Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-22

The most important cases in police
court yesterday morning were those
arising from the police raid in the
National" fake hotel Wednesday
night. The proprietors. Gottleib Hard
ing and JOS. Kurtz, were charged with
conducting a house of i'll fame. Kurtz
appeared in person, and listened to a
scorching lecture from the Mayor.
Kurtz was a member of Council from
the Fifth ward when he was granted
a saloon license at No. 1916 Main
street. 1t was in the midst of the
anti-fake hotel agitation, and the Ii
cense was withheld until Kurtz gave
Us promise tuat no women would be
allowed about the premises, backing
this up with a statement that he
would 0 his own family into the
building. 1t was but a short time,
however, until Harding was associat-
ed with him, and since then the char
acter of the place has been changed.
While KurtZ never fulfilled his prom
Use as to removing his family, it is
understood that it was only after it
was found impossible to make a sue
cess OF the place as a straight saloon,
that women were permitted to meet
men and drink IN real rooms.
The evidence was a very salacious
character. The warrant upon which
the pull was made, was sworn out by
a respectable ~workingman of the
South side, and it was shown that his
daughter had been taken into the place
Tuesday ana remained there in COM
pany with lewd women and worse
men until the raid was made. The
evidence also showed the existence Of
stalls" in the establishment. The
stalls" are small drinking rooms.
There are bed rooms on the second
and third floors. The place was a no.
torious bagnio for years, and was con-
Quoted by Kittie Lee, who, it will be
remembered left Wheeling with a lot
Of unpaid bills behind, and is still
mourned by too contiding creditors.
Kurtz and Harding were given the
usual fines Of $40 and costs each. Five
men and three women who were
caught in the place, had given fictitious
names and put up security for their
appearance. They did not show up
and their fines of S. and costs each
were extracted from their security
money. The proprietors gave notice
of an appeal to the Criminal Court,
and filed bond.
The detectives testified that they
found some of the defendants in the
stalls" and other in bed rooms, some
being in bed. One woman was in de-
cidedly negligee attire. They said the
I'M were fictitious, but they could
furnish correct names If necessary. it
is understood that two married Wo-
men, and two young men who are well
connected, were caught in the place.
The mar who swore out the warrant,
said his daughter left home Tuesday
and had not returned, and he decided
to have the warrant issued when he
learned where she
A girl named Wagner said she had
gone to the "hotel" with men, and had
not been requested to register. I'm
married people could get rooms at the
place. Another female witness said
she had never been in the place be-
fore, and had only entered at the So
licitation of her friends.
Kurtz testified in his own behalf,
that he had a hotel license, conducted
a regular hotel and required every
body to register. He served meals In
the dining room and sitting rooms.
Kurtz was closely questioned by the
Mayor.
When he concluded, Mayor Sweeney
reverted to a conversation between
himself and Kurtz when the latter
was an applicant for license. The
Mayor said he regarded Kurtz as a
man who was above such a business.
He interested himself in obtaining a
license for him because he said ne
would conduct the place properly and
move his family into the building, the
Mayor believing him to be a man OF
his word. The Mayor added that
Kurtz was not the real proprietor OF
the place, but the tool of a man who
conducts a house of prostitution. He
said the defense was worthless. Tie
thought here was no more d~isreputable
business for a man to be engaged In
than to raise money through the de-
bauchery of young girls. In conclud-
ing Mayor Sweeney expressed deep re-
gret concerning his disappointment In
the character of the defendant.