Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-14
RAID ON MARTIN ARCADE"
Police Magistrate Crawford Sends
Police After Inmates.
NOTORIOUS RESORT IS CLOSED
Warrants Issued for Arrest Of Owner,
Agent and Tenants and Placed In
Hands OF Police Promptly
Served.

Police Magistrate Bryce Crawford yes
tsrday took the steps needed TO close the
notorious Martin Arcade on Ninth street
Under his direction City Prosecutor Daniel
filed alias complaints against the inmates
OF the cribs and these were placed in the
hands of the police for service. Eight of
the women were put under arrest and will
be arrsigned in police court this morning.
-nthers will be asrrested " they return to
-oer haunts.
a,,.i lanN are also out for NJ. f. Martin,
~ IA, Ae Arcade" and for his col
Lev. ris. These men could not be
found 1as. evening. Prior to having the
complaints prepared Judge Crawford and
Prosecutor Daniel made a visit to the
place. After consultation with Chief Dona-
hue and Captain Mostyn the Judge pro-
ceeded. Many of the inmates of the cribs
took alarm and fed, hastily packing their
belongings and seeking shelter where they
might. Last night the Arcade was
closed.
"As long as printed FERNS exist and war
rants can be issued from the police court
of Omaha for the inmates OF disreputable
houses, the section known as Martins Ar
cade on Ninth street will remain closed, -
said Judge Crawford in explanation of his
action. II have issued warrants for the
arrest OF every inmate Of the houses at
present and Captains Mostyn and Dunn Of
the police department are to cooperate
with me under instructions OF the chief to
serve all warrants issued. Besides that the
police officers have assured me that IL It is
the desire Of this court they will arrest
any woman who opens one Of the Martin
rooms in the Arcade. II is my desire and
the desire Of the police court OF Omaha
that any woman who opens a. house be ar
rested
Warrants are out for NJ. #. Martin.
owner Of the houses composing the Arcade,
and for Harris, an employe of Martin who
collects the rents of the miserable women
who occupy the cribs.
stories of RevoIting Nature.
During the last few weeks stories have
come to me and to Mr.. Daniel about the
Arcade that are so revolving that no sane
man could refrain from closing up the
whole section II he knew about the way
the places are conducted. You cannot i'm
I Agine the stories which have come TO my
ears about Martins Arcade have waited
long and patiently for some citizen tc
make the move to close up the place, but
none OF the crusaders moved and after q
| talk with City Prosecutor Daniel l de
| cided to take the step myself and close VI
the place foreyer--or as long as can Issue
/ warrants for inmates"
In less than an hour after Judge Craw
1 ford made his visit, every crib on TIN
larcade alley was closed, with the excep
tion of three. and when the police arrives
to serve warrants but eight inmates wef'
taken 10 the station. Judge Crawford said
81 don't care whether the women wer
secured OF not. expect anything in tn
way Of charges, but that does not get a
the point don't want to arrest the poo
women who have been selling their bodle
to pay Martin toll. ] don't want them ar
rested only want them to know that
they continue the practice Of going to tn
places owned by Martin they will be ar
rested and given the limit, which they de
serve II they violate the law and do no
heed this warning"
Judge Crawford said he went to tn
police station about o'clock. Captain
Mostyn was in the ONCE.
'T told him that proposed to arres
every woman occupying crib In the ar
cade," said Judge Crawford. ITO this Cap
tain Moatyn replied that he would serv
all the warrants issued promptly ana wa
ready at any moment. When I talked witt
Captain Dunn. as no came on duty at
o'clock, he told me. he would arrest an,
woman who entered place on the arcad
II 1t was my DESIRE
Flee when Friends Tell Them.
Women left the arcade in blocks of fv
when It was tipped of to them" by sus
pected parties that the place was to b
''pinched." Personal property was tied u
In pillow shams, sheets and the like an
carried in bundles. Excitement among tn
inhabitants created excitement on Mint
street and men and women ''fell owe
themselves" to disappear, as they realize
the police meant business and no favorite
would be selected.
One OF the women who neglected 70 max
her escape before the officers arrived tol
Of the thoughtful visit OF two young mer
of whom she gave a minute description
succeeding so admirably as TO leave n
doubt IN the minds OF her auditors as to tn
Identity Of the informers. The police wer
not altogether surprised, though completed
disgusted.