The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-10-29

10 DlOLCNl anu liidihNdtti tAiN Wal
sicania for more than two years.
In order 10 do so he was COM
PEELED to spread his judicial robes
over a sink hole which he had
formally declared TO be a den OF
vice, maintained in violation of
law. He was compelled to re-
verse his own judgment within
a period measured by hours.
To protect the loathsome Mar
sicania and advantage his friend,
George d. Collins, attorney for
It's proprietors, Cook used his
court to compel the police of San
Francisco to desist in their ef-
forts to clean out a hole which
the supreme court subsequently
said it was Carroll Cooks duty
TO suppress. For two years
Cooks "Cofferdam" injunction
stood between the police and the
hell hole on Dupont street, which
all the decent men in San Fran
cisco were trying to drive out
OF existence.
In an effort to brighten Father
Caraher, the veteran priest who
led the fight against the Marsi-
cania. and who repeatedly ap-
pealed to the public, Cook hailed
the white haired shepherd of St.
Francis parish into court on a
citation for contempt. That con-
tempt of the dignity of Cooks
court was ascribed to Father
Caraher's alleged participation in
a raid on the Marsicania which
resulted in the arrest Of % of its
inmates.
The Marsicania was one of the vilest
dens ever operated in San Francisco 1t
consisted Of 80 "cribs" in an area
reached by long passage way opening
in Dupont street. The place was pro-
5ected and opened under police protee-
Iion by Emil Kehrlein and Auguste
Houges almost simultaneously with
several so called higher class houses of
hclE0DOTnOOU
Of St Francis Catholic church. The
Marsicania was of the lowest type of
brothel. AS described by one of the
justices OF the supreme court It was the
scene OF the most degrading and I'M
natural crimes"
The places were opened while Father
Caraher was in Europe. He returned
10 find an unspeakable den running in
full blast almost under the caves of his
church The women and children of
his parish on their way to their devo-
lions were subjected to insult and COM
PEELED 10 witness scenes of frightful
degradation. The devoted and fearless
priest began at once a war on the dens
that lasted for years. In spite of Car
roll Cook. judicial partner in the crimes
committed at the Marsicania, he won
finally, through decision Of the SUI
preme court obtained after nearly three
years struggle with the vice magis-
trate.
Father Caraher Instituted a blockade
or system of pickets. The so called
high class houses were cleaned out
quickly. Their patrons would not brave
the piekets. Chief Of Police Sullivan
sent the proprietresses to Caraher to
plead with the sturdy old soldier of the
church. He bade them go and they
went. Not so with the Marsicania, the
y
known Its inmates and patrons were
Of the lowest type. They, did not espe-
cially mind the blockade.
Whitman became chief of police.
Father Caraher demanded and secured
uniformed policemen as pickets. That
embarrassed the proprietors of the
Marsicania. They lodged behind George
Sellinger, a man employed TO collect SIS
day from each of the 3S inmates of
the noisome cribs
Sellinger went to the superior court
for a restraining order. He secured
temporary injunctions in turn from
Judges Seawell and Kerrigan. On the
hearings those decent judges promptly
dissolved the injunctions. Things were
going badly for the Marsicania and its
proprietors, when, in February, 1903.
George D. Collins. attorney for Sellin-
ger, induced Presiding Judge Murasky
TO assign one of the cases to Collins
friend and intimate Carroll Cook. There
was a celebration at the Marsicania
that night. The fight against law and
Sdecency had at last been got on a field
where law and decency had no chance.
Cock was to the fore.
Cock granted a temporary injunction
restraining the police from interfering
with the business of the Marsicania.
which from that day until Cook was
repudiated by the supreme court-near-
~ two and half years later-was
conducted under the protection of Car
roll Cook, whose sworn duty ii was to
suppress the dive and punish its pro-
prietors.
PROTECTS VILE BRoTHEL
Not till April did Cook see fit to hear
the arguments and testimony touching
the temporary injunction which he
granted in February. Under the tenn
porsry injunctions issued by Judges
KerrigaR and Seawell, the policemen
had been permitted 10 maintain block
AIDES, enter the premises. take names
and collect evidence. Cook forbade all
that. He permitted the doors of the
Marsicania to swing open for men,
women and children, but he closed them
10 the police, whom he forbade to take
the names Of visitors or 10 enter the
premises except in extreme cases.
When Cook got around to testimony
and arguments in April. George d. Col
Inns and his alleged client, Sellinger.
had found IL creatures who swore that
the premises behind 1929 Dupont street
were respectable and that they were
not used for immoral purposes. II took
n long time for Cook to digest those
aH7daVife-lonQ enouuh for fha o,,nrfr.~