White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-09
WHITE SLAVERY
CHARGED

eral white slave law by bringing into
the state from Utah, three girls for
immoral purposes, Thomas III.
O'Neill,. proprietor of a resort on
High street in the red light district
and Ruby Wells, woman associat-
ed with him in the business, were
arrested Thursday night by II. D.
Edwards, deputy United States Mar
stal from Carson City. The arrest
was not accompanied by any sensa-
tional features, and all the legal
formalities we're complied with and
arrangements made SO that O'Neill
and the Wells woman were taken to
Elko, Friday morning, in charge OF
Deputy Marshal Edwards. The COM
plant against the pair was made by
|. f. Lamoreoux, who registered at
the Northern hotel, May IT. from
Denver, and came to Ely under or
ders from the federal authorities, to
secure evidence. The girls named
in the action are Bessie Arlington,
Margie Clarington and Letta Keating
The Arlington girl, whose real name
is Bessie Griffing, was commonly
known in the district as Chicken"
and was recently convicted of lar
ceny and sentenced to six months In
jail and a fine of $500, the sentence
suspended in order to give her an
opportunity to get out of town. Fol-
lowing her sentence, she left Ely for
Oakland, California, where she has
father, said to be in the wholesale
liquor business. The evidence
against O'Neill and Ruby Wells,
covers several type written pages.
and was not made public.
Following their arrest. the respon-
dents were taken to the court house.
where they listened to the reading
of the warrant, after which they
we're placed in charge of the sheriff.
and given opportunity to make ar
rangements incidental with their
leaving town, and providing for the
bonds which may be necessary after
their hearing. As there Is no United
States commissioner in Ely, 1t was
necessary to go to Elko, the nearest
point where there is a federal COM
missioner, where they were given a
preliminary hearing yesterday be-
fore Commissioner Booher, who
named the amount of the bonds.
pending their appearance for trial In
the federal court at Carson City. be-
fore Judge Harrington.
l. F. Lamoreaux, who signed the
complaint against O'Neill and Ruby
Wells, while in Ely, registered as
from Denver, but his real head
quarters are at Salt Lake City,
where he is associated with the fed
eral officers in the prosecution of
offenses against the white slave laws.
1t is said he has accumulated lot of
evidence bearing on the shipment of
girls from that city, to Ely. 1t is al
legged there are a number of charges
against O'Neill and the Wells wo-
man, all in violation of the federal
laws, and that the complaint charges
them with going to Salt Lake City
and upon representations induced
Bessie Arlington and two other girls
to come to Ely, paying their railroad
fares and on the trip here keeping
them locked in the stateroom of
Pullman.
The News forecasted at the time
of Bessie Arlington's departure, that
prosecution for white slavery in Ely
was forthcoming, and the arrest OF
the parties named has not caused
very much surprise. 1t has been
known for some time that the fed
eral government was investigating
the local conditions in the red light
district, as to the white slave law.
and that several federal officers have
been here for the purpose of obtain
ing possible evidence. On one oc-
casion several habitants of the red
light became frightened and left the
city following the visit of federal
officer, while dance hall proprietors
have had ample warning and been
fully cognizant of the risk they
were running in bringing in girls for
employment in their places
The trial at Carson City will be
conducted by u. S. Attorney Samuel
Platt, for the prosecution, and the