Evening star., 1896-03-17
nA1D1NG DIVISION HOUSES.
Three Women to Be Tried for Keep.
ing Disrcputable Places.

ing Disrcputable Places.
The agitation of the question as to what
must be done with the Division has had
a marked effect on that part Of the city.
Those accustomed to frequent resorts there
have been frightened away by the fear the
police would make raids. The action of the
police last night proved that their fears
were well founded. Three houses were
raided, and the proprietresses arrested
During the past few days a number Of
houses have been watched by the police,
and 1t is said there is list of names at the
police station of the men who may at some
future date be summoned into court to give
testimony. It was suspected by the police
that the recent order Of the Commissioners
against the sale Of rum in the Division"
was not being complied with by the women
who conduct the houses. Intoxicated men
had been seen coming from some Of them,
and beer wagons had been seen on their
routes as usual. So last night Acting Lieu
tenant Shilling, Sergeants Moore and Acton
and Precinct Detective Sutton led a party
Of officers through the Division" and made
the three raids
1t was about o'clock when Sutton, the
detective, and Policeman Williams, dressed
In citizens clothes, called at the door Of the
house Of Willie Gilmore, No. 4O1 18th street
and were admitted They were not recog-
nized, and SO they were admitted without
any questions being asked.
There were four women and two men in
the house, but the men were permitted to
slip out and leave the premises, while the
girls and the proprietress were marched to
Inc station Eleven bottles Of wine were
found in the house, the only evidence that
tnere was any liquor business being con-
Quoted there.
The next house visited was that of Grace
ferguson, 1857 Ohio avenue, and in there
they found four girls, but no men. Two
boxes of beer were found in the woodshei
out there was no evidence of sales found.
fn
was next visited, and five girls and three
men were found in the parlor. In a closet
beneath the steps was a wash tub, in which
the officers found tlirty-seven bottles of
beer buried beneath a large piece Of ice.
Some bottles of soft drinks were also found
In the house.
When the four women had been taken to
the station the news of their arrest soon
Of the frightened girls left their houses
and went into the street, fearing they
would be the next ones to fall victims to
the police raids.
was left and they were released and later
in the night bond for the appearance of
the women charged with running the
houses was given and they were set free.
RMS morning the women were in the
Police Court. They had been raided on
suspicion Of having violated the excise law,
but Prosecuting Attorney Pugh could find
no evidence on which to base such
charged with the more serious offense of
keeping bawdy houses. This law is more
severe than the liquor law, for under the
latter law only fine could be imposed,
which the women could pay, thus avoiding
the service OF term in prison. Under the
charge of keeping bawdy house the
court upon conviction, may impose a 1ail
sentence.
The cases were called for trial, and coun-
sci for the defendants demanded jury
trials. and the cases went over. Other
houses in the Division" are being watched.
While the Division question is being
agitated, the clearing of the disreputable
houses from 18th street is also being dis
cussed, because it is one Of the principal
thoroushfares to South Washington. The
people living south of the Agricultural
Grounds are much interested in this move
for 18th street Is the most convenient route
for many of them. 1t leads to the wide
roadway in the Agricultural Grounds. There
are nineteen houses of i'll fame reported to
be located on this street between Pennsyl-
Nania avenue and the mall. Many of the
women are owners Of the houses they oc-