New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-26
ACTED As PROCURERS.
Charge against Trco Employment
Agents-Reynolds Set Trap.

Joseph Gelb Of No 1872 East Third-st.. and Will
lam F. George OF No. 10 West One-hundred-and-
twenty-hfth-st, employment agents, were arrested
on Monday night by Detectives Lennon and Sta
pleton Of Inspector Schmittbergers staff. on war
rants issued by Justice Mayer, after an investga-
ton started by James B. Reynolds as acting head
of the Bureau Of Licenses. The investigation was
caused by information that an extensive traffic
in procuring young women for disorderly houses
being carried
Assistant District Attorney Kresel, who has
charge OF the prosecution Of the cases said yester-
day that he regarded the arrests most import
tant Secretary Reynolds said that Mayor Low had
taken personal interest in the investigation. The
prisoners were arrested on the charge Of commit
ting a misdemeanor in accepting money for any
purpose other than that stated in their license.
On August 10 last, according to Secretary Rey-
nolds Detective Lennon and Mrs. Ida Clark,
police natron went TO the agency kept by Gelb at
No 1872 East Third-st., and said they wanted six
young women for a disorderly house in Philadel-
phia.
It is charged that he produced Eva vagi. twenty
years old. pretty Hungarian servant. OF NO. 1iS
East Third-st., and that after Gelb had talked to
the girl and Detective Lennon had stated that
she could earn from SIS to So week she con-
scented to go 10 Philadelphia. The girl suggested,
Il is asserted that her cousin would also be willing
to CO. and a meeting was arranged for IN Gelbs
office on the following Monday Then the detective
and the matron went to Gelbs once ana iS STa
9Iihalka, twenty years old. Hunga,ria99 OF no:
2E East Third-st., the last named slgnitylns her
willingness 10 90 to Philadelphia.
Gelb received $40 it is charged for producing
the girls and, it is alleged, he promised TO get
more if necessary. The girls were taken TO Phila-
delphia and placed in a boarding house. where they
were kept under police surveillance. It is alleged
that the detective and the matron visited Georges
Office in West One-hundred-a and twenty ttth-st,
and made a proposition TO him similar to that
made TO Gelb. ..
George is about seventy-two years old It Is
charged that he appointed meeting in his office
for the following day, and that then after ne had
talked with Mary Walsh, seventeen years old, VINO
had been employed in the Columbia restaurant
near e-hundre6- and -twenty-dfth-st and Lenox-
ave he asked Detective Lennon how much the
girl could make week in the Philadelphia house,
It is declared that the girl agreed TO with the
detective and Mrs. Clark. as the supposed keepers
of disorderly house and said she had friend IN
Mount Vernon that might also go. On ANOTHER
day. it IS alleged, George received $40 with the
agreement that he would get the Walsh girls
friend and send her to Philadelphia later.
The Walsh girl then sent on the same train
with the Vagi and Mihalka girls to Philadelphia,
and placed in the boarding house. II is further
alleged that George agreed to get other girls at
SIG each
on Monday the girls were brought here from
Philadelphia and placed in the House or Detention
witnesses. .
Secretary Reynolds said that Inspector Schimtt-
berger and the District Attorneys ONCE had aided
him in the investigation and that the case against
the prisoners q complete one
The prisoners were aTraigned before Justice
Mayer In the Court OF Special Sessions. and held
in 5000 bail each for examination this afternoon