Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-11-20
From The World of Tuesday;

From The World of Tuesday:
In accordance with resolution
passed by the city council at it's last
meeting relative to houses of i'll
fame and street walkers plying their
vocation, the police have been busy
the last twenty-four hours in round
ing up the lewd women and girls of
town. The council is determined in
so far as possible, TO stamp out the
evil and purify the moral atmosphere
of Martinsburg, and tn council has
commenced none too soon.
For some time LOT OF brazen-faced
young girls of well-known question
able character have been parading the
streets night and day unmolested, and
with an effrontery that has Disguised
the better element of people, who
were often led to wonder why the
authorities would tolerate it. The
same querie has arisen with regard
to certain bawdy houses. But when
public sentiment becomes aroused a
wrong is usually redressed.
The cleaning out of the moral filth
commenced yesterday evening and by
the end OF this week the town will be
pretty well clarified so far as open
lewdness is concerned.
The mayor and city recorder have
taken hold of this matter in the right
way. Instead of arresting a lot of
women for keeping houses OF i'll anne
and imposing fine, which they could
readily pay, the plan adopted is to
chase them out of town, and this will
be done now and in the future.
The rounding up began yesterday
evening at 4 o'clock when Officer
Hough arrested two girls in an East
Martin street saloon where they were
in company with a married man of
town. While this was going on Of
ficer Blake went over on Center street
and arrested third girl, the trio oc-
cupying house there. The three
young women were brought before
Police Judge Letter who made short
work of them by giving the trio "a
hours to leave town, which they prom
Used to do. They came here from Bal
timore a couple weeks ago and their
names are Johnson, Anderson and
Smith.
The work of clearing the Augean
Stables, so to speak, was resumed
this morning when Officer Hough
went out on the boom and corralled
five young girls, known as street
runners. They were in three differ
ent houses out there of a shady repu-
tation. The girls were Maud Turner,
Matte Miller, Viola Turner, Mary
Floyd and Flora Wilmington. The
girls were brought before Judge Lei
ter who committed them 10 the lock
up for a while This afternoon after
they had all solemnly promised to
keep off the streets in the future, he
released hem.
Charlotte Brown and another
woman, who have been living on w.
Burke street extended since their
recent advent in Martnsburg, were
also arrested. They were given until
Saturday evening 10 dispose of their
belongings and then they will have
to hike out of town.
The work was concluded this af-
ternoon when the notorious Gertie
Bush, who has kept a house of ILL.,
fame for a long time down along the
railroad and three inmates by the
names of Tessie Short, Jennie Myers
and Cora Smith were rounded up.
Judge Letter ordered them to get out
of town and not to stand on the order
of their going later than Saturday.
This will give them ample time to
settle up their affairs here.
This was job Of municipal house
cleaning that is both wise and com
mendable.