Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-09
SENSATIONS
IN STORY
Of GIRL
VICTIM
Accused Prisoners in White Slave
Inquiry Held for Higher
Court. a

That sufficient evidence had been
produced in court to make a case
against one of the city's most promi-
nent business men was the statement
of Recorder Broyles Wednesday aft
ernoon at the trial Of the persons in
volved in the latest vice scandal
Lena Barnhardt, alleged white
silver and procuress, was bound over
to the higher court under a bond of
$500.
Hattie Smith, who claimed in court
to be a white slave victim of the
Barnhardt woman, was placed under
500 bond for the higher court.
Clyde Cox. who is alleged to have
been trapped with the Smith girl.
was put under the same bond.
Elijah Murray, colored bellboy at
the Cumberland Hotel, who, the
Smith girl testified. had arranged
dates for the women inmates OF the
hotel, was held in default of 500
bond.
Hattie Smith repeated the sensa-
tional story she previously had told
to the detectives in regard to her
meeting with the Barnhardt woman.
and Of the manner in which she was
lured into life of shame.
Aside from the sensational revela-
lions Of a systematic white slavery
business carried on in some of the
city's hotels, the girls most startling
testimony had TO do with the promi-
nent business man whose name she
mentioned in open court.
The Smith girl testified that she
had seen the man she named in room
40 at the Cumberland Hotel, occu-
pied by the Barnhardt woman. She
said that she was able positively to
identify him. Recorder Broyles de-
clared the evidence was sufficient to
make a case against him.
Chief Beavers was interviewed and
said that ne would make an investi-
cation to verify the Smith girls story
The Barnhardt woman testified in
her own behalf and, while corrobo-
rating the Smith girls story in some
of its details, said that she registered
the girl at the Cumberland as Lucille
Evans because that was the name
given by the girl. She said that Hat
tie Smith was without money and
that she was merely doing her q
benefaction. She denied the white
slavery charges.
The bellboy also denied the charges
that he had acted as a go-between.
Crusade Against Clubs.
Simultaneous with the vice probs
Chief Beavers and Recorder Broyles
are conducting a determined crusade
against the locker clubs Of the city
which may be found violating the law
1t is the opinion of the two that the
presence Of young girls in the clubs,
where they are said to have the lib
erty Of drinking with their male COM
panions, can not but have a bearing
on the vice question.
The practice of allowing girls OF
tender years to drink in the locker
clubs, ! regard as the most serious
phase of the whole locker club Ques-
ton" said Recorder Broyles after
conference with Chief Beavers Wed
nesday noon. The consultation was
the first step in d sweeping investiga-
ton of the clubs of the city.
This conference follows the action
OF Judge Broyles Tuesday afternoon
in the trial of Mrs. Lucy Ballue, who
accidentally shot A. c. Thompson,
convict warden, in the parlors OF the
owls Club, when he directed police
investigation Of that particular club.
Chief Beavers announces his pur-
pose to obey the orders Of the court
TO the letter and the Owls Club Is
expected to be put under fire at once
Court Goes After Truth.
Judge Broyles sought TO procure
evidence from A. c. Thompson. ask
ing him the direct question If he pos
sessed a private locker in the Owls
STU psUlBluo0 L9Y0oI sIV u PUB qnIS
private stock OF whisky, but his coun-
sci. Attorney George P. Whitman.
and Attorney William NJ. Smith,
counsel for Mrs. Ballue, both siren
uou5Iy objected.
When they insisted that this had
no bearing on the wounding Of
Thompson. the court remarked:
Wei, we're after the truth in this
matter. We want to know something
Of the conduct of these lockeS clubs"