The Anaconda standard., 1896-05-31
AN IS-YE EAk-OLD BLOT.
General Interest In the Abatement of the
Four-MiIe House Nuisance.

General Interest In the Abatement of the
Four-MiIe House Nuisance.
Missoula, May 3o-The interest in
the abatement of the nuisance at the
Four Mile house is becoming general.
In the past two or three days there
have been many expressions of opin-
ion in the matter from prominent citi-
zens of the town and county and from
the military officials at the post. There
is but one sentiment and that Is that
the nuisance has continued too long
and that IL is high time for 1t to stop
before IL becomes any worse. From
the people who are obliged to travel
past the place, daily or weekly, the
expression in favor of removing the
place is emphatic. They say that they
have been subjected to annoyance and
to the insult of seeing, as they have
passed the place in the past years. half
dressed women black and white, drink
ing and smoking, within a few yards
of the county road. Their wives and
their daughters have been compelled
to pass the same scenes when they
have come to town and all are con-
cerned in having the place closed. 1t
has been a blot on the reputation or
the county too long already. Never,
since the first resort was opened at
this place, Is years ago, has IL been a
fit place to be allowed to exist. The
list of crimes that have been COM
mitted there is a long one. The pres
ent management Is not responsible for
all of them, but the past few weeks
have demonstrated that the house is
no better than 1t was in former days.
Since the first of the year there have
been two violent deaths there and there
Is always the probability of another.
From a man who is familiar with the
place, a Standard man to-day received
the information that there Is not one
man in 20 who goes to the house who
does not carry one or two guns on his
person. With a dozen men armed and
quarrelsome with drink there is al
ways the probability of q killing. The
place is as bad as 1t has been repre-
sented and is too bad to be overlooked
by the authorities any longer. In al
most any other state the existence of
such a house in close proximity to a
school house would not be tolerated for
a moment. Unfortunately there is no
statute In this state that will apply to
this but there are other ways to get
at II and the county authorities are
negligent of their duty If they allow
II to go on as II has been.
1t would be bad enough IL the house
were remote from any habitation or
highway. The existence of a hell hole
of this sort anywhere would he a
grave reflection on the efficiency of the
officials of the county, but to have IL
on a highway and in sight of a score
of children that must pass 1t four
times a day is too much. 1t has been
the boast of the denizens of this resort
that they would not be molested. They
have made this statement to the Off
cials of the fort when they protested
with them. They have said in past
years that they had the officials of the
county fixed" They have not made
any attempt to conceal the nature of
the place. On the contrary. they have
always made 1t apparent to all who
have passed there. At all hours of the
day may be seen there women of the
most depraved class, in all stages of
dishabille and consorting with all sorts
of men. They loll about the yard and
children who pass there see things
that they never should.
AS TO the law on the subject, an
attorney of the city handed to a
Standard reporter to-day the follow
ing references, which seem to apply TO
the case in question:
Article 567. Penal Code-Every per-
son who keeps any disorderly house, or
any house for the purpose of assigna-
ton or prostitution, or any house of
public resort, by which the peace, COM
fort or decency of the immediate neigh
borhood is habitually disturbed, or who
keeps any inn in a disorderly manner.
and every person who lets any apart
ment or tenement, knowing that II Is
for the purpose OF assignation, is guilty
OF a misdemeanor
Article 672-Anything which is in
furious to health, or is indecent, or Of
fensive to the senses. or an obstruction
TO the free use of property, so as TO in
eerfere with the comfortable enjoyment
of life or property. by an entire COM
munity or neighborhood, or by any con-
siderable number of persons. or un-
lawfully obstructs the free passage or
use. in the customary manner. of any
navigable lake or river. bay. stream.
canal or basin, or any public park,
square. street or highway. is a public
nuisance"