The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-18
Sell PROTECTION
FROM POLICE IN
UNDERWORLD
Charles c. Wolfe and Ray s. Jor-
dan Arrested for Plying
New Graft
CLAIM DOREMUS FIRM AS
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Lawyers Thought Business Legi.
timate-Quit When They
Found 1t Wasn't

On charge OF collecting money by
promising absolute protection from
police raids. from interference in sale
OF liquors or the conducting OF disor-
derby houses In Detroit, Charles &.
Wolfe. 20 years old. Of the st. Charles
hotel. and Ray 8. Jordan. AZ. or Grand
Rapids. staying in the Hotel Norman.
die, were arrested by Detective VIII
liam Black. Sunday night. after a
thorough investigation by the free
lance squad. Detective Black said,
Monday morning. that complaints that
have poured In from persons who
have paid sums ranging rom "a to
$40 for the protection" satisfy him
that the two men have collected al
least $1,000 by their pretense Of abil-
ity to furnish immunity from the law.
They passed ornate cards, Of the
Mercantile Protective corporation
teenth floor Of the Ford building, and
at the top OF the cards appear the
names IN. Hubert O'Brien. Charles
K. Duffy. William @. Fitzpatrick. and
Frank Z. Doremus." congressman
from this district. They are given a.
the legal department" OF the corpo
ration. They form firm OF attorneys
In the Ford building. The card bears
the inscription. legal department and
executive Offices"
Mr.. O'Brien and Mr.. Fitzpatrick In
form the police that their firm was
retained by the Mercantile corpora
ton, some time ago, as legal advisers
but when they heard that solicitors
were working In the old red-light dis
trict. and using their names, they sew
cred their connection with the corpo
ration. The corporation was suppos
ed to be for the protection OF mer
chants against bad debtors.
When Jordan went to Mrs. J. G. La
Par's rooming house at No. SO Mon
roe-ave. and told her. II Is alleged
that she could sell beer and have
women Of the streets In her place. II
she obtained membership card" oil
the corporation. Mrs. La Par notified
the police, and Detective Black wal
present In a meeting she arranged
Black posed as neighborhood saloon
/ IT,
then arrested Jordan. Black says
Mrs. La Par has been running re
spectacle rooming house.
Sadie Williams, Of No. 148 st. An
toine-st-, said she paid "a to Jordan
and promised to pay the balance o.
$40 annual fee for protection"
Belle Worthington, Of No. 81 Ma
comb-st.. paid "a down to Jordan.
e. Robarge, grocer at No. 13t
Townsend-ave.. paid s.. in 81 weekly
installments, for the legal protection
in collections, that he was promised
the names Of Congressman Doremus
and his partners being used to obtain
the subscription.
1--WE have also learned" says De
tective Black, that a woman. sup
posed to be connected with the same
corporation, has been collecting from
mftwives, stating that they cannot
get their licenses unless they pay the
membership fee In the powerful cor
poration that has big say about the
licenses.
1--WE are also Investigating reports
that a young man has been breach
ing to women Of the underworld q
plan to raise big fund for such use
as may be necessary TO put the red
light district back.
Detectives Black and Horrigan. and
some of the women who paid money
to the solicitors, are comforting with
the prosecutor relative to prosecuting
Jordan and Wolfe for obtaining money
under false pretenses.
There Is no doubt that scores have
paid money, and will not make com
plant, knowing that they have been
'stung,," says Detective Black. I'll
wager that $1,000 Is a low estimate
for the harvest of the swindlers."