The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-17
Uncovers Scandal, Knocks
Out Illinois Towns
Officers
THE TOWN COUNCIL
DISCHARGES HER
But She Will Not Quit ;
More Arrests Are
Coming

Hoopeston, Ill, Aug. l7.This city ha
been turned upside down, stood on it,
side and shaken like two'story house
in Kansas cycloneand all by Hopes
tons leading and only policewoman, who
refused to quit when discharged by the
city.
The polcewoman was asked to quit
because she was too industrious in d
moral crusade which she had been en-
pIoyed to wage by the council. She cast
the light OF inquiry into lot of places
where nobody here ever thought OF look
ing before, and in seven weeks she pro-
dueed the following results:
| One divorce suit.
| One damage suit for $4,000
Resignation OF entire police force.
Arrests OF half a dozen prominent citi-
zens.
Hoopeston was startled two months
ago when member of the city council
arose at meeting. one night and declared
that no less than 70 young women in this
community were soon to become mothers,
though unmarried. The councilman had
affidavits to support his statement, and
he was able to state the names of the
men who would be the fathers OF the
children to come.
The. news of what was to be told in
the council had leaked out prematurely,
and the council chamber was packed
when the alderman arose to speak. He
pictured conditions of immortality as
black as those which existed in Bacs
chanalian days. No young girl was safe
in Hoopeston under prevailing conditions,
he declared, and the 20 young women
were only part of those who had become
prey to the men whom he accused and
Others yet to be named.
Immediately demand was made that
Hoopeston be CLEANED up, and it was
arranged to employ settlement worker
as special moral officer" Mrs. Agnes
Frisinger of Hull House, Chicago, was
given the post.
After the woman had caused the ar
rest of two or three young men and
women prominent in local society, in
GLIDING the daughter of a city official,
she was summoned before the city coun
ell and discharged. She declined to quit. |
Mrs. Frisinger went into the county |
court and had herself appointed probs
ton officer. She threatened % sue the |
city for her monthly wage And she
remained at work. She arrested the sex
ton of the village cemetery while he
was in the shadow of tombstone bask.
ng in the smiles of a woman not his
wife. The sections wife sued for divorce
md also filed damage suit against the
,ther woman.
Police Chief w. J. Dickson and bis
orce of patrolmen resigned. The police
woman was again called before the coun-
ii. She was advised that she had been
Employed 10 watch only the north side
# the city. She replied that she in.
ended TO watch the north side, south
ide. cast side, west side. downtown dis
riot and then turn her attention to the
ountry clubs OF the county.
Mrs. Frisinger is now preparing evil
ence for the October grand jury aud
sserts that a half hundred persons will
e hit by the indictments. which must
e returned on this evidence.
Meanwhile, the city i divided into
wo factions, the goods" supporting
irs. Frisinger, and the conservatives"
Tho declare that the scandal will do IT.
epsrable injury 20 the city.
Many fights have occurred over the re.
pective merits Of the two sides. and
ome of Mrs. Frisinger's champions have
offended her with barred fists