Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-01-20
ADEGREDATION A CLUB.

From the New York Morning Telegraph
A Degradation Club" is the latest.
Just what a"Degredation Club"is noOne
knows exactly, but the police of Cleve-
land, Ohio, are making searching inves-
tigatlon into the origins and methods of
the organ zatioD.
One girl in Cleveland has died as a
re -ult OF her loyalty TO the club and
tne f3ithful carrying out of her vows.
This unique club originated in Cleve-
land and was formed by ten of the lead
ing Young women Of the town. Incl
d ntally it may be mel toned that Clevt
.uG is pretty progressive municipal
ity III some ways.
The Young women of that town not
only have accumulated much worldly
wisdom, ,brt some of them have develop
ed q streak of originally that is simply
wonderful.
The"Degredation Club" organized by
hem seems to be a variant of the Sui
eide Club of Stevenson, save that the
victims commit only moral suicide. In
ne ouly case so far reported TO the po-
CO, however, death followed as result
of adherence to the clubs principles.
Miss Hattie Thetford was the daugh-
ter OF ricn merchant OF Toledo, Ohio,
and one of the prettiest young women
n Cleveland She joined the "Degra-
dation Club" subscribed to its princi'
plea and took certain vows which later
led to her ruin.
Her emaciated body was found yes
terdsy in miserable hovel on the out
skirts in the village of Cummings, near
Cleveland, and in letter found on her
body, written to her parents. she de-
scribed slightly the Degradation Club"
hich had led to her downfall.
"We cast lots" she wrote. "to see
who would be the first to carry out
the pledges made. The unlucky one
vas to leave home, friends, everything
and become the most degraded creature
possible. We sat about the table and
dealt the cards. The queen of hearts
was the pasteboard-and that came to
me. hope that death may now come
to me soon. In the slums visited
voodoo doctor and he brought me
here"
So far as the county and city officials
can learn Miss Thetford went the limit
when she started out on her career OF
degradation.
1t appears there was an argument
by which the unlucky member should
keep in touch with the other members
of the club and keep them Informed OF
every new experiment in vice. This
was done by Miss Thetford and she ted
the perverted imaginatlons OF her COM
psnions with stories OF her experiences
10 her degraded life.
Miss Thetford was absent from her
home for six weeks and q systematic
search was made for her by her parents.
They heard of her frequently, but
learoe ed nothing definite until her body
was found in the hut, near Cummings,
yesterday.
The county officials are making an
investigation and hope to apprehend
those who are responsible for the or.
eanization of the Degradation Club"
Neiehbors have remarked upon the ap-
peara oce of the girl at the hovel near
Cummings, as she appeared to have
come from refined surroundings, traces
of good breeding and beauty still giim,
mering through her wiliully dlsheveled
appearance. 49,. ,o.ua
Miss Thettord's death, 1t was found
upen examination bv the county physi-
clan. was DIRE to Congest, brought about
by the exposure of her life 10 the rat
trap of shanty in which her body was
found.