The San Francisco call., 1906-09-12
Women Wage War Against Dens Of Vice
That Thrive Near Decent Homes.
VICE driven of its seeking foohod in
Jimmy LaWler's S
Resort Causes
Indignation.

AACVO4OAAs
The women of the Western Addition
have taken up the. fight against vice.
The advance of the vicious element
from the ruins of the old tenderloin
to the homes of the decent has been
winked at by a lethargic Police De-
partment until it is unsafe for women
or children to leave their homes with
[ out fear of pollution by the brazen
creatures who parade the streets that
were once the playground of the pure
and innocent.
The women who have undertaken to
| awaken the police are lighting for
their homes. Many of them have lived
in the same house for a quarter of
century; many have been born and
reared in the same neighborhood, and
as many more have been struggling
to establish in this section free from
the taint of dissipation and vice. a
home that will protect their children.
MANY COMPLAINTS-F FILED.
Complaint after complaint has been
made to the Police Department but
they have brought only spasmodic ac-
tivity. For day or week an effort
would be made to check the ribald
songs and dissolute behavior. A few
arrests have followed. but the evidence
upon which they have been made has
been so f1imsy that the charges have
been quickly dismissed. The good
people have witnessed these travesties
until they are determined to make an
end of them.
Mrs. M. E. Talcott, who lives within
two doors of the notorious resort es-
tablished by James Lawler, the former
prize-fighter and tenderloin saloon
keeper. was the first to realize that
her home life was in danger. With
the assistance of her daughter Mrs.
Ida Evans. she has interviewed every
property owner in the block and from
them she has received encourage
and support. Through her efforts a
formal demand has. been made upon
the Police Commissioners to revoke the
license of Lawler. but so far without
avail.
FIRST TO SELL LIQUOR.
Lawler was one of the first of the
saloon keepers to resume business af-
ter the fire. Before the smoke had
cleared away he established himself
in a house at 1912 O'Farrell street,
where he developed a lucrative bust
ness. Although there was a strict
rule against selling liquor in the city.
Lawler had SO much influence with
some one in authority that he was un-
molested. This was the first intro
duction of the people of that neigh
borhood to the former prize-fighter
and his throng of thirsty companions.
The police knew that Lawler was con-
ducting% his contraband resort and
while visits were made there at stated
| intervals not a member of the depart
ment was wide awake enough to catch
him wi1lfully violating the law.
AS soon as the restriction on the sale
of liquor was removed, Lawler Sc
cured license. In the meantime he
| leased from Mrs. Catherine, Gilbert
the dwelling formerly occupied by her
at 1922 O'Farrell street with the un
derstanding that it should be convert
ed into three-story frame building
with the basement fitted up as a sa-
loon. The place at 1912 O'Farrell was
sold and is now conducted as a lodging
house.
KEPT QUIET FOR A WEEK.
Within three days after its compile
ton, Lawler had moved in his furni-
! ture, liquor supplies and other acces-
sories. He was ready to begin bust
ness as soon as the word came that
| the traffic was to be resumed. For
| week the neighbors were not dis
| turbed by his patrons Within fort
| night, however, the orgies became so
! frequent that the little children on the
street began to talk about them. One
night the neighborhood was disturbed
/ by the cries of woman, some unfor-
tunate creature that had been installed
| in the third floor of LAWYERS resort.
Many thought that a murder was
being committed, but they were soon
treasured by the cries of the men
which came to them mingled with the
screams OF the woman. Don't beat
4 FDI-
| screams ceased and order was restored.
1t was learned the next morning that
Lawler had been amusing himself
! while in his cups by pummeling a
| defenseless woman.
1t was such incidents as these that
aroused the women to protest. 1t is an
unpleasant task for any woman of pure
mind to throw down the gauntlet to
men of LAWYERS class. But it is a
question in which the purity of the
home is at stake. LAWYERS saloon, run
under the strictest rules, would be a
menace to the neighborhood, but con-
Quoted with its nefarious attachments
it becomes a peril.
ARRANGEMENT OF SALOON.
The first floor of the building is con-
Quoted as a saloon, <the second as
gambling dive, and the third for the
housing Of LAWYERS women patrons
The BACK Oh the SalooH extends TO
! Elliot Park, small street that runs
from Steiner street between O'Farrell
and Geary streets. half through the
block to the grounds of the Hamilton
Grammar School. The back fence has
been torn down to give easy access to
door that opens into room back of
the saloon and from which the second
| and third floors of the building can be
reached.
The scenes enacted at this back en-
| trance have been far worse than those
at the front. The occupants of the
houses on Elliott Park have been fre-
ouently annoyed by the midnight eff
/ frontery of the women. Men going to
| and from their homes have been
stopped by these creatures. Some have
been ensnared into the back room of
LAWYERS saloon. Children have wit
messed these depraved scenes until
their mothers have become frantic with