The San Francisco call., 1908-08-13
WAGES WAR UPON
IMMORAL TRAFFIC
immigration Commission Seeks
TO Enforce Law Against
Importation of Women
Henry Villette, Alleged White
Slave Dealer, Will Face
Trial by Court Today

Asdetermined war is being waged on
the so called protective league" or
ganized for the purpose of importing
women and girls for immoral purposes.
Agents of the United States immigra-
tion commission are in San Francisco
and they are working in conjunction
with immigration Commissioners Hart
II. North and his assistants. The gov
ernment officers know that there is a
branch of the league in San Francisco
and, since the prosecution of several
of these moral pirates in Chicago,
Philadelphia, st. Louis and many other
eastern cities, the membership of the
league in this city has been materially
increased. The headquarters of the
league here are in hotel in Broad
way.
From information gained by the inn
migration officials the league is also a
protective association TO the members
in-smuch AS the members agree to as
sist one of their fellows should he fall
into the tolls of the law. Uncle Sam
does not deal as lightly with them as
do some of the municipal courts. A
heavy bail is fixed by the United States
courts in order to secure the presence
of the accused in court.
CHARGED UNDER FEDERAL LAW
A few days ago Henry Villette. who
is we'll known to the federal officials,
was arrested on charge of violating
section of the immigration laws,
which prohibits the importing of alien
women or girls for immoral purposes.
Villette was placed under $4,000 bonds
and his case will come up tomorrow
morning. He is charged with having
brought Margurita Paisseu, a young
French girl, from Paris to the United
prostitution
The young woman was arrested in
Tucson, Ariz., to which city she fed
from Villette after she had been placed
In Commercial street den. She con-
fessed to the immigration officers that
Nillette brought her from Paris and
said he was responsible for her being
placed in houses of i'll fame in Chicago
and San Francisco. She Is now on her
way to this city to appear as a.wit-
ness against Villette. Assistant United
States Attorney Black will prosecute
Villette.
WOMAN TO BE DEPORTED
If convicted of the offense charged
against him, Villette may be sentenced
to five years in state prison and to a
fine of $4,000. The woman will be de-
ported.
Not only are the immigration off,
cials determined to prevent the pro-
curers from bringing any more women
into the United States for immoral
purposes, but those already inmates
of immoral houses who have been here
less than three years are to be pro-
ceeded against The law provides that
any woman who has been in this coun-
try less than three years and who is
known to be a prostitute may be de-
ported. search for evidence against
those in the city at the present time is
being made. Orders have been given
by Secretary Strauss of the depar tment
of commerce and labor to the immi-
grafton officials all over the country to
enforce the regulations. In times past
the immigration officials in this city
have found 1t impossible to cooperate
! with the city officials, but there has
been some Improvement noticed in the
present administration over preced-
ing administrations.
The government officers will work
single handed and the United States
attorneys Office will prosecute every
case secured by the federal agents
against both the members of the pro
tective league" and the immoral
women.