Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-05
Of the White Slave Traf-
tic Told by a Dealer.
One Little Victim Is Thought 70
Have Been Murdered.
Lett 10 Fate 70 Preyent Traders
Being Put on Guard.

New IOrk, May 4.-Harry LeVenSOn
under Indictment for selling young
girls into lives of shame, told the dis
trict attorney today that there are at
least three "stockades" in New York,
in each of which have several such
girls which are kept ready night and
day for instant delivery wherever they
may be wanted His counsel was with
him during the interview and confirm
ed 1t tonight.
Little effort, said Levenson, is made
to recruit women from the street. The
stoCkades are filed from the host of
young girls who are unhappy at home
or who live narrow lives on their own
earnings, and long for luxury, gaiety.
clothes and freedom from hard work.
The girl delivered to the stockade.
it then becomes the business of the
proprietor to place his merchandise. 1t
was in this end of the traffic Levenson
told the district attorney that he was
O specialist His business was to find
q house where the girl was wanted.
The house paid the stockade keeper a
lump sum and allowed Levenson a 10
per cent. commission on the girls
earnings. He and others like him, kept
in touch with their charges. he said,
and often transferred them from house
to house. He had little to do with re-
cruiting. That was almost wholly In
the hands OF women, who found II
easier to get a hearing.
Levenson said he began as sales
man Of women's raincoats. 1t hap
pened that most Of his customers were
inmates of disreputable houses and, as
he learned moro of the life, he dropped
selling clothes and took to trading in
the humanity that wore them. He first
met Geo. a. Miller. the government
agent, in the case. he said, about three
weeks ago in q Tenderloin cafe Miller
won his confidence and told him that
thew were in the same line Of work.
A Mrs. Miller from the West" was
introduced, who complained of the
scarcity of girls. Levenson introduced
two of his own, that he had picked up
as q side line. Miller looked the girls
over accepted them, paid for them and
both were subsequently delivered IN
Atlantic City. Then Levenson was ar
rested.
There was no further word tonight
Of the little Hastings girl. IL years old.
who is missing and who II is feared,
NAV have been murdered. ..f.
New York, May 4.-"Should we save
one girl or 100000 from white slavery?
What would you do?"
That was the answer made today by
Special District Attorney Reynolds when
asked why Detective Miller had let little
11-year-old Helen Hastings get away
from the fiat of the Negress Belle Moore.
The girl has completely disappeared
Miller was obtaining evidence against
the Moore woman. now mnder arrest. and
he saws that had he taken the girl he
would have put all the white slave
traders on their guard. When Miller
went to get Helen Hastings two days
later she was gone.
Miller understood that case" said Mr..
Reynolds. Had he taken the girl our
plans to save 100000 would have gone
astray. 1 would have done just as he
did under the same circumstances"
The Rockefeller grand jury investigat-
ing the white slave" trade in New YORK
is seeking more specific information and
John D. Rockefeller. Jr. today issued
statement in which he says:
Before closing it's investigation the
grand jury desires to announce publicly
that it will be glad to receive definite,
specific information as to the existence
in this country of any traffic Of women
for Immoral purposes from any citizen
or officer or any other Individual who
has such information
Mr.. Rockefeller says the information
developed SO far has in most cases. been
of general rather than specific character