The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-30
AN OUTRIGHT SCANDAL.
Frail Women Pay the Topeka
Police Department
Observation-Disclosures Monthly
Raid Being Made.
This Is In Reality Blackmail for the
Purpose of Paying Salaries-The
Governors Attention Called to
His Police Force.

The Topeka police department has
begun the July collection of monthly Ii
cense fines from the disorderly women
of the city. Each month Chief Steele'S
men go around to collect this revenue.
They enter the houses and read war
rant to the proprietresses and then,
without complying with the law, they
receive deposits from them of $25 each.
Each of the girls who stay at these
places is required to pay $40. The po-
lice officers go to the police station,
without the women, and write down
lot of bogus names with the various
charges.
Last night two disorderly houses were
raided, but the women didn't have to
face the inconvenience of going to the
police station. They put up" their de-
posits and now the police won't bother
them again for at least a month. May
De Toys place on the east side of Kan
sas avenue between Second and Third
streets, and Mrs. Annie Ragan's, in the
same block, were the houses in QueS-
ton. AT De Toys three young women
were arrested who gave the names of
Dorothy Wilson, frankie Moore and
Minnie Bolton. At the Raglan house
four girls were arrested, who gave the
following names: Nellie Gracey, Myr-
tie Johnston, Minnie Black and Hattie
Moore.
t.e police $25 each. The seven girls
paid SO each.
Wednesday night three places were
pulled by the police. On the north side
of East Seventh street, between Quincy
and Monroe streets, two women who
use paint and powder freely were al
lowed to put up $40 each and forfeited
it. Their names were placed by the
police on the Jail docket as Myrtle
White and Ollie StilIwell, but the police
knew we'll that their real names were
Myrtle Pike and Ollie Gleason. These
two women two years ago used to live
at the southeast corner of Tenth and
Jackson streets, across from Jackson
school, and such strong complaints
were made against them by indignant
citizens that they were forced to leave
| that locality. They left the city, but
have lately returned.
At JOG East Fourth street, in the old
Marmont residence the police made ar
rests Wednesday night. They arrest
ed the proprietreSS and three inmates.
The police at this place, as usual, col
lected $25 from Madame and $40 each
| from the three young women, all of
which was forfeited, as usual. The
police put down the keepers name as
Emma Johnston, when in fact it is
Jennie Cline. The other girls gave
names which were fictitious, as follows:
Annie Anderson, May. Johnson and
Mabel Brown.
Wednesday night the house of Mrs
Emma Kelly on the east side of Van
Buren, between Fifth and Sixth streets
was visited by the police and Myrtle
Bundy was arrested as an inmate. The
| women were not required to go to the
| police station, but put $35 in the officers
| hands as deposit.
Today in police court Mrs. Kelly ap-
| peared for trial and pleaded not guilty
| to keeping a disorderly house. This was
| the place about which the neighbors in
| that block had made such constant
| complaint The police knew Mrs.
| Kelly's name full we'll, and in fact the
! warrant was filled out in her name,
| but notwithstanding this fact the police
| placed her name on the register as
Lottie Daley and the Bundy girls
Monday night the police arrested
Mrs. Libby Deever, who lives at 924
| Kansas avenue, on the charge of keep
| ing a disorderly house. She paid $25.
A girl giving the name of Jennie Bond
| paid $40. These women did not have
to go to- the police station. The police
copied the Deever woman's name as
Mrs. Denton. They knew better than
| this.
| The police have free access to all
these disorderly houses and they know
| all about them; policemen are there
| sometimes with uniform on, and some
| times in citizens clothes. No attempt
| is made by the police to- close the places
so long as the women pay in their de-
posts and allow them to be forfeited.
| The officers act under the orders of
| Chief Steele when they receive deposits
| from women without requiring them to
| appear at the police station.
All this goes ON with the Endorsement
| of President J. B. Billiard of the police
| board, NJ. D. Henderson and perhaps
! Wilson Keith, who is, however, the mi
| nority member of the board. They are
| the direct appOintees of Governor
| Leedy, and although the governor may
| not pay attention to the details of the
| metropolitan system he must be held
! responsible the court of highest re-
| Sort Is it possible that the stencil of
| this compounding with vice-the taking
| OF the money of these wretched women
| for protection" does not reach the
| governor?
! Is it possible that he is willing that
| his metropolitan police force should
i blackmail these fallen women for money
| to pay its expenses? 1t is fair to sup
| pose that the governor does not under
| stand the situa ton. It is<set clearly
| ter of Governor Leedy is such that it is
| not to be believed that he would con-
| done, much less endorse, such action as
| has been taken by his police board in
| Topeka.
Some time ago Governor Leedy talk
| ed about Kansas holding her nose at
| New York. 1t is about time for Gov
| ernOr Leedy to hold his nose at his
| metropolitan police force.
If the police arrest these women at all
I they should arrest and fine them ac-
| cording to law.
! To bIackmail them for money to pay
| their sa laries is crying scandal
| 1t is indecent.
| Taxation Bromo Carb sures headache
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