The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-07-07
DETECTIVE "swEDE MURPHY
SEEING 70 Dc IN LEAD.
SECRETARIES skIDDoo
a Resume Of Robbery Charge In Cop
per City Which Authsritiss Al, In
eIIned e chrIstsn Complete "Frams
Up"
Especial to The Gazette.)

16pecl2l 10 Inc G0zeCCe.) 5
Butte. July Ain the battle against
Secretaries" known as vagrants Of
the underworld. the forces Of decency
are gaining in Butte, with Detective
"swede" Murphy and Judge Alexard.
or MCGOWAN in the van. The red
light district is being cleaned as II
never has before, but the waglng OF
the fight has not been witasut bitter
ness.
There are two factions IN the plain
clothes force OF Butte, Detectives
Murphy, Larkin and Morrissey, who
have made most Of the arrests OF
secretaries, comprising n faction,
and Detectives Bates, William, Lieu.
tenant sinsel and Captain Buckner
the others Detectives Frank White
and Parlin and Lynch are taking NO
active part in the fight.
Transferred.
Recently Bates and Williams, vino
had been doing most Of the so called
red light work" were transferred.
and "swede" Murphy. known as the
"brains of the force" with Morrissey
and Larkin. were swung on the trail
OF the>"secretaries." "Swede" had
been out Of the hospital, but q few
days, when he, with Morrissey and
Larkin, made some. 40 arrests for
vagrancy.
There was panic in the restricted
district. Secretaries with pulls
worked them for all they were worth.
but every case listed went to trial
or will go to trial, and the convictions
are growing more and more frequent.
The result Of these arrests and con
convictions has been charge after
charge against plainclothes men.
Murphy was accused in court by a
secretary of accepting a bride. Murphy
claims this was a frame" and that
some officers were back Of 1t.
More Charges. 2r.&
"swede" retaliated by charging
Omcer Bates with having accepted a
retainer to keep a certain secretary
from arrest. Larkin, Morrissey and
Murphy all three swore that former
Alderman Mcmahon had told them
that Lucien, proprietor of the A. B. c.,
a tenderloin resort, wanted to see
them, that the "other fellows" were
not acting square by the three detec.
tives mentioned and that they should
come down and "get their bit" All
these charges will be .thrashed out
by the police commission Monday.
New Ordinance.
Meanwhile the council has taken q
land by passing the ~strictest vas-
rancy ordinance possible and raising
the limit tine from 200 to $500.
The new ordinance was introduced
by MI. Hurzler and provides that any
person who works or tries to work
any confidence game, slight of hand
trick, or uses any deceit to obtain
money; any person who habitually
misspends his time by frequenting
houses OF Ill fame, gaming houses,
pool rooms or saloons; every person
who lives with a woman of i'll repute
or upon her earnings; any female per-
son who uses vile language, behaves
in q drunken manner O. improperly
exposes her body In q public place
shall be considered a vagrant.
More OF Them.
The following also come under the
provision Of this new Orinance:
Every person known to be a thief or
burglar who is found lettering. with.
out lawful purpose about railroad
depots, banks, places of. amusement.
shops or thoroughfares, court rooms
or elsewhere; persons unable to give
satisfactory accounts Of themselves
when out late, all touts, ropers steer
ers, cappers for gambling houses or
pool rooms. every person who a
ries on his or her person a pistol.
dirk, slung shot or other weapon con
cealed: lastly. every common drunk
ard.
The limiting clause provides that
the new ; ordinance shall not be In
force until all prosecutions at pre-
sent pending under the old ordinance
are heard and finally disposed Of.
pArncTT n !