davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
CONFESSED MURDERER
NOW BLAMES ANOTHER
Man Whose Admission of Double
Staying Frees Convict Ac-
cuses Third Man

NEW YORK. Aug. 12.--Irving King, a
horse trader and peddler, who confessed
Thursday that he murdered Charles Phelps,
an aged West Shelby, Orleans County, ".
Y, farmer and his housekeeper Miss Mar
garet Wocott, on March 21 1915, made a
second confession yesterday, duplicating
his friend. Clarence O'Connel, now in Au-
burn prison. in the double crime. He de-
clared that whereas he welded only club
in the attack at the farmhouse, O'Connell
used a pistol with deadly effect.
II the confession Is confirmed Charles
T. Stielow, the stold German farmland
with n mentality of child of seven" the
date of whose execution for the crime, had
been set at Sing Sing for four difftNent
days, will become free man, and NeN'on
Green, Stielow's nephew, now undergoing
20 years sentence at Elmira because he
pleaded guilty to participation in the dou-
bic murder, also will get his liberty.
Kings second confession was made at
jamestown. n. Y, where he was arraigned
following his arrest at Pavilion, N. Y, on
Thursday for shooting Lewis Brown, a
jamestown storekeeper, In November 1914.
who says shot Brown" asked King.
Clarence O'Connell, who is now serving
time in Auburn" he was told. HE has
made n deposition charging you with the
crime"
THE dirty little skunk" exclaimed King.
Then he added: 'Ill tell you what I know
about O'Connell."
He said he was in Medina. N. Y, on the
day of the murder and met OConnell.
O'Connell asked him II he wanted to make
some money, he said. and he replied. go
ahead, I'll be with you" Late in the day
they got a horse and buggy and drove out
into the country.
King said they stopped in front of "old
man Phelps house" and through the win
dow they saw Phelps reading.
I'VE got out and / got hardwood broom
handle" King said. when Phelps came
to the door l knocked him down with It,
O'Connell and l went inside. A bedroom
door opened and woman in her night
clothes came out. She saw Phelps on the
floor and O'Connell and me as she ran out
of the door. o'Connell shot her through the
glass.
"O'Connell ransacked the bureaus and
got roll of money. He gave me 500. That
is all l got The old man began to stir
around on tho floor and he was shot three
times. o'Connell had the gun. had the
club"
King pleaded not guilty in the Brown
case and was sent to the Little Valley jaI
TO await the action of the Grand Jury.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12

than II has tcer. Surely landlord knows
or can easily ascertain what kind of per-
sons are occupying his house or houses.
II am also unalterably in favor of abol-
iRhlnE the system Of fining inmates of
dlsorderiy houses by magistrates These
women readily subscribe to fines. They re-
gard them as the price of license. The
Grand Jury Is right In looking with aver
sion on this practice. Tho women regard
the fines as blood" money, whether that
money be paid to the State as fine to
tho corrupt officcholder as protection money
or so the interruptions lawyer as a fee
for defending them and their trade. The
system of postponed and continued hearings
should be done away with as far as pos
sible. Prison terms should supplant the
fine.
JAIL FOR PERSISTENT OFFENDERS
Tho women who are found to be per-
slstently plying their trade without regard
for the law SHOULD be sentenced to n term
of imprisonment. 1 believe, however, that
those who express a desire to reform should
be given an opportunity to do So There
are many women who see the evil of their
way after they are first apprehended but
who are given no chance to reform, because
they are put among their more unfortunate
sisters, whsro the environment is not con-
ducive to thoughts Of rehabilitation.
"In my opinion, the root of the evil should
be attacked at first and as 1 have said
before, the only way conditions can be bet
tered hero II the careful scrutiny OF prop
critics by their owners, and the reporting
of any suspicious to the proper authorities,
under penalty of fine or imprisonment"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
WHITE SLAYER TELLS
OF 5000 SCHOOLGIRLS
LURED TO THEIR RUIN
Yusse Botwin, Self-Confessed
King of Criminal Band, Says
Victims Were Only 16
Years Old
CHILDREN OF THE POOR

