New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-14
SPRIGGS NET TIGHTENS
Life of Missionary Who ReUeales
His Dens Threatened.


George Fl. Johnson and man called .T.u..-
Joe" Boggs. both negroes were apprabo-s@S
yesterday by Detectives Burbenich and Msr.-e
OF Inspector Hogan's staff, near SIKH 49,
and 4th street and taken at once to the -
trict Attorneys Office. The detectives said -
the two men were wanted as witnesses In =
case against the negro. spriggs who was =
rested in the crusade against the white sl.---
traffic Boggs IS said 20 have been MANAGE .
the alleged disorderly house in Cornelia Sra. =
which Sprfsgs was the reputed proprietor. Tos.
''n was an attache OF the same house and 49,.
men were said to be ready to "squeaI"
Miss Hattie Ross. a coIored missionary vvo..-
who has worked among the disorderly wonss-
OF the Tenderloin for years. was the person NJ.
furnished the information 20 District At,or-.s
Jerome which led 70 Spriggs's arrest. II ~.
learned yesterday. She said Yesterday tina, -.
life had been threatened many times, and IA.
she expected to be stabbed some time. I'M, :.
use her words. she intends 70 die 'stfrrirz =.
dirt" The colored people OF the Tenderlosr -.
looking for her with murderous intent.
She probably knows the TenderIoin betts-,..
any other person.. she has lived th.-s =
years. At one time she was the propr,s,,- !.
several disorderly resorts. She was ar-..,.s
and sent TO the Island. where as she saws IN.
got religion" and since that time has -
working among the women OF the Teuds-,o,-
1t is understood that she is supported IN ~.
work by many white churchwomen. Miss Ro,,
is known to all police officials
Inspector HOgan's men said YESTERDAY -.
one Of the most astounding cases they ever co..
upon was when they raided the CorrAl,s -.
house on July IS last while searching o.
white woman who was missing from her h..
IN Newark. n. j., and who had written n -.
husband that she was being forcibIy detaIrs5 =
the Cornelia street house. Roundsran Mav.-,
and Detectives Burbenich, Meyers and Mino,,.
smashed into a rear door Of the house ars.
scaling fence. and caught the negro snr,yv,
in the place. Spriggs was arrested Five won.
en-, four OF them white. were found in the house
one Of whom is now a witness for the Dis,r~.
Attorney. After the police got into the hons.
they had 10 break into a closet TO get m.
women their street clothes. One Of the wor.,
said the woman from Newark had managed 10
escape the previous day
Spriggs had the keys to the rooms in N.
house in his possession. when arrested HsUs
sentenced to pay a fine Of 500 or serve thir,y
days in the penitentiary The police say ii,
District Attorney wishes to locate the Nan.
Jersey woman as a witness against Sprggs
by Deputy Assistant District Attorney Murvhx
Mr.. Murphy said that he talked freely. and g.
serted that he had done nothing wrong. Hs
statements were satisfactory. and he said l.
was willing TO appear as a witness az any tine
The rumor continues TO grow that the bod.,s
of the two young white women buried in Tia
colored Mount Olivet Cemetery. and alleged
have been inmates Of one of Spriggs's houses
may be exhumed. although their deaths occurred
two years ago. The District ATTORNEYS invest
gators say that the two girls were in one Of
Sally Benefits houses. in which Spriggs was
interested IN West 31st street, and that they
died IN this house and were buried by a uego
undertaken on the certificate Of a negro doctor
The death certificates give the cause Of death
for one OF the women as nervous disorder ard
for the other as alcoholism and liver trouble
The cases against Spriggs and the Bennett
woman will be submitted TO the grand fury o.
day, and indictments will be asked for both FOR
second ouences on charges of abduction and
keeping disorderly houses. Spriggs was sen
fenced to states prison for three years on De-
cember 10. 1889. by the late Recorder Smyth o.
the charge Of assaulting Charles Mayo ar No q
Grand street. On the back OF the indictment
which has been examined, was a memorandum
made by the Recorder, which reads; "Defendant
and his father keep a most dSOrderly place
which should be broken up by the police"
As 1t was known TO the District Attorney thar
Spriggs had been voting for some time past be
ueC1ueU u investigate now a man VINO had Io.-
feited his citizenship. by his conviction. could
still vote. He communicated with Governor
Higgins: and received a reply yesterday from
Pardon Clerk Joyce. which showed that SpriSgs
had his citizenship restored 10 him October 81
1883, by Governor. now President Roosevelt
Spr1ggs's record also shows that he ar
rested In raid on July %. 1905. in house %
Corneha street. and was sentenced TO 500 fra
or thirty days In Jail. He paid the fine
SalIy Bennett. on August 10. 1888, stabbed
girl by the name OF Matilda A HanHr-
housekeeper. at No 191 Blocker street, aDd vas
sentenced 10 the penitentiary for four YaG&
Later she was transferred to Auburn prison
The two white women arrested in the raid On
the west SOth street house. alleged 20 have been
run by sally Bennett and Spriggs win be VII
nesses befOre the grand Jury to-day