New-York tribune., 1899-06-16
WOMEN IN VILE BONDAGE.
ORGANIZED BODY OF MEN PREY ofoN
THEIR MISERABLE EARNlNGS

THEIR MISERABLE EARNINuS'
Dr. Morris Behrman o.o sworn. do Won uvep A.
Mr. Moss-Dr Behrman Where 90 you H'e' ~
oTHat 10 ~ is on the East Side, that we have been
'alHnE are quite number of old residents In
that neighborhood. arSnt tnSre sp houses have lived
,bero a long time? "A good many yeats.
oAnd GN number Of physicians and professional
people of that Gsss 6ssS wi9 war1 TnUm m%sh
yOn he nd vG3 fqr With % by the evil conditions
that have sprung up in the last t"el'e VI eis"
teen mouths tbo.e conditions been specially marked
during the last twelve or eighteen moh'hS' ~
o~Have those conditions been especially marked
during last twelve or eightern the last two
Well. they have been markSd during 'He '"'' WV
'QMEspecialiy in the. last two or three months
On your part of the district AWsi AIYefi SER arn-
QNow What Goys have g0 g0ut in nqSeS brSsd daylight
gin broad daylight; how early in the dayF A.
On 6Iin h1ote the morning? A-wel nOt-well about il
S-f am not glad IT is not any earlier tnan ma 'n1''
has this soliciting been open AH dow1 the stoops
of tenement houses? A.-Yes sir vc. cir
9-Tbere re- are large number OF children there
AO1es. AoO1ar.e S voa familiar with the practice by which
M are Solicited for these dlsorderly houses? A.
-6esj o@jAnd sf boys giving out cards for them? A
Yes IT; Have on you had your attention drawn to the
tender ages of girls that fah h'o 'neSe ""P'
has y2aI iSc.s A9ff things nF a. ply
s,cian? A-Partly. and partly as resident OIL ''"'
section OF inc 'T THhvscian. you have had occasion
| to know have you? Ayes SIT
ROBBED OF THEIR SORRY WAGE
o-Dot think remember ystes, yon sayl9s d9 yon4s tnai
s0d whom YOU desired 10 have to an institution
nd she had not St8 %pnfy tSa caas to
W "C0'.You asked her how It was that she naqn
money enough 10 aT go Vocation io and what was her
answer? srs A~fhat the men took the money their
0Cers oo or right on Doctor give the right names7
AIWssl irnns thTn; toe took the money? A-Yes sir
oDld YOU ask this girl how It was that the
| ,ar ,pouId take her money; how 1t was she would
| civ. I, nm? Al understood that they are organ
! zed. and that the women are compeled TO- anu III
case OF a refusal they are persecu'eo rreS,eu'
| and en- on for bigamy. the men, certain numper
| OF men, tackle these women-that Is the pumps
and these women have TO give up 10 them
| a Then here in America, and down on the East
side of this city we have women In slavery ac-
cording to that? A.-Yes. sir. We"' acco'"ii'e
TO that II Is compulsory to a certain extent
O-You say these men are ORGANIZED anu oy
beating by accusing the women III 0o"' "
OF fictitious charges. ',
o-yes Of fictitious charges. they compel them
TO give up the money? A.-Yes sir.
O-IIave you heard OF or known OF cases "hele
women were beaten TO compel them 10 give up
money? Al don't know the cause OF the oe".
ing but see 1T every day or every nish'' H'iioa'
O-You see that every day ana hlgh'' Nie" o'
ing women? A.-Yes. sir.
O-You say that Is daily and nighuy occ"
renee? A.-Wen. used to be
o-How long ago? A few months ago. and
now sometimes. There was drug store on 'he
corner of Elm and Rivington sts.' ana across tn'
street are several of these houses. and especially
IN tho summer time when the windows are open
iate at night they are leaning against the railing
wben n girl will come out and man viii accuse
! her and ask her for the money.
IN DREADFUL BONDAGE
/ o-And YOU heard them ask her for the none,
. ,icb, on the streets? Ask her for the money
.. and she will give him a half-doar
O-She will give him up halfdollar? A
Yes and he will claim more and say, Il saw tive
men go tn
Ole will claim more, saying he saw two mer
60 in? Ayes. two men or three men, that sh
. ,s trying TO steal from him for herself
Q-And the poor woman gets the worst OF 1t
A-Yes. that Is understood.
Q-That is, these preying upon thes
women holding them in bondage. actually watci
them while they are operating. and insist on get
ting the full amount. and II they don't get wha
they conceive to be the full amount, they bea
them on the streets? A.-Yes, sir
h Q-You say that a resident Of the neighbor
hood. do you? Ayes sir.
4 Q.-As a man 10 whom knowledge OF these mat
! ters has come? Ayes cir
i O-Sometimes professionally and sometimes fror
personal observation? A.-Personal observat,oen, no ~
O-Sow are these men, who are 80 ORGANIZED
ANNOYING TO the neighborhood? A.Wen, yes
oEDo they trouble men? A.-Weh they con
| trouble men exactly. as long as no one intertere
| with Them; otherwise they simply seem 10 run IN
| neighborhood. .S.. We, .,r
!. 3-That is. II you don't interfere WITH with them 20
:, | have no trouble? A.-You have no trouble;
I M O. AM suppose you do interfere with them