New-York tribune., 1900-12-04
GRAND JURY VICE CHARGE
ITrDGE FOSTER DIRECTS THAT A
SEARCHING INQUIRY BE MADE.
D7sTRrcT ATTORNEY THREATENS TO PRO
CEED AGAINST LANDLORDS OF
DISORDERLY RESORTS.

DIsoRDERLY RESORTS
The December Grand Jury directed by Judge
Foster yesterday TO inquire into the existence OF
vice I'm this city. The jury is 10 serve subpRnas
and compel -,he attendance Of all witnesses whose
testimony would aid the investigation. Should the
Grand Jury fail 10 act upon the charge and per
nit the prevailing vicious conditions 10 remain un-
presented and unpunished. Judge Foster informed
me members Of the body that they would fail
properly TO fuihl their sworn obligations The
foreman OF the Grand Jury is Edward Van Volken-
burgh a merchant. Of No. G. Worth-st. In the
course OF his charge Justice Foster said:
Notioes calling together the Committee Of Fifteen
for the purpose OF organzing are Likely 10 pc ] ISSUE
to-day, when James c Carter Is expected 70 rel IN a
the city, and II Is undefstoGo tRah Steps -
taken 10 begin the active work OF the committee
we are all waiting for a call from Mr.. Carter"
william II. Baldwin. jr- said yesterday AFTER
our arst meeting consider it likely that an once
viii be opened and a headquarters established for
our work"
Alexander E. orr said that as yet he had not re-
ceived a call TO attend meeting Of the committee
but added that il his intention TO accept the
appointment and devote all the time that he coulo
70 the work He added that he was deeply inter
ested in the movement, every good citizen
should be-
GARDINER WARNS HOUSE OWNERS
Assistant District Attorney Forbes J. Hennessy'
acting under directions from District Attorney
Gardiner Yesterday sent warning TO eighty-fVe
tsased by them 10 the present holders were being
,sed for immoral purposes. The notices stated 10
slbstance that the District Attorney "lsheu 10
90 the owners an opportunity TO abate the
nuisance before beginning legal proceedings MI
EI,rassv contsnded that the published list OF land
lords Of houses complained Of in the reports tur-
nished by Superintendent McCunagh was suostah-
tally as furnished by title company "moh -aD
been employed by the District Attorney TO look up
the records.
Desn,te Mr. Hennessy's assertions as 10 the &C
curacy of the list. many OF the reputable citizehs
whose names appear thereon have repudiated OWL
ership OF the houses attributed 10 them
ABRAM S. HEWITT REPLIES.
One Of the houses referred TO by Mr Gardner is
No sz7 BoWeTy. which is owned by the Cooper
estate. Ahram S. Hewitt. OF the executors OF
the estate said yesterday 10 a Tribune reporter;
II have never heard have ever had any in
timation Of any improper use of this property II
II Is occupied by improper characters II IS the duty
OF the police 10 suppress them. The executors OF
the Cooper estate would be only too glad 10 CO.
operate in such work. That particular property
has been in possession Of the Cooper estate for
sixty-fvs or seventy years. and there has never
been any complaint against IT. 1t Is true that the
present tenant is recent one, and there may be
something wrong. but the executors are without
knowledge In that respect The property Is in the
hands Of agent, who lets II and looks after IL.
The same is true of other owners whose names
have been published by the District Attorne-
know that most OF these people would tolerate
any violation OF the law upon their premises, nor
would they participate in the profits OF vice.
Why do not the police do their duty? The own
ers have pull with the police. but people who
trade in vice do have a pun. The anirnus under
lying the District Attorneys action is perfectly
clear. II receive notice from him regarding the
property TO which have referred shall forward
II TO the police drawing their attention the
complaint and insisting that they shall act upon it,
GARDINER EXPLAINS HIS WORK
District-AttOrney Gardner gave out the following
statement later;
In reference the reports OF the Title Guarantee
sno Trust Company; ] have only 70 say that the
policy determined upon last February then had
61snss printed % tor Ihe purpose ana applied 70 the
as 10 places alleged 10 be dsordery or maintained
owners s far as possible and sent notihcatiohs
the a4d te 60ssSa 81 81
get out Of tenement houses and apartment houses
mated under the 'Lexow crusade''
In a number OF instances We had letters of thanks
In other instances found that the police had
been mistaken, and in still others no answers were
The police reports did not take the form of evi-
rate with the labor involved in this Office.
sions McCunagh employed detectives for a purpose
which do not know, as il was not within the
Complaints OF alleged disorderly houses gambling
Thing tangible, and before taking them ali before
maEstrate put then RnasT me purEieW ~ To OF the the
also sent 10 the Title Guarantee and Trust Com
pdnA 10 nnQ Who the owners OF lne premises NeFes
IN order that the formal notices might be sent 20
them. which. as before remarked, were printed for
the Office last February.
OF course, the Title Guarantee and Trust Com
pany Is alone responsible for its own reports.
II has recognized reputation among lawyers ana
vestigating bail bonds end thus far with accuracy
as far i know.
Whoever have been reported as owners VIII GER
tainly receive the usual notce.
Speaking Of the New-York Society for the Sup
preston OF Vice, OF which Norris X. Jesup presi-
dent OF the Chamber Of Commerce, is a leading
member. IL has proved right arm OF this once
Last year tried seventy-nine cases for them
dlsorderiy houses. obscene literature and policy
cases. and secured seVenty-nine convictions In
conjunction with this estimable society have just
been enabled to break up The BLACK Rabbit gang,
OF Bleecker-st.. which had nOurtshed Tor a long
time. despite every effort 10 get evidence Vice IN
its most revolving form found there. Several
OF the gang have already been sentenced 70 states
Prison the penitentiary, and others are on trla
With reference Judge Fosters charge to-day
a. the Grand Jury / think IL was admirable
TITUs's WORK COMMENDED.
The work II Captain Titus in cleaning up the
vice infected Eldridge-st precinct was indorsed
yesterday by James 3. Reynolds, the head worker
OF the University Settlement
Captain Titus has been doing some hard work,
said Mr. Reynolds and the surface the district
Is comparatively clean. But there Is no telnng
how long IL will remain Last spring the dives
were closed tight for time only 10 open up again
and haunt themselves more aagrantly than before
N the faces 0f the people In the neighbornood.
clal relations between the police and the dive
Keepers have ceased. A good many OF the women
nave been driven of this district only TO take
lp tnelf abode In the tenement houses In other