The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-07-25
DEATH khELL FOR
DIVES IS SOUNDED
States Attorney Healy
Sends Notices to Prop
erty Owners.
SOCIETY OWNS Bull DING S
Reform Element Is Jubilant Over the
Outlook Federal Authorities
Watch South Chicago.

Many people in South Chicago today
believe that the death knell has been
sounded to the local dives on Harbor
avenue and the Strand and that 1t will
be only a few months and possibly
weeks until all will be compelled to
vacate and look for greener fields.
Criminal prosecution of every prop
erty holder in Chicago who permits
the keeping of a disreputable house on
his premises was determined yester
day by States Attorney Healy. This
followed the arrest of Max Weber, the
well known Chicago theatrical man.
Thousands of notices of States At
torney Healy's contemplated action
were prepared yesterday and sent out
&c persons owning property upon which
these dense of i'll fame are allowed to
flourish, the letters of notification to
the property owners was not confined
to the property owners was not con-
fined to the Twenty street red
light district but a large number were
sent to South Chicago 20 those who own
property on Harbor avenue and The
Strand. The notices were brief. merely
Informing the owners that they would
have to get rid of their undesirable
tenants or suffer the penalty of the
law.
Only one notice will be given and If
the property owners neglect to take
immediate action they will be indicted
and the tenants forcibly elected as well
as arrested. The states attorney has
stated that he will show no partially
in cleaning out the city and that every
owner will be treated alike whether
hebe a millionaire or a laborer.
Many of the houses in South Chicago
are said to be owned by people prom
linent in society and church circles and
for them to be taken up by the author
tiles would mean an everlasting dis
grace upon their own apparently clean
names.
The move according to the reforming
element is the most important in the
city history and when once these dis
reputable houses of Ill fame are re
moved 1t will mark a new era in the
history of Chicago.
The South Chicago dives have beer
under the eyes of the federal author
tiles for some time and three raid:
have been made in which several girls
were found in the places where It /:
said they were held against their viii
Indictments and large fines followed
these raids but it has not lessened thu
disorderly wave which still prevail,
over the red light district.
RecaIIs West Hammond Cleanup.
This action by States Attorney Heal,
recalls. the BUSTING of the notorious
, West Hammond dives few month";
ago the citizens of West Hammon'
banded themselves together under tn
leadership of E. A Kinkade and wit
the assistance of States Attorney Heal,
/, finally succeeded in ousting the dive
u from their suburb, IT was at this tim
that States Attorney Healy threatene
to prosecute the property owners VIII
allowed the dives to run and 1t was thi
was responsible for riding the it'll
= village of its shameful dens of vice.
When the houses of i'll fame were re
9 moved from West Hammond the pro
. lprietors with few exceptions came t
= South Chicago where the majority c
, them still hold forth During the tim
the dives were in the little village i
the south end of the county it becam
known as the toughest town in tn
:. world" but its fame for this seem
: gradually to have drifted to Sout
: Chicago.
- The reformers in South Chicago al
= feeling overjoyous today as the resu
lof States Attorney Healy's announce
ment and they are making ready I
- assist him in any way in their powe
to rid South Chicago of its most di.
> graceful neighborhood.