NEW YORK. Aug. 12.-Yusse Botwin,
self-confessed king of the white slave
trust" today added to his startling story
OF yesterday by asserting that he had been
instrumental IN Turing 5000 schoolgirls
from their homes into dens of vice.
Many OF Botwin's victims were only 16
years old and come generally from families
too poor to provide good clothes and enter
tanment for them.
Botwins additional confession has as
founded Assistant District Attorney Smith
Botwin has pleaded guilty to one of the
five indictments found against him in the
investigation OF the vice trust. His revela-
tons are expected to result in the filing of
charges against several policemen.
Botwin, in detailing the methods pursued
to obtain the schoolgirls, said his agents
loitered around schoolhouses and firted
Then came gifts of candy automobile rides
to Coney Island and finally trip to a
Broadway resort, winding up with night
in hotel Then the girls were induced to
write to their mothers saying they had
eloped and were taken to a nearby city.
where they were kept for n few weeks be-
fore they were brought back to New York
and placed in disorderly houses.
"But didn't they ever try to run away
and go back to their honest" asked the
Assistant District Attorney.
colder girls might have done that but
the ones we handled never went back home
after we gave them their start" said Bot
win. That's why we picked schoolgirls" !"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
TAXPAYERS LEAGUE
FOR CIVIC UPLFT OF
COLLINGSWOOD, N. ].
Leading Business and Profess
sional Men of Borough Organ
ize Against Municipal
Crookedness
NONPARTISAN IN SCOPE

COLLINGSwOOD, N. J., Aug. 12.-Lead-
ing business and professional men OF TINS
borough, many of whom are veterans OF
battles that have been waged N the past
against municipal crookedness in this rapid
" growing town. mustered last night under
the name of the Taxpayers League of Col
lngswood' for another campaign. Civic
preparedness Is the slogan of tho new
league, and 1t has for its chief aim CO.
operation with the municipal authorities In
all civic matters that stand for square
deal for the people of Colngswood. AT
mass-meetlnH held at the residence of
George w. Warren. of West Side. consti-
tuition and bylaws were adopted, and the
following were elected officers to serve for
one year:
William II. Hay, president: George w.
Warren, first vice president; Frank II.
Stevens, second vice president; James A.
Naves. treasurer. and C. II. Grlscom Sec
retary.
1t was decided to incorporate the body
and the newly elected president appointed
an executive committee OF 25, comprising
George j. Haven. Frank C. Goldner. H. c.
Bancroft, Sr.. Frank b. Cooling, F. II.
Bond. II. G. Bleakley, ]. C. Doughten, j.
G. Peterson, Charles L. Guss, Joseph L.
Mounce. w. F. Shirley, Sr., G.. M. Degin-
ther, II. S. Hudson, Allen B. Ross, James
L. Greenwood, c. G. Branch, J. r. Wells,
f. C. Holmes, j. w. Dffenderfer. William
Lodge, benjamin Il. Mahan, Dr. u. 10. Day,
Joseph b. Hates and II. Gilmore.
Frank H. Bond, chairman Of the Borough
Councils Finance Committee, was the prime
factor in the league movement. Since Mayor
Jack was inducted into Office last January
Mr.. Bond has stood alone in the council
manic proceedings in opposition to a num-
ber of propositions not the least of which
was street paving one involving the ex-
pendlture of about s150.000. Immediately
following the decisive defeat of the meas
ure by an aroused community at special
election last month, the borough admnis-
tration came back with another one con-
corning the financing of the sewer disposal
plant, which is being operated under a
franchise.
Another of the many matters affecting
the welfare of Collngswood which the
Taxpayers League may have to take up
with the borough authorities concerns the
recent erection of large wooden factory
building within the fire zone. The ordl-
nancC, approved April, 1913, prohibits the
erection of a structure built Of wood within
the fire zone 1t also requires that build
ing built in violation of the measure shall
be torn down by order of the city author
tiles at the expense of the owner. The
league is nonpartisan and its acts are abso-
lutely independent of political control.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
Professor Edward E. Montgom-
cry, of jefferson College, Be-
lieves This Method Would
Solve Problem
Opposes Segregation and APP
proves Grand Jury's Recon-
mendation for Quarantine
of Disorderly Houses

The action of the Grand Jury In recon-
mending the continuance OF the quarantlne
on vice resorts as the most effective remeuy
toward the abolishing OF the evil IN .mIs ms
city, rather than it's segregation was up
held by Prof. Edward e. Montgomery OF
Jefferson Medical College.
Professor Montgomery Is OF the opinion
that perniclous vice will never be wiped out
In Philadelphia, however, until every prop
erty owner is held individually responslple
for the actions OF the tenants OF his houses
Professor Montgomery, besides holding
the chair Of gynaecology In Jefferson Medl-
cal College. Is Eynaecologist TO the Jenerson
Hospital He is former president OF the
Philadelphia County Medical Society ana
has written several books dealing with So
cial diseases
II think the action of the Grand Jury
was right, in so far as Its recommendations
for the maintaining of a strict quarantine
on houses of ill-ropute are concerned, sald
Professor Montgomery
QUARANTINE INDoRsED.
"As the jury suggested, believe that
when properly carried out by reliable ana
trustworthy policemen, the quarantine is
the most effective method of dealing with
the problem, especially where 1t has been
found impossible to obtain the necessary
Information to convict of crime. Policemen
who can be explicitly trl Sted should be used
for this work.
II am opposed to segregation. most en-.
phatlcally to segregation in any form. The
vice question has not been handled correct
ly in this city outside, possibly, OF the quar-.
antining of the houses. and this has not
been done conscentiously. The segregation
of vice in this city would work much harm.
| 1t would be a black eye to the city.
LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE.
THE only sure method of wiping out vice
| in this city. and l am strongly in favor
of It's total abolition. is the holding of
| property owners responsible for the actions
| of their tenants ! am sure there Is an
| act of Legislature framed for this very
purpose, and cannot comprehend why the
| law In this regard is not enforced moro
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
PRIEST DENIES CLAIM
OF CHURCH APPROVAL
MADE BY HIBERNTANS
Father McDermott, Answering
Secretary O'Dea, Says Prelatea,
Though Chaplains, Never In
dorsed Purposes Of Order
DID NOT KNOW SECRETS

The Rev Daniel !. McDermott today Is
sued a new challenge to John oDea, State
Secretary Of the Ancient Order of Hiber-
mans He questions that such men as Car
dinals Farley and O'Connell, as well as
other prelates. instanced by Mr.. O'Dea as
national chaplalns Of the order, sanctioned
its objects and he intimates that they had
no inner knowledge of its purposes and
workings.
"As to the appointment of such men az
Cardinal Farley of New York; Cardinal
O'Connell, of Boston Archbishop Glennon,
of st. Louis, and Bishop John Foley, of De-
troit, as national chaplains OF the order"
said Father McDermott, they were no
doubt appointed without consultation, and
formally accepted rather than offend any
one, but 1 believe 1 could safely challenge
the order to show where at any time any
chaplain was ever sought for comfort or
advice in connection with the internal affairs
of the order"
Replying to Mr.. o'Dea's statement that
Archbishop Wood obtained his information
of the Mollie Maguire crimes In the coal
regions from Francis /. Gowen. president
of the Reading Railway Company, Father
McDermott said that Archbishop Wood is
sued pastoral letter against the order
IL years before Mr.. Gowen took up the
practice of the law. Mr.. Gowen," he
said, was educated at n Roman Catholic
institution although his father was a strict
completed he went into business and failed.
lowing to the manly way he met his
failure he made hosts of friends. and after
ward, when he studied law he was elected
District Attorney subsequently becoming
attached to the legal department of the
Reading road and finally becoming It's pres
ident."
Decision In the case of Father MoDer-
motifs resignation as rector of ST. Mary's
Church, Fourth and Spruce streets, is still
In allegiance, awaiting the return to the city
of Archbishop Prendergast. Father McDer-
mott meanwhile is in charge of the parochial
affairs.
O'Dea's latest statement sets forth regret
that no more formidable menace could be
found by Father McDermott against which
to launch his attacks than the Hibernians
"It would seem also,' said Mr.. O'Dea
that the past holds some lessons which
should nourish grateful memories in q
Catholic rectory, for according to no less
an authority than the late Cardinal Moran
of Australia, the order was accustomed to
exercise among its functions the protection
of Catholic priests during the rigor of the
penal laws in Ireland"
Mr.. O'Dea, answering Father McDer-
motifs charge that Archbishop Wood knew
tho operations of the Molly Maguires, said
the priest did not state that the Archbishop
got the greater part of his information
from the man whose interest IL was to
destroy their labor organization, from the
man who hireu an informer to go into
their organization and later betray them
O'Dea quoted the late Archbishop Ryan as
having said that Ii had been decided by
prominent officials of the Church to rec
ognize the Ancient Order Of Hibernians.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
TO BE Modified BY
WAR DEPARTMENT
Government Inspectors to Be
Stationed at Every Plant With
View to Making Service
Best in World
SCHOOLS FOR AvIAToRS

WASHINGTON, Aug 12.-Plans were
completed today by the War Department
for the complete mobilization of the air
craft industry Of the country to make the
army aero service the superior IL possible
of any in the world.
In brief the plan Is this:
Government inspectors will be stationed
at each plant in tho country and the Gov.
ernment stamp will be on every part Of
each machine turned out
Schools for flyers will be founded by the
machine makers backed by the Government
the prospective flyers will be passed on
by the Government before entering the
schools, and after the course will be en-
rolled as army flyers
Advisory experts and army aviation
corps experts will specialize in perfecting
an aeroplane motor superior to any In
existence.
The National Guard will be completely
equipped with aero squadrons. ono squad
ron will be created for each militia division
of the country, of which there are 16. A
squadron will consist of 90 officers and 14s
men. Each squadron will have 12 "frst-
line" flying machines, f2 to replace these
in ca so of loss or accident in action and a
further reserve of 12 machines.
The lessons of the European war have
profited the War Department 20 much, It
was admitted today, that the aviation corps
has perfected an army aeroplane which
will fly faster and climb faster and higher
than the formidable German "Fokker" ma
chimes The heads of the corps are not
satisf ed, though, and will continue TO ex-
pertinent with every type
In addition to the flying schools to be
established at points where machines are
made, the army will maintain separate n.y.
ing schools at San Diego, Chicago and
Mineola, Long Island, New York.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
SOCIETY BANDITS GANG
BLACKMAM WEALTHY
AT SEASIDE RESORTS
Government Investigates Com
plants Coming From Atlantic
City, Cape May and Other
Places Patronized
WOMAN LOSES 100000

WASHINGTON. Aug. 12.-Soclety bandits
in organized gangs, who again are plying
their trade among the wealthy patrons of
Atlantic City, Cape May, Bar Harbor and
other fashionable coast resorts, have ex-
acted vast sums of money from victims in
blaclSmailing hold-ups according TO informa-
ton reaching the Department of Justice
today.
Attorney General Gregory Immediately
ordered diverted the activity of his secret
service men from other channels to hot
trails" to apprehend at least dozen
suspects who have wrung thousands of
dollars from the victlmized.
Among the numerous cases which have
been brought to the attention of the depart
ment in the last "a hours is that of a
prominent society woman whose fortune
of 500, 900 paid tribute to the silence of
polished gangsters.
Hundreds of other cases, the department
suspects never will be reported There have
already have been more than 40.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
WOULD HOLD PROPERTY OWNERS
RESPONSIBLE FOR VICE OF TENANTS
Drastic Police Methods
Best Treatment of Vice

Prof. Edward E. Montgomery, Of
jefferson College, expresses opinions
regarding Grand Jury recommends
tions.
Favors continuance Of quarantine
on disorderly houses.
Segregation in any form would
hurt social standing of city. Would
be black spot on escutcheon of city.
Problem could be solved by holding
landlords responsible for actions Of
their tenants.
Would stamp out vice entirely.
Believes disorderly women should
either be given opportunity to re-
form or imprisoned if they persist in
breaking social code.
Would be attacking root of evil
by enforcing law regarding owners
of property.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12

.svhsn thsy finish, I'll start" said Mayor
Smith during the vice probe by the draha
Jury Now that the jury has reported
tbst ramark stands in the way OF any sat
t,,action small-fry politicians may enjoy as
= res,,It OF what they consider the failure
-, tba nrobeIs 10 cause their activities with
Sant1sns OF the underworld 10 cease.
poIItIