Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-14
POLICE ON TRAIL
OF GANG OF FIENDS
SCORE OF GIRLS IMPLICATED BY
CHARGES
Floor Walker of Store and Several
Companions Declared by the
Authorities to Be Caught
In a Trap

Operating under instructions from Cap
tain of Detectives Paul Flammer and
Prosecuting Attorney Ed Flemming, de-
tectives from the central police station
are endeavoring to gain information which
will send half dozen young men to long
terms In prison on charges of running
young girls
One man, Clarence Dewitt floor walker
in a large department store, is now held
in the city Jail on the charge, and 1t is
said three of his companions will prob
ably be arrested within a few days. One
of these men is said to hold high posi-
ton in department store. 1t is charged
that these men, with two others, are re-
sponsibe for the downfall of more than
twenty girls.
Dewitt was arrested on information fur
nished by Nellie Enright a 16-year-old
girl who ran away from her home in
Watts ten days ago. She was absent three
days when he mother notified the police.
Detectives Hosck and Zeigler found the
girl standing near one of the cheap thea
| tiers on Main street
When questioned by the detectives the
| girl made statements which prompted the
officers to lay the matter before Capt.
| Flammer. That officer was astonished at
the declarations made by the girl and
summoned detectives and laid the case
before them.
| Word was then passed around among
| Planners men to seek all the evidence
obtainable against Dewitt and his COM
| panions, while Detectives Hosick and
| Craig were instructed to find Marie Swan,
| n 13-year-old girl who had disappeared
| from her home few days previous.
The officers succeeded in finding the girl,
| and she was taken to the station and
questioned.
! Warrant Issued
! Marie admitted the truth of Nellie En-
| rights statements, and complaint was
| sworn out for Dewitt's arrest.
| According to the statements of the girl
| Dewitt is responsible for the downfall OF
the Swan girl. while one of his COM
panions misused the Enright girl.
| When questioned by Capt. Flammer at
the police station, Dewitt admitted his
| relations with the Swan girl and tried to
4 laugh the matter off. He was shown
| what serious offense he had committed,
| and before being taken to the cells wept
| and pleaded for mercy
| No complaints have been issued for his
| companions owing to the fact that all the
| other girls were more than 16 years OF
age. It is thought that number of girls
1 have not been found, and the detectives
are now trying to locate them
II have no doubt but all the things we
have heard against these men are true, =
said Attorney Flemming. and you may
be sure this gang will be broken up II II
takes all the resources of the prosecuting
attorneys Office to do 1t.
Men OF that nature have no right at
liberty. and we will not be satisfied until
they face a long term in jail.
1--WE have the names of all Dewitt's
friends and will look them up.
/ According to the detectives the men
made practice of looking up all girls
who ran away from home When they
found them they would offer them rooms
and board until they could obtain work
II a girl wished to go on the stage the
men are said to have posed as actors, and
If they wished to be Mattresses the mon
said they were proprietors of restaurants