Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-08-18
WHITE GIRL SLAVE TRADE.
Startling Disclosures Follow Investi-
cation by Atlanta Police.
ATLANTA Georgian.l


catch unsuspecting and unsophisti-
| Gated girls, Is the strong belief on
| which the police are making rigid
Investigation and which may result
in startling disclosures.
The latest Instance, tending to dis
| close the existence of the white
slave traffic here, and which has
set the police machinery actively at
work, is the case of a 16-year-old
country girl, Oma Harrison, who was
rescued in the nick Of time Wednes-
day. She was placed in the Home
for the Friendless Thursday morn
ing by Recorder Pro TEN Preston
on request of Probation officer
Gloer.
Oma Harrison Saved.
This girl, an orphan, arrived in At
lanta Wednesday morning from La
fayette, Ga, and from the story she
related to Probation officer Gloer
and Mrs. .9ohnfield, police matron,
it is firmly believed she has been
singled out as victim and that she
would have been enmeshed in the
web of destruction had it not been
for timely interference. OF late
several similar cases have been
brought to the attention of the police
and Mrs. Bohnfeld, all of which
leads to the belief that systematic
operations are being conducted in
Atlanta for the rain of young girls,
especially those who land in the city
fricndleSs and unaccOmpanied.
Probation officer GlOer has start
ed a vigorous investigation of the
Oma Harrison case, in connection
with the other similar incidents, and
should evidence be obtained the
guilty persons will be prosecuted to
the full extent Of the law.
The Harrison girl. an orphan, who
had been living with an aunt i'm La
fayette, came to Atlanta Wednesday
morning in search of work. She had
no money and no friends here, and
when she aiighted from the train in
the Terminal Station was in a guam
dary. She was tired out and, not
knowing just what to do, walked
into the waiting room and sat down.
Gave Her II Note.
She had been there but a few mo-
ments when stylishly atti.ed wo-
man, who had noticed her disconso-
late appearance, approached her and
engaged her in conversation. Con-
tinuaily smiling and Conversing in a
most pleasant manner. this woman
soon won the confidence Of the un-
sophisticated country girl and began
to question her as to her plans. Find
ing that the girl came here to seek
work, the woman offered to aid her.
Writing note on slip of paper,
she handed it to the girl, with the
remark:
you go to this address and the
people there will give you home
RI E,,n Il 4,
ing to do and they'll take good care
but I've got to go away on a noon
train"
The girl thanked the mysterious
woman for her interest, and at once
started out to find the place, the
stranger bidding her a smiling adieu.
A stranger in the city, the girl was
unable to ind the place, and, stop
ping man in the street, asked him
to tell her what direction to take.
And it was this that saved her. She
handed the note to the man to read
the address. He read the note and
was astounded. The address was
that of a certain dive. He informed
the girl he would show her the
place, and the two started off to-
gether. But instead Of going to this
dive, this man, whose name has not
been learned, escorted the girl to the
police station. There she told the
81 y Of the mysterious woman and
the note. She appeared startled
when informed Of the narrow escape
she had.
Probation Officer Gloer. in speak
ing of the case Thursday morning,
said:
"Other cases of a similar charac-
ter of where attempts have been
made and where girls have actually
been lured into denS of vice have
been found in Atlanta of late. Girls
who have been rescued from these
denS have told stories like the Harri-
son girl, of having been directed
there by some stranger, sometimes
man and sometimes a woman, and
every effort is being made to run
down these guilty people. We have
not yet been able to get hold of def
mite evidence, but if these people are
ever landed they will be vigorously
prosecuted. This infamous practice
must be broken up. If possible
From the information already OBJ
tanned it is believed the people car
rying on this "whte slave" traffic
shadow the two passenger depots
and spread their net for girls who
come into the city unaccOmpanied,
who are strangers here, and have no
one to look after them. A close
watch will be kept for any such
agents" and they will be nabDcd as
soon as detected.
Extra Session Cost About $500, 900.
hn y!