New-York tribune., 1899-07-16
POLICE NEATLY TRAPPED.
BOOTHS ARREST CHOWS A LEAGUE
WITH NEGRESS THIEVES.
,tAzET COMMITTEES COUNSEL TALKS
ABOUT THE REIGN OF VICE AND A
SHORTER TERN FOR THE MAYOR.

The police furnished striking evidence yes
terday Of their unwilingness to rid the city OF
the large number Of negro women who have
corne here recently from the South for the pur-
nose Of robbing either with or without violence
eli the men whom they can entice into asso-
ciating with them. When evidence was pro-
duced before the Mszet Committee last May
,hat the police were Systematically claiming a
share Of all plunder which women of this kind
could steal from their victims, Tammany af-
fected 10 laugh it to scorn because the witness
who gave ii was not one whose evidence bore
great weight: but actions speak louder than
words and If there had been any desire on the
rsrt of the police TO break up the gang OF negro
women among whom Orrin Booth was robbed
on Friday night, they could easily have done so
Their failure even to make an effort seems 10
be explainable on other theory than that
these women have bought protection"
The action Of the police in arresting Booth on
. charge so fimsy that they were ashamed TO
,ress e. locking him UP all night, and then
literally forcing the marf~trate TO discharge MIN
Yesterday morning for the total lack OF a com
plaint on which to hold him, gives luminous
warning to all citizens who may be so oflcious
.s N endeavor to bring to justice any one OF
,bese Amazons who has robbed him II simply
savs: IF YOU are robbed, don't squeal' lest you
interfere with our revenues. and worse la'e
befall you"
I. ,s sincerely hoped that when the dissoiu'e
.,osses Who make II possible for these vixens
end their milder sisters TO get living IN their
onosen profession. realize that Tammany ana
,,o no1ice are not even fair sports: but are
heartily engaged in the most despicaole busi-
,,oss that a male being can enter upon. they
rru rebel against such treatment at the hands
% their rrofessed friends. whom they have put
n office Under prevailing conditions sport
nractises his sportveness amid perils tenfoid
greater than in the strictest days OF Mayor
strong's police rule
WROTE DOWN THE NUMBER OF THE BILL.
pootb who is one OF Frank Moss's agents
.r,n,oved 10 gather evidence for the Mazet Com
rnlttee had been at work in the "Tenderloin
.or some days and had become known 10 several
of the roundsmen, fly cops and plain clothes
men" Of the precinct He had observed several
negro women plying their trade boldly IN the
streets at night and had taken the precaufion
IN nut down IN his notebook the number OF a
one dollar bill which ne carried in his waistcoat
rocket When he passing through West
Thrtieth-st Friday evening he was accost-
ID BY one Of these women and accompanied her
70 a house at No 20S West Thirteth-st, where
he found FIVE other colored women.
They surrounded him and gave him an effu-
siye welcome, in the course Of which Booths
one dollar bill disappeared from his pocket as
y bv magic He left the house quickly as
pussibae without srousing suspicion and met
Policeman Schulke. Of the West Thirtieth-st.
station. in the street. not far from the door
To him Booth declared that the women living
at No 2Os were Of such a character that the
police ought TO keep an eye on them.
POLICEMEN AWARE OF THE ROBBERY.
Another policeman then came along and joined
the pair without waiting to hear any particu-
lars from Booth. he said Il guess you've been
touched haven't YOU"
Booth admitted that he had been robbed, and
the policemen ordered him to come with them
and point out the thief Booth declared that he
did not want 10 re-enter the house and had no
complaint 10 make He only wanted 10 warn
the police that thieves and harlots congregated
there The police who. il is believed knew
that Booth was a Moss agent. and hoped to
compromise him. insisted that he accompany
them into the house and point out the thief.
Booth did So and was al once arrested. to-
gether with the inmates and taken TO the police
station When he asked why he arrested
he was informed that he was charged with be-
ing an inmate" His protest that he had
been ordered TO enter the house by the police
was not needed and he locked in a cell.
Before the key was turned on him, however, he
told the sergeant that he had been robbed by
one Of the women. and wanted his money back
At this one OF the negro prisoners produced 81
bill from her pocket and offered 1t to HIM
policeman snatched it and handed it 10 the
sergeant Booth took out his notebook and
showed the sergeant that he had the number
OF the bill written down there.
This evidence Of preparedness struck the police
with surprise They began to feel that they
were treading on dangerous ground in arrest
ing Booth as an inmate" and they became less
brutal in their manner toward him They al
lowed him TO send messenger out for frlend
10 give bail The message was sent TO FRANK
Moss and when the counsel for the Mazet CON-
mittee appeared, the police. in their anxiety 10
get rid of Booth as easily as possible. mace no
objection TO the rule that lawyers are not ac-
cepted az bail for their clients. and allowed
Booth 10 go on that security
POLICE BEwILDERED IN COURT
Yesterday morning when the women were ar
raigned in the Jefferson Market Court fatroi-
man Kennedy was sent along In charge OF theil
Booth and Mr. Moss were there also booth
was not put in the pen with the other III
mates" but was courteOusly conducted 10 'he
bridge" D..
What is the charge against these women
asked Magistrate Brann
This man" said Kennedy. indicating Doo'"
Charges them with robbing him
Not at ALL" interposed Mr.. Moss. MY client
makes no COMPLAINT. He is here as defendant
only charged with being an inmate OF dis-
orderly house"
who makes the charge, then? asked Inc
Magistrate No answer from Kennedy
Mr. Moss, will you please explain 'he o"'e
TO me5" said the Magistrate.
Mr. Moss then told the story, as aHeanY
lated After he was done the Magistrate 'ulHeu