The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-29
WOMEN ATTACK JARED FLAGG.
TRY TO CHOKE OFF LICENSE FOR
"THEATRICAL" AGENCY.

He ously Denies That He Was Ever
in State Prison and Accuses Police OF
Shakedown-Hearing Before Com.
missioner Observation-Disclosures Promised.
The Woman's Rescue League got after
Jared Flagg yesterday and asked Com
missioner Of Licenses Bogart not to give
him a renewal Of his license to run an en-
ployment agency for the year beginning
May /. Flagg has figured c~onspicuously
In the newspapers on account OF his
repeated arrests in connection with
his agency for the employment OF
young women and his one conviction
for maintaining a common nuisance, for
which he was fined $500 and served one
months imprisonment in the Tombs. He
describes himself as the proprietor OF a
general information bureau for young
ladies of the theatrical profession" at 70
Fifth avenue.
On April 8 Laurence G. Goodhart, at
torney for the Woman's Rescue League,
filed with Commissioner Bogart a protest
against a renewal of Flagg's license.
h letter contained a statement taken
from the files Of the Rescue League and
q copy of a letter, dated May 20, 1898,
from Charlotte Smith, president OF the
eague, declining IAN alleged proposal to
cooperate with Flagg regarding certain
phases Of control Of the social evil. The
purpose Of the statement and the letter
was to show Mr.. Bogart that Flagg was
unfit to AVE an employment agency license.
The Commissioner set yesterday for the
hearing. Mr.. Goodhart was present for
the league and Miss Helen Arthur was on
hand for the Woman's Municipal League
and ex-License COMMISSIONS Heating for
the Theatrical Managers Association 70
make the formal protest. Mr.. Bogart began
the proceedings by reading the Rescue
Leagues latter of protest. He got as far
as the third paragraph. which charged that
Flagg had served a term Of two years in
Auburn State prison for deooying young
girls to houses of i'll repute, when Flagg
jumped up and denounced the reading Of
the letter and the charges. He denied that
he had ever been in State prison. He
added.
IF they can prove that, ] will gladly step
down and out. 1t is a lie. never was con-
victed Of anything but maintaining a nui-
sance because one Of the tenants OF my
flats got out on the roo one night and sang
Sunshine Of Paradise Alley l was ar
rested seventeen times in two weeks and in
dioted on five counts, but they all failed e1-
cept the one charge of maintaining a nui-
sance. ! could nave been acquitted of that
II / would have beeI willing TO pay SIS 900.
] had already paid $4,000. but refused to
give up more and so went TO prison. DR..
Parkhurst and Police Commissioner Roose-
welt were my best witnesses. 1t was q plot
Of the police to ruin me-
Flagg continued to shout and gesticulate
and finally asked the reporters not to print
the charge made that he had been in State
prison.
at is not true" he said, land it will hurt
me. ] have 1000 young ladies who pay
80 each year for registering with me to
get employment in the theatrical profess
sion and with artists. Some of them are
York. To publish untruly that | have been
In State prison would ruin all that bust
ness"
Flagg continued to address the reporters
and said;
These men know all about me-.
Yes" was one response, we could write
a book about you"
Commissioner Bogart asked Mr.. Good
hart If ne had any proof Of the charge that
Flagg had been in State prison and also Of
what Charlotte Smith said Of Flagg in her
ten-year-old letter. Mr.. Goodhart said
he had non with him, but that he would
produce Miss Smith and furnish other
evidence Of the charges of the Rescue
League. Miss Arthur and Mr.. Heating
took no part in the discussion n Com
missioner Bogart put off the matter for a
40 as to give those who protest against the
renewal Of the license an opportunity to
make good.
Flagg went away asserting hat nothing
could be proved against him. He said he
needed no witnesses for himself.