The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-05-06
GIRLS LURED FROM HOME,
Queer Business Conducted In London by
Agents from Russia,

Agents from Russia.
The practice of beguiling English
girls abroad on the pretext of provid-
ing them with lucrative engagements
In music halls has recently assumed
the dimensions of a nefarious traffic.
Representations having been mace to
the foreign office, an official inquiry
has been instituted with the view of
stopping the iniquitous proceeding. A
representative of Lloyd's Weekly Is
officially informed that ample confirm
alton has been received of the enorm-
1ty OF the evil, and that, in consequence
private detectives are actively engag-
ed tracing the traffic to the persons or
organizations concerned in it. The DO
lice have their suspicious fixed upon
supposed agents located in London,
who negotiate the transference of girls
TO RUSSIA, their remuneration being
commission for the girls procured.
several managers of west end music
halls, knowing cases of girls being
lured abroad by fraudulent induce
ments, have provided the police with
the addresses Of certain suspects.
Ihere are numerous glazing examples
Oh theatrical girls of good character
VINO are now virtually exiled in Rus
STA, without the means of returning
nome to England. They had gone there
relying upon the good faith of social
ed foreign theatrical agents, whose
glowing pictures of fortune were falsi-
NED soon after their arrival. When the
young ladies pleaded the terms of the
written agreement, drawn up and duly
signed In London, they were told that
an English contract had no validity In
Russia. 1t Is a terrible Indictment to
Drlng against the nation ruled over by
the pacific and chivalrous czar that
| W music halls in his wide do
main are above suspicion, being con-
Quoted on honorable lines, legally and
morally. Yet one of the best informed
directors OF music halls in London
made that astounding statement to
Lioyds representative, and repeated 1t
without qualification, urging that he
knew what he was talking about. Mr..
burrows, Of the Theatrical Mission. in
Henrietta street, has received letters
from young women now In Russia who
a been victimized. One girl who had
previously resided at Macready House
wrote a piteous letter, begging for as
sistance to enable her to return home,
She bore an irreproachable character.
and had taken good parts in London
theaters. Several people have sent
money toward the paying of her return
fare. h girls story Is one of revolt
Ing deception practiced upon her in st.
petersburg, and it Is certain that her
experience is typical of many which
never come to the knowledge of the
police or the public. A significant fact
is that the London agents of these for
eign managers invariably take the pre-
caution Of selecting girls who have no
family ties in this country, thereby
rendering them an easier and safer
prey to their Vaccinations. Only a
short time ago nine young women sim
UNANIMOUSLY disappeared from the Man
bingham district OF Bradford, and it
is supposed that some, IL not all. are
o on their way to Russia. This
~supposition Is founded upon the fact
that theatrical agents had been can
wasting about Bradford very energeti-
cally for some time previously. The
missing girls are spoken of In Man
bingham as bearing respectable char
acters. When parliament opens Col.
Dalbiac, M. P, and other members are
pledged to raise the question of sup
pressing the scandal.-Lloyd's Weekly,