Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-27
LID IS Off RED
LIGHT DISTRICT
FOURTEEN HOUSES VISITED
RUN FULL BLAST
Denizens Assure All Corners They Are
Safe from interference, but Front
Doors Are Closed for Ap-
pearance Sake

The arrest of five over-zealous mem
bers of the half-world revealed the fact
last night that the red light district
was open again and that most of the
houses which were closed few weeks
ago by order of the mayor and the
police commission were receiving pa
irons.
Patrolmen Oker and Barlow were de-
tailed yesterday afternoon by Chief of
Police Kern to search for a number of
men who were wanted as witnesses in
matter recently called attention to
by the fling of a civil suit.
In making their rounds in search of
these men the police officers found the
house at 419 Commercial street open,
with five women therein. The women
were promptly arrested and taken to
the station, where they were booked on
charges of vagrancy.
They gave their names as Lizzie
Petet, Jennie Blank, Suzanne Davelle,
Alice Lii cote and Suzanne Durand.
Later in the night they were released
on bonds of $50 each for their appear
ance in police court Monday to answer
the charges against them.
AT the time of their booking at the
station the women made protest
against their arrest, stating it was un-
fair to arrest them when all the other
houses in the district were open.
Inquiry of the police officials brought
nothing but a disclaimer of knowledge
that any of the houses were open, and
the positive statement that If the
houses were open it was without the
knowledge oil. consent of the police.
A visit to the red light district was
then made and 1t was found that four
teen houses on Commercial street were
occupied and receiving visitors. In
each were from four to ten girls, and
to all inquirers the statement was
made, that it was perfectly safe to
come in and remain as long as one
liked; that everything was fixed with
the police, and that there was no dan
ger of arrest or interference.
None of the old houses which for
merly enjoyed the reputation of hav-
ing immunity and protection was found
open. The Morton club, the Stone Cas-
tie, Mahogany hall, the Sunset and
the Golden West were all dark and
closed tight, with no evidence of ten
antry.
The only house on New High street
found open was No. 354, where four
young women assured all comers that
there would be no police interference
with their visit and that they could
stay as long as they liked.
The following houses on Commercial
street were found open: Nos. AIS, 467.
46S, 46S, 433 432, 44S, 4S4 450, Asa. 4S0
and 419 and All.
All houses on San Pedro street also
were found open and receiving visit
ors. None of the houses had it's front
door open, but each of them had an
attendant stationed at a convenient
point to direct visitors to the back
doors, and at all the places smiling
attendant was found at the rear en-
trance ready to welcome visitors and
assure them that it was perfectly safe
to come in.
The statement was made in a dozen
the police had been fixed and that
there would be no interference of any
kind.
1t was further explained that while
the women had been advised by the
police that they could open and run
their places. they were told they must
do it quietly and admit visitors only by
the back door. displaying mo lights or
signs, or giving any public evidence
that the houses were open.
At or near every house, however, was
found runner, or guide, who directed
all visitors how to get into the houses
and which way to go to find the rear
entrance.
Within few minutes after the dis
covery was made that the houses We're
open the fact was reported to the police
department
1t was stated there that the police
had no knowledge that the houses were
open, and that until some official evil
dence of the fact was presented no ac-
tion could be taken. 1t was stated,
however, that If the officers on the
beats In the redlight district found any
of the houses open, the. general orders
to arrest and bring in all women found
In the houses would hold good, as they
had not been revoked.
Up to o'clock this morning no ar
rests had been made of any of the
women running the houses at the num-
bers and streets given, and more than
1000 men were found in the district
visiting the various places.