The Detroit times., 1910-01-13
LAW PROVIDES NO
PUNISHMENT FOR
WASHERS
Justice Jefries Compelled To Dis
charge Men Who Brazenly Insult
Women on Street-Croul Will
4 Ask for Ordinance.
One Victim Says She'll Carry Revol-
yer and Resent the Next An :.
noyanoe With a Bullet.

Il Is no crime or even a misde-
meanor for man. be he Greek, Italian.
Chinese. black or white. 10 walk up to
u woman on the streets OF Detroit and
say "Oh you kid" or "Oh you baby
doll!"
II is no crime for such person to
follow any woman who may strike his
fancy, and follow her down rhe streec.
making such remarks TO her, so long
as he does not lay his hand upon her,
make any profare or obscene remark
OF shout, shoot of revolver, or other
wise disturb the peace OF other citi-
gems.
That Is the protection which Detroit,
at the present time. offers TO her wo-
man residents: the $50 plain clothes
patrolmen and the public's outcry
against MASKING Notwithstanding.
Police Commissioner Croul says he
will consult Corporation Counsel Hally
az soon ~ possible and try to obtain
the draft and passage OF an ordinance
which will. make ''mashing" danger
GUS pastime. But In the meantime
Says Police Justice Jeffries in die
Wednesday morning:
when courts assume to make laws
for the punishment of so-called crimes,
they are exceeding their powers, and
are making a serious mistake. I am
here to administer the laws as they
are. not to make laws to suit the
cases which come before me. IL
there isn't any law on this subject Of
:. 'Hashing. il. Is not the fault OF the
courts, or OF the prosecutor. III IL is
desired 10 punish this class OF fcl-
lows, who address women on the
street. but who cannot be classed as
disorderly persons under the law, or
cannot be charged with using indecent
or immoral or profane language, then
| would suggest that the police CON-
missioner see the corporation counsel
and have him draft new ordinance
to cover that particular offense.
Il cannot, or will not assume to
make q law here. It's a strange thing,
1. this conduct of people on the streets
is such a serious matter, that there Is
no law to cover Ii.
"The individual is a very small part
of society. His liberty is sacred. So
ciety has taken care of Itself for CEN
turtles. and Ii can do so for many CEN
turies more"
Then he turned to Assistant Prose
.utor Jasnowski.
2"It Is for this court simply to de-
eide whether this defendant used IN
decent or immoral language toward
this complainant"
Walter F. Hale, who says he comes
from Toledo, and who was discharged
from police court Monday when
charged with the theft OF So from
Samuel Hoffman OF No. III Wood
bridge-st. west, was charged with dis
orderly conduct. for "mashing" M:s.
Harry Cote. No. 313ia Michigan-ave.
Jasnowski asked Mrs. Hoffman n
few questions. She told him OF her
fright. of her appeal to citizens and
finally OF her successful appeal to De-
tective Tom Wilson. She told OF be-
ing accosted at First-st. and Michigan
ave. by Hale, VINO walked right up to
he. he walking eastward. she west
ward. Hello, kid" he said to her.
She walked rapidly westward, and he
). turned around and followed her He
accosted her again, with the same Ian
guage. at Thirds She stood still
and he walked past her. She appealed
TO two citizens to cali an officer. They
called Wilson. who was on Third-st.
Wilson shadowed the woman. on the
opposite side Of the street. At Fifth
st. Hale stood waiting for her to again
lass him. She turned into Welch's
grocery, where she was found by Will
son. almost in a state of nervous col
lapse.
Wilson sent her on ahead, and fol-