New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-01
HOT ON HEELS OF
ROWING WITNESS


off the business places OF the trust
according to the information now III
possession Of the District Attorney
The District Attorney has clew 10
the men who are supposed TO be hand
ling the big fund, and some or MI
Smiths coworkers were investigating
the matter along those lines yesterday
x was understood.
No overtures had come 10 MT SIn.th
or any Of his assistants vho have peen
handling the disorderly house situation
from, the men interested in raising such
fund, Il was said. but IL was init
mated that emissaries OF the vice
trust" had been working through GER
tain political Influences. with the ulu-
mate purpose OF reaching tho Dis
trict Attorneys Office under the guise
Of some respectability. The trust
magnates stood ready 10 turn the S5o'-
900 over 10 tho right party who
would guarantee them that they would
TO longer be worried by raids or IN
any other way which might interfere
with the carrying on Of their business.
The fund raised by the "vice trust"
would represent about two weeks profit
from the thirty-two houses operated by
its members, Mr.. Smith said, when the
houses were doing IN ordinary busl-
ness without molestation. All Of the
oufI fnr
Rod Of time to create the bride fund
after the raided houses reopened again
subsequent 10 the raids Of August 10
/, Is believed by the District Attorneys
men.
II is considered significant that
though the houses were found to be
running full blast again only few
days after the raid, IT was discovered
in the last day or two that they had
closed their doors again. and in many
instances the resorts were being dis
mantled Of their furnishings.
Waiting for the Calm.
According 10 the District Attorneys
information. a meeting was held by the
board Of managers" Of the vice
trust in the headquarters In Sixth
| avenue, near 9th street, To which 1t
shifted within the last few days, and
il is supposed il was decided at that
meeting TO suspend business tempo
rarily. or at least, until the possibili-
ties Of the big fund could be tested
Assistant District Attorney Smith
said yesterday there was no doubt but
that the wrctched women who were
held under rigid discipline in the re-
sorts had been compelled TO contribute
the proceeds OF their shame to tho big
fund. Some OF these women made
more than 500 a week, out Of which
they usually received about a fourth
for their share. Il was said. For tbs
two weeks when the fund was beinS
collected for attempted bribery these
poor creatures had been compelled TO
contribute every dollar, and had moth
ing during that time for their own sup
port, Il is understood.
In looking over the ground yesterday
in the district where the raids were
made on tho trust resorts the District
Attorneys men found that only three
or four OF the eighteen houses raided
showed any evidence OF doing business
az this time. Mr.. Smith said that three
houses IN a row In West 25th street
which had been raidcd were being dis
mantled Of their furnishings yesterday.
The furniture In these resorts had been
sold at great sacrifice 10 second hand
dealers, who were taxing Il away in
their wagons yesterday. he said.
Three places il West 10th street. be
tween Seventh and Eighth avenues:
one In West Both street and several IN
lower Sixth avenue, all Of which be-
longed 10 the trust" had closed their
doors, and II looked as II 1t was not in
/ tended 10 resume operations again for
, some time.
81 lighthouses" Glimmer.
One house in West 10th street, which
was said 10 be under the direct man
agemcnt of man named Schwartz, a
member of the Fig Five" appeared 10
be open for business TO n small extent.
The management of this resort had
four or five lighthouses" or men who
90 out soliciting patrons for the resort
by presenting addressed cards OF the
house 10 susceptible strangers, working
guardedly. 1t was said. No one was
admitted TO the place unless he had a
lighthouse" card, and every would-be
patron was scrutinized carefully and
! interrogatcd before he was allowed 10
enter when he presented a card. Two
| or three other resorts. Of those raided,
were the oniy ones found which showed
any evidence of activities. 1t was said.
According TO one report yesterday.
the District Attorney had learned Of
plan originating In police circles to
discredit the graft investigation by at
lacking the Whitman administration
through two members OF his staff. II
was said that charges against the two
assistants might be presented TO IL club
which Is active in civic matters, end
an effort made TO have this organiza-
ton bring the matter to the attention
Of the Bar Association.
II Will probably be represented, ac-
cording to the report, that on the
| % ratA In. IN chamberlain