
who then left the house to attend church.
Miss Sheldon said nothing of her proposed
trip to her mother, and after her departure
the girl went to the corner OF Hayes and
Laguna streets, where she met Miss Cos
sotti. They boarded car and went down.
town.
1--WE met King and McAuliffe according
to agreement" said Miss Sheldon, land
we went into few places along Dupont
street. The guides treated US well, but
finally King suggested that we should go
to the Chinese theater. We agreed to the
suggestion, but the men did not take us to
the theater. They took Us to building at
the corner of Brooklyn alley and Sacra-
mento street, as l learned afterward. 1t
didn't look much like q theater, but we
didn't suspect anything wrong until the
door was opened by white woman.
Myrtle and l held back a little, but
King said Come on, girls; it's all right
1--WE then went into the front room,
where a lot of women were sitting. a few
men were there, also, and they acted
awfully.
II became frightened and started for the
door, which was being opened for some
one. King and McAuliffe tried to stop us,
but when we began to scream they drew
back. We saw ne had been fooled, and,
despite the efforts of the men and women
to hold US back, we ran out of the house.
We then told a policeman of the matter
and King was arrested.
The occurrence was reported to Secretary
McComb OF the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children, on Monday, and he
caused a warrant to be issued for the arrest
of King and McAuliffe. King was found
without difficulty, but thus far McAuliffe
has eluded arrest. Despite the protests of
Miss SheldonS parents, the girl and her
companion were placed in the City Prison
and booked for some public institution.
Mrs. Sheldon is greatly incensed at the
detention OF her daughter, who, she de-
clares, was booked for an institution
against her protest.
my daughter, said she, lis an inno-
cent girl and 1 intend to provide for her.
She has never been mixed up in a scandal,
but on Sunday she trusted herself impru-
IDENTIFY to a couple of scoundrels, who no
doubt intended to take advantage of her
and her companion. They enticed her
into disreputable place and might have
accomplished their purpose had not the
girls created a disturbance. I cannot see
why she should be arrested. I have placed
my case in the hands Of Attorney Allen
and will see if my daughter cannot be res
cued from prison"
Myrtle Cossotti is an orphan and has
earned a livelihood for several years by
working as servant in private families.