Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-10-28
GRAND JURY NEEDED
HOQUIAM WASHINGT0NIAN De.
MANDS LEGAL INVESTIGATION
OF the Connection Between Inc Pub.
Tic Purse and the Under world
Aberdeen and fioquiam Arraigned
for Permitting Present Conditions
to Exist in Defiance OF Law.

The Grays Harbor Washingtonian
in leading editorial yesterday morn
ing calls a halt on the practice of
the authorities of the harbor cities
in winking at crime for the revenue
there is in it, which is reproduced be-
low:
Yesterday was the day for Ho-
QuiamS unfOrtunateS below the
line to make settlements with the
city officials, and all afternoon these
denizens of the underworld marched
| to the city hall to pay their fines
| in other words, to receive munich
pal license to carry on their illicit
business, principally the sale of
| liquor, for another month.
How long shall this go on? 1t is
part of system fixed UP by the city
officials and no one seems inclined
to break it. No one cares TO take
the first step.
Why not call IA grand jury, and let
the matter be stopped by process OF
law?
Isn't it about time Chehalis
county officials felt the cleansing ef-
fects of a grand jury, for this and
other matters?
| We have reports that the women
of the underworld of Aberdeen (and
the same is probably true in Ho-
uuiam) have demanded money or
notes, on threats to expose certain
men to their families. This Is black
mail.
We are told that a prominent cit
lizen of Aberdeen was, not long ago.
at the point of moving from that city
to escape blackmailers of this sort.
Another man was arrested at the
instance of one of these women,
charged with stealing her diamonds.
After he had been convicted, she
made an affidavit that everything
she had sworn to was false. Police
rumor has it that she was paid.
If the woman perjured herself for
money, she might do so again IN
some more serious matter, and SEND
some poor devil to the penitentiary
or to the galows.
High carOusal goes on nightly
without check "A week or so ago seri-
Gus shooting affray occurred below
the line in Hoquiam, and 1T was ap-
parently of as little consequence as
the falling of an autumn leaf.
Unlawful license to sell liquor
that's the entering wedge. In Aber-
deem, some of the officers overlook
the sale of intOXicants in these
houses. Sunday, at all hours. The
same traffic goes on in Hoqulam
although more slyly. Aberdeen wlnks
l-Houuiam is trying to get its mu-
nicipal eye ready to wink.
The sales of liquor go right on
mast Saturday at midnight in these
dens, and boisterous Joy rides in
the early hours of Sunday are evl-
dence to all the people. Policemen
in both cities know these facts, ana
know that matters are rapidly going
from bad to worse.
The women fall back on the fact
that they have paid their fines.
Not long ago a mere boy employed
on this newspaper became entanglea
with these people, and, hndlng open
blackmail going on at every hand'
undertook himself to levy tribute on
the women. How quickly he was
exposed and dragged to Jail. why:
Did he infringe on someone S ground!
little more leeway; little more
license and We'll begin to nave news
paper reports once more OF druggeu
men being dumped itno the waters
of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, as OF Ola
when dozens of poor souls went 10
their Maker along this backdoor
route of protected crime.
! CALL A GRAND JURY BEFORE
AFFAIRS GET TOO BAD!
Today. we are free to state that
Aberdeen is the place that needs
cleaning. but we know that Hoquiam
is hurrying along. just as fast as it
can. and the quicker halt is made
the better.