The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-14
POLICE JOTTINCS.
Cleo Bennett Branches Out in
Her Work.
Establishes Rescue Home on
North Side.
TO SAVE YOUNG GIRLS.
Effort Will Be Made to Check
Growing Evil.
Deserters Appear to Be BecOm-
ing More Numerous.
20 SAVE YOUNG GIRLS.

One woman has taken up the mat
ter of street walking girls and fallen
women in the city of Topeka. Cleo
Bennett, the reformed police court
character and at the present time a
member of the Salvation Army has
established a Rescue Home for Fall
len Women at 1892 Kansas avenue in
North Topeka. The home is at the
present time a three room cottage
but as soon as the work progresses it
will be added to and made into a per-
manent home.
Cleo Bennett has gone through some
of the worst experiences of any wo-
man every living in Topeka and she
has for a good many years been in
the lime light continually. At one
time she tried to burn down the city
Jail and she has committed numerous
other crimes. After spending a few
months in the penitentiary she re-
formed and since her release about
ten months ago she has been doing a
noble work in the bottoms OF Topeka
both on her own service ana under
the service of the Salvation Army.
On account of her acquaintance
among the fallen women and girls
of the city she makes an excellent
worker among them and she has sue
ceeded in reforming a large number
of them both at their homes and at
the city and county jails.
The new home will be called the
Cleo Bennett Rescue Home for Fallen
Women and will be conducted under
the patronage of the Salvation Army.
All contributions from Topeka people
will be gladly received. The opening
day of the home was yesterday, Fri
day, the 18th. but this does not feaze
the interested worker. Cleo Bennett.
She is doing a work that no other wo-
man in Topeka has ever dared to do
and if successful she will be the cause
of the saving of many girls who run
the streets at night
The police reports every day show
arrests for street walking and the
street walkers are in almost every case
young girls under twenty years of age.
Chief Eaton has called attention to
this fact many times but the churches
and relief societies in the city have
paid no attention to this local need.
There has been a storm of criticism
raised over the city because such little
attention was given to the girls of the
Bottoms and to girls who have &C
quaintances in the Bottoms who never
fail to lead them astray.- Street walk
ing in Topeka is about the only real
miSdemeanor that the excellent police
force has to deal with and is powerless
to stop without the help of the people
of the city.
Cleo Bennett has spent every cent
she ever possessed in establishing this
home and when it is in running order
of the city contribute to the work. 1t
is reported that the county commits
sioners will furnish the coal for the
purpose but nothing definite has been
decided. 1t is known that the county
is figuring on the proposition.
The police force is greatly in favor
of the idea and already they have
pledged their help to Cleo Bennett
The plan instituted by Cleo Bennett
pleases Chief Eaton and he said this
morning.
II will feel as though I have per-
formed the duties of my office when I
clear UP this street walking problem.
The future reputation of the cleanli-
ness of the city depends upon the
younger people and am greatly in
terested in them
After having escaped from the pa
role officer and skipped up the I;ock
Island yard and down along the river,
Willie Childers. parole from the re-
form school was captured by officer
Mead last night. The young boy has
the school but on being released on
parole he fell back to his old compan-
ions which brought on his old habits.
Once more Marshall Hays, a son of
the Rev. Mr.. Hays of North Topeka, is
anchored in the Eaton harbor by the
officers and paid out by his father.
Marshall is a good boy naturally but he
his companions fill him up on liquor
He always repents to his father and
tells him that he will reform and his
father always appears at the station
;of getting -he son under the parental
roof once more. officers Douglas and
Mcclure caught the boy last night.
In last evenings mail the chief of
police received 80 deserter circulars
nirO
As more. Desertions from the army are
undoubtedly becoming more than a
common occurrence and when the gov
eminent pays all of the $50 fines for
the captures, it will mean huge sum
for the return of men who have lost
the Esprit
Another man has failed to carry
himself according to every point in
the law and Officer Fribance made
business pick up last night just in
front of the postoffice. A man run
ming a pop corn and peanut establish
ment on wheels has been dropping
anchor in front of the federal build
ing and last night the big English Of
dcer took the word of a number of
complainants and ordered the man to
move After number of word ex-
changes and a few touches of muscu-
lar language the ma ndrove off from
the beat presided over by F'ribance.
Things are mighty quiet in the bot
toms these nights Not a good old
fashioned raid or pull has been made
in this district for number of nights
On being asked by a reporter why
such marvellous conditions seem to ex-
list a colored hurrah boy made the fol-
lowing statement last night:
Let me tell you all about this re-
form as YOU call it. We all amt re-
forming down heah but dat big chief
has a officer in our midst who GER
tain1y does tear up things. Let me
tell you, sab, when ever I step outside
of the doah I see dat officer peeking
out of the corner of his eye at me and
I can't do nothing but act decent. He