The Washington times., 1914-02-09
DRASTIC ORDERS TO
CLEAN UP THE CITY
Police Given Specific InStruc-
tions by Major Sylvester and
District Attorney Wilson.
Continued from First PageJ
he no delay in taking action as soon
as the facts are before me.
Warns Police To Act.

NOOillluuSu lIOlil L II 81 fdBG.D
he no delay in taking action as soon
as the facts are before me.
Warns Police To Act.
7 have been District Attorney here
for four years. 1 make this as a sug-
gestion that Is worthy OF your every
effort My experience has shown that
the crimes against girls and young wo-
men that have been prosecuted by my
Office had their inception in motion pic
ture shows, Chinese restaurants. and
restaurants which serve liquor to wOm-
~. 1t is to these places that men who
prey on girls go. Watch them closely"
District Attorney Wilson's instruc-
tiOns to the police officials were given
this morning in the office Of Major
Richard Sylvester. All precinct cap
tains, inspectors, and others were
present. Assistant District Attorneys
Ralph Given and Reginald Huidekop-
er were also present.
Mr.. Wilson said that the Kenyon bill
meant a great change in the policy
of the police in handling the social
evil.
But it doesn't change the criminal
laws. 1t provides for a civil action by
injunction. The primary duty to en-
force the Kenyon law falls upon the
District Attorney. The old laws are
still In force. This does not repeal them. l
want to say right here that, so far as
my Office is CONCERNED, the prosecution
Of persons engaged in the social evil Is
to he as vigorous as it can be made"
Civil Proceedings To Follow.
Nr Wilson'S instructions were that
every apartment, dwelling, ,and small
hotel under suspicion be closely and
continuously watched. II the police
get sufficient evidence for criminal aC-
tion. well and good If they did not,
proceedings would be under the Kenyon
bill He also explained that, where
criminal action was taken against tie
persons actually engaged in the traffic.
Civ'I proceedings would immediately fol-
lCw under the Kenyon bill
in reply to questions by some OF the
caT.ains, Mr.. Wilson said that he
thought a good way to get evidence
against places under suspicion would be
Ia follow the women who went to these
houses, and il il was found that they
went to hotel, apartment, or dwelling
wifE two or more different Inen, 1t
void be sufficient to proceed against
the owner of the property by injunc-
tiOn.
Will Be No Delay.
The success or failure Of this law
depends in a large part on the activity
Of the police in placing before me the
evidence they have against suspected
places. 1 want to say that if cases
should be found where the police, be-
cause of the fact that their identity is
known, should be unable to get the
necessary evidence, we can call upon
the Bureau of investigation of the De-
partment of Justice to aid U.s.
Mr.. Wilson said he believed the law
was constitutional He asserted that
any attempt to have a test case made
would be welcomed, but that such ac-
lion would not stay proceedings against
others
Pending the decision of the higher
courts he continued, Il want to say
no matter how long it may take, every
new case will be prompetly filed and
acted upon. Enforcement of the law
will not be stayed by any such means.
IF place can be proceeded against
civilly under this new law, the occu-
pants can he proceeded against riIni-
nally, so that we will go ahead just
the same"
Mr.. Wilson said that he presumed
every captain knew of the address
OF one or more places of a suspicious
character in his precinct, and that he
wanted suCh addresses Immediately.
NAfter several bills in equity have
been filed and it becomes generally
known that the district attorney and
the superintendent of police are going
TO enforre the law, no matter whom
Z may affect, we are going 10 ind
that property owners and real estate
agents will De double sure before
leasing any property. l think we can
count on their cooperation in keep
ing women of the underworld from |
their properties"
Directions To Police.
Mr.. Wilson had it called to his atten- |
tion that certain women were reported |
10 have leased apartments and given |
their telephone numbers to former pa
irons The police say they have these !
telephone numbers, and that the places !
are being watched. ,
Il was made plain by Mr.. Wilson aud !
Major Sylvester that captains of the /
precincts are to bend every energy TO |
sLaJLp cut the vice evil in their rcSpeC- !
tive precincts. Both the SUPERINTENDENT !
of police and the istrict Attorney regard |
the sC-cslled red light" district dead |
isSGes, and feel that the resp lnGiSiliJ- !
Of rigidly enforcing the law lies IN the |
directions heretofore mentioned.
In pr Eted Instructions given but Ia |
the police TO-DAY Major Sylves :eC SAYS:
AS heretofore directed by the
Major and Superintendent, in pre-
cincts where known suspicious
houses have or 10 exist, you win ef-
fectually close the same
You will use every Cndcavor 20
learn where the parties who may
have occupied such premises have
removed to, and make due record q
the same.
NLNGL NtlLAtE4lEB Will Llle EeNCI8A l.
members of your respective COM
mands, you will investigate all places
" mere ii is suspected that the law is
violated, with q view uf having for
NAL complaint LODGED against such
Lersons and premises, If The facts
so Justify.
"AlI localities shall be carefully
observed with view Of ascertain
ing whether the laws heretofore
mentioned are being in any manner
violated.
In brief. the police will COOPER
ate with the United States Attorney
for the District OF Columbia. and
bring TO light and pursue any and
all cases covered by the pre-exist-
ing laws or by the Kenyon act.
looking to the cleaning Of this ju-
risdiction and the elirpination OF the
social evil.
What Managers Say.
In his efforts TO carry out the sug-
cestion Of District Attorney Wilson,
Major Sylvester will meet with the
full cooperation OF the managers Of
the leading moving picture theaters
u the city. Theatrical men promptly
declared they would put themselves