The Washington times., 1913-08-05
WHITE SLAVERY
TRIAL IS OPENED
Notorious Diggs Caminetti
Scandal Being Aired in Cali
fornia Court.


of the notorious Diggs-C -Caminetti white
slave cases that for a time threatened
disruption in President Wilson's Cabi-
net. began here today before Judge Van
Fleet, in the Federal court.
The prosecution and defense of MauTy
]. Diggs, formerly State architect of
California, and r. Drew Caminetti. son
Of former Congressman and present
Commissioner General OF Immigration
CaminettI, charged with Turing Miss
Martha Warrington and Loda Norris
from California to Nevada for immoral
purposes, as defined by the Mann white
slave act, will involve a big sensational
legal battle that will last three weeks
to a month and possibly more.
Women To Testify.
The two young women. both of es-
t:mable California families, are com-
pIeteIy in the hands of the Federal
prosecutors, who declare that Miss
Warrington and Miss Norris will go
on the stand as willing witnesses
against the two young married men.
It will be remembered that in June
of this year United States District At
torney McNab, of San Francisco.
caused a national sensation by forward
ing his resignation to President Wilson
with the declaration that United States
Attorney General McReynolds and be-
cause influential individuals succeeded
in causing postponements of the trials
of Diggs and Caminetti and that ap-
pearances indicated that If Washing
ington influence was to further prevail
and the indicted men escape trial.
In view of such a condition McNab
said he could no longer Sonscientiously
remain In office. The Attorney General
explained that he had asked postpone
ments OF the cases on the request OF
Secretary Of Labor Wilson, who re-
Quired the presence OF Commissioner
General Caminetti in Washington, and
did not think II fair TO have Caminettis s
son sent to trial while the father was
held from the scene by official duties
In Washington.
McReynolds Upheld.
In public statements President Wilson
upheld Attorney General McReynolds'
good intentions in the matter. accepted
McNab's resignation and caused the re-
moval of Clayton Harrington. special
agent of the Department of Justice, who
had scored Attorney General Mercy
noIds.
Matt 1. Sullivan and Theodore Roche,
prominent members Of the California
bar have been retained by the Govern
ment as special prosecutors. Diggs and
Caminetti have an equally impressive
lineup of legal defenders, including
Robert /. Devlin and Marshall B. Wood
worth. both former United states dis
trict attorneys; Nate Coghlan, and S.
Luke Howe.
There was a heavy guard thrown
about the court room, for at one time
public feeling against the accuser men
ran so high that they were afraid to
avail themselves OF $4,000 bail bonds
and leave jail. Since that time how
ever, they have been at liberty, but the
authorities believe that violent demon
strations against the men are still to
be feared.
The Government will charge that
Diggs and Caminetti, both married men,
had drawn Miss Warrington and Lola
Norris into a liason, that they terrified
the girls into the belief that their wives
having discovered their infidelity, in
tended TO have the girls arrested and
that to escape this imaginary condition
the girls accompanied the men to Reno,
New.
Established In Cottage.
There they stayed for a few days in a
hotel and then established themselves in
a cottage, where Diggs and CaminettI
were arrested by Federal officers bear
ing warrants sworn out IN Sacramento,
the home Of the two young women.
Under the Mann act the men, IL found
guilty, face prison terms OF from two to
fifteen years, or fines Of from 81. 900 to
S. 600, or both.
Diggs will go to trial first. the Gov
ernment believing that the case against
him is strongest. They will offer evil
dence that II was he who financed the
trip frun California TO Reno and hired
the Reno cottage.
After young Caminetti has also been
tried, Charles B. Harris. an attorney
for Diggs, will be prosecuted on
charge of attempted subornaticn Of
perjury, the allegation being that he
to persuade a girl to get
the Warrington and Norris girls TO
swear that they had paid their own
railroad fares to Nevada. There are
four indictments under the white
slave act against Caminetti and two
against Diggs.
Diggs, against whom the charges are
made in relation TO Miss Martha War
fierce attack on the character of the
girl. He has subpoenaed habitues of
the "Barbary Coast" resorts Of this
city and twenty witnesses from Sac
"Tenderloin." Caminetti Is
making no such move against Miss
Norris. The Government asserts her
character to be unblemished.
Messrs. Roche and Sullivan, the Gov
ernment prosecutors, say it will avail
Digs nothing to assail Miss Warning
toms character. for the Mann act
makes II crime to transport women
or girls for immoral purposes regard
less of whether or not they have been
a.