The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-10
KEPT MANY WOMEN CAPTIVE.
JERONE'S MEN LAND BOB SPRJGGS,
NEGRO DIVE KEEPER.

Ills Indictment Followed by n Raid on u
TenderiOIn Fiat He's Said 10 Have
Abducted white Women and To Have
Kept One In His House Fou Years.
A negro named Robert H. Spriggs was
indicted yesterday for abduction, assault
and running a disorderly house. Spriggs
is we'll known in tine Tenderloin. He was
arrested on Thursday night by Roundsman
Berry and Detective Flood of the District
Attorneys Office without a warrant. When
Mr.. Jerome was asked about the case yester-
day, he said;
1T is one of the most important arrests
made during my term of office. | think
there will be some sensational develop
ments."
1t is known, however, that Spriggs
is charged with being behind a sym
dictate of disorderly houses. He had a
dance hall in West Thirtieth street, and he
is also said to have had dance halls in
Minetta lane. 1t is charged that he alb
Quoted white women and put them in
houses frequented by negroes. There are
three women witnesses against him.
1t is allie ged that one woman who came
into the hands of Spriggs was locked in a
house for four years and ne yer allowed to
leave it. Another woman is said to ha We
been there for three years. There are
said to be many more cases where Spriggs
kept women locked in houses for weeks at
a time. The houses he controlled were so
guarded that none Of the inmates could get
out. The windows were barred and the
doors always locked.
Assistant District Attorneys Caravan and
Murphy, Chief Clerk H~enneberry, Detective
Sergeant Bernard A. Flood, Roundsman
Peter Berry and a half dozen county detec-
tives, all detailed under instructions from
the District Attorney, last night raided a
fiat in West Thirtieth street. A woman
arrested as the keeper of the place gave
her name as Sally Bennett. The raiders
cay that she is Sarah johnson, who has
been keeping places for Robert II. Spriggs.
In the hou e were found Edna Stillman,
white; Annis Harris, a negress, and James
Hall, 33 wears old, white. They were all
locked up in the West Thirtieth street police
station. The Benne woman was held as
the keeper Of a disor derby house.
The raid was made under a warrant is
SUED by Magistrate Moss in Jefferson
Market court on the request Of the members
of the raiding party. Some Of the informa-
ton on which the warrant was asked for
is said to have been given by Berthe Claiche
and by a woman who is locked up in the
Tombs prison.
This latter woman is said to be a girl who
was arrested for a felony in a raid on a
house in West Thirty-frst street. She was
taken from the Tenderloin station and
locked up in the Tombs. II is understood
that she has furnished information to Dis
trict Attorney jerome.
Assistant District Attorney Caravan said
after the raid This raid is no reflection
on the Tenderloin police. 1t is simply
the beginning of the work by District
Attorney Jerome to wipe out this sort Of
thing in the precinct. He is going to clean
up the places that Spriggs owns. He has
half a dozen houses in streets. All these
are to be closed up
The disclosures made as a result Of the
investigation of the Red Light district on
the East Side during Devery's time, it is
said, are tame compared with what the
District Attorneys Office has learned in
connection witt the arrest of Spriggs.