Evening star., 1914-11-18
V|OLATORSO LAW
TO Be CLOSED UP
"Vice Squad" Active in Max
ing Investigations Under
Kenyon "Red Light Act.
HOTELS ARE INCLUDED
IN PROPOSED ACTION
District Attorney John E. Laskey Is
Expected to Begin Equity Pro-
ceedings Soon.

Alleged violations Of the Kenyon
red light" law are being Investigated
by the so-called "vice squad" Of the
police department, and these investi-
cations, it is stated. are to be made
the basis for action to be taken In the
near future under the provisions of
the law. These alleged violations of
the law, reported to United States Dis
trict Attorney John e. Laskey. are
being Investigated by his Office, 1t is
understood. and may result in equity
proceedings for an injunction under
the Kenyon law to CLOSE up" the
premises complained of.
When violations Of this law, as OF
any other, are presented to him and
an investigation warrants action, Mr.
Laskey declared, his Office will act
promptly.
L. Howes of the first precinct. mem
bers of the so-called vice squad. have
been in consultation with assistants
in the Office of Mr. Laskey with a view
to furnishing testimony upon which to
base proceedings under the Kenyon
red light" law against the proprietors
of hotels, rooming houses and other
structures. The two members of the
squad have made approximately 100
arrests, white and colored, and many
of the arrests. it Is stated, were made
as q result of raids.
Collateral Mostly Forfeited.
Men and women arrested by the SER
eeant and detective were permitted to
leave collateral, usually SO each, and
most of the money was forfeited in
amount of collateral to be required in
such cases in the future will be in
creased, and that the judges OF Police
Court will be asked to impose jail SEN
tences. The police, it is said, have au-
thority to demand a real estate bond OF
persons caught In raids. and the giving
of such security would necessitate the
appearance of the alleged offenders in
court.
It is said by the police that drivers
of some of the so-called might line"
vehicles are lending assistance to some
of the violators Of law. more especially
women Of the underworld who were
driven from the old Segregated" sec
ton by the operations of the Kenyon
law. One driver of a public vehicle
was arrested for an alleged violation
of the white slave law and held for
trial.
Complaint has been made to the
United States attorneys office that Ger.
tain women visited a particular hotel
at frequent intervals and under such
circumstances, 1t is alleged. that the
proprietor should have understood that
they were not bona fide guests within
the meaning Of the law, and the testi-
mony of such women will be heard in
injunction proceedings that may be in
stituted.
Provisions of Kenyon Law.
1t is provided in the Kenyon law that
whoever shall erect, establish, continue,
maintain, use, own. occupy or release any
building erection or place used for in-
moral purposes is guilty Of nuisance.
The law .urther stipuIates that the con-
tents OF such places, including furniture.
fixtures and musical instruments. shall
also be declared a nuisance and shall be
en1oined and abated.
Section 5 of the act the part OF the law
which refers to the closing Of property
declared to be a nuisance, provides:
That If the existence Of the nuisance
be established in an action as provided
in this act. or in a criminal proceed
ing, an order of abatement shall be
entered as part Of the Judgment IN
the case, which order shall direct the
removal from the building or. place of
all fixtures, furniture. musical instru-
ments or movable property used in
conducting the nuisance. and shall di-
rect the sale thereof in the manner
provided for the sale of chattels under
execution, and the effectual closing Of
the building or place against its use
for any purpose. and SO keeping II
closed for period Of one year. un-
less sooner released"