Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-07
A SMUGGLER or
HUMAN BEINGS,
Notorious japanese Slave Trader Appre.
hended in Salt Lake by Secret Service
Agent, with Some OF His Victims.

A case, the like Of which has never
before come up in Utah, was heard
before United States Commissioner
Twomey this morning. As result OF
the hearing, Trakachi Ogasahara
Japanese, is held by the Federal au-
thorltles under $500 bonds to appear
before the United States district court
for the district Of the state of Wash
ington, at the June session, and answer
to the charge Of having bought Japan
ese women in Japan and struggled
them out Of that country, and into the
United States for immoral pur-
poses The onense is a very grave
one and Is punishable by maximum
term in prison Of five years and a fine
Of $1,000.
The traffic In female slaves has been
one OF the most serious problems the
immigration department has had 60
deal With and great vigilance has been
maintained by both the American and
japanese authorities. However, it Is
well known In secret official circles
that for number Of years an Immense
traffic in unfortunate women has been
going on. In Japan women can be
bought as slaves, either from their
mothers and fathers or by payment
TO themselves direct. They are then
Struggled out OF Japan and into foreign
countries, whore they are used for Inn
moral purposes. II they ever return
TO Japan they are received With open
arms and blessings for having helped
their families. Such is the moral code
with certain class Of japanese.
The Federal authorities have been for
some time very strict indeed at the
ports OF entry on the Pacific coast with
the result that the arrival In America
Of TralSachI Ogasahara and two Japan
csc women was not overlooked. The
wheels Of the government were put In
motion and the collecting Of evidence
has been going on for a month. Sew
eral days ago Thomas NJ Fisher Chi
nese and immigrant inspector for the
district Of Puget Sound and stationed
at Seattle, arrived in Salt Lake and
very quietly went on gathering evil
dence In conjunction With Marshal Glen
Miller. At 4 O'clock yesterday after
noon things had come 60 the point Of
action and Trakach Ogasahara and
two japanese women were taken In
custody at resort On Commercial
street. Trakachi, who Is otherwise
known as Dan Oga" was immediate
rs arralgned before Commissioner
1womey ard a hearing was SET for
this morning. ~ the time The arrest
took place the Jan Jan was cooking
dinner for The four inmates OF q hollsp
OF prostitution on Commercial street
The warrant was read 10 him aud
when he Was placed under arrest he
made an attempt T. esca.2, bat was
speedily taken into custody.
Two of the inmates wore very much
disturbed at the arrest. but the other
two showed absolute indifference They
have been IN Salt Lake for over two
years and speak English while the first
Two were brought here in March and
know little or nothing of English.
On the arraignment before Commits
soncr Twomey It developed that
Ogasahara had been IN the United
states for many years and that he
cooked for the inmates Of the house
receiving so much per week from
each. The most important admission
by one of the women was that Ogas-
ahara LETT Salt Lake last September
and returned here only about four
weeks ago,
At 10 o'clock this morning Deputy
Marshal Smyth escorted the prisoner
into Judge Twomey's offices. There
were also present besides the Judge
Marshal Miller. Inspector Fisher. A.
slstant District Attorney Cherrugton
Chas. Koike, very INTELLIGENT japan
ESQ who came I'm from Bingham 10
act as Interpreter the -four inmates
OF the brothel in which the arrest was
made.
Court was called To order and the
hearing opened with the examination
~ Koike as interpreter. which was sat
isfactory and he was sworn in. He
Is a small Japanese with a very intel