Evening journal., 1915-02-15
eIpsIrs ANp WHITE sLAyEs.


EVERY year tribes of gpsea move up and down our
u state and Peninsula camping here and there,
trading horses telling fortunes and loing the many
other things that go TO make up the nomadc life Of
the sons and daughters of Romany As a rule they
law-ablding and cause little trouble in the commu-
mites through which they pass. Petty thefts al
legged against them from time TO time but II is sell
dom that such accusations substantated by proofs
and followed by prosecutions A situation has deve-
oped however. as a result of a Federal investigation,
that reveals that the gypsy question has become
serious in its bearing upon the white slave traffic
The following dispatch from Denver If true shows up
a rally alarming situation:
DENVER Col. Feb IA white slave plot gigantic
in proportions and nationwide in its ramihcations is
exposed in official report sent to Washington last
night by William Fitch special investigator for the
United States Department OF Justice.
Ftchs report, the result Of a secret investigation
which he has been conducting for several weeks is
lminary but contains startling revelations based
upon confession obtained from gypsy chief
According to the story told by this man. there mas
been several years an organized traffic I'm girls who
have been stolen by gypsy bands in various parts of
the country and sold white savers at prices
ing from $500 TO S2500 The price for girls,
he said, S15O0
Most Of the girls stolen by the gpsies were taken
to Kokomo, Ind. and there held until they were sold
In the slave markets These latter IT Is declared exist
in all parts OF the country, and include New York
Philadelphia, Chicago, ST. Louis Minneapolis, Milwau-
koe. Kansas City, Dallas, New Orleans and indian
apolis.
Extraordinary efforts have been made by the Federal
Oiclals 10 Keep the story or the inVcsugauon from
becoming public reporter, listening at the door OF
Ftchs Office yesterday, heard the gypsy making his
confession and il was confirmed by Fitch but he de-
manded that it be kept out of print He declared
he had names and addresses, figures and dates on
about 100 in various parts of the country where
sales of girls were made. These contained IN the
report he sent TO Washington last night, but he de-
clned to give them out So strenuous were the efforts
TO keep the story out of print that threat of boycott
made against the newspaper publishing 1t.
Specific instances of where girls were sold for
prices ranging from $1,000 TO $1,000 and in some cases
or IN Nh
Denver Pueblo Chicago, Kansas city and other cities.
which contained in the report compiled by Fitch,
said to be the first authentic information the De-
parmont of Justice has far been able to obtain in
its investigation of the nomad tribes.
The report WILL IL IS declared start the nvestgaory
machinery Of the Government in operation in many
States and result in the wholesale arrests of members
of nomad tribes and with whom they have been
dealing. Radiating from Chicago where It is believed
startling conditions will be disclosed the investigation
win be conducted in every direction That the inyes-
tigation will solve the mystery of the disappearance
OF girls I'm various parts of the country in the last two
years is firmly believed by who hold the rowing
bands responsible for those disappearances.
In Pueblo short time ago word received by the
chief of police the effect that Katherine Winters
whose disappearance aroused the country was held
captive by a band of gpsies camped Pueblo When
time another white girl whose parentage never was
ascertained was taken from band of gpsies In Ar
kansas.
The swarthy chief of a local gpsy tribe made afi-
davt before Fitch that he and his wife have S50OOOo
in banks of Chicago and more than S4oOOo IN Den
vor and told all he knew concerning the traffic in
white slavery lie exaeted the promise OF the invest
gator that his name should be withheld in the depart
ments continued investieatons
"They would kill me without mercy should they know
I told' he declared.
The gipsy declared he knew OF at least 100 II
which girls of his had been sold by their fathers
brothers other guardians TO members OF his tribe
gave the Of various members OF his tribe am
the of the girls they had bought and sold. H'
named members of what is believed to be vice rims
Chicago that has been directing the traffic in its re-
ation to the white slave traffic
he English HuentlN
fairly well educated said had long been the custom
of the gpses to purchase their wives from the par
ents and that I'm the last few years the custom haI
opened the for procurers TO practice their trade
Husbands became tired of their purchased wives, HI
said, and farmed them out to the white slave traffic
In other they sold outright the seller realz
ing handsome profit on the amount he had paid TO
The price paid for girls in my tribe sometimes fel
below $1,000 but not often he said "The ayerag
81 have seen as high as $4,000 paid for girl Tn
girls have little choice the matter and sold with
out having the privilege OF effective protest.
The United States investigators It Is said have bee
trying long time to obtain specific evidence concern
ing the white slave traffic among the wandering "tru
ants"
The evil has been extending its ramihcatons rapid,
declared and has como to loom large as barrie
i'm the way of those engaged in stamping out the tram
If is believed by local Federal officers that the pre-
posed investigation will result in finding numerou
= white girls who have disappeared from their homes
various parts of the country during the last few year
If those things be true, It is question whether an
gipsy band should be allowed to wander at WILL an
without registration and regulation through stat
in our Union Is not to be presumed that all th
bands are engaged in such white slave work, th
\ even that most OF them The menace lies in Il
g fact that It difficult to tell which not nfectC
q with the idea that it is much profitable to bu
and sell women and girls than it is to buy and Sc
= horses, cattle and vehicles
Il General Carranza has expelled from Mexico the Spar
4 ] Z fe ouqd hy :
an excuse for his drastic action that Caro- sheltere
Angn del Casn snaniard who had given aid and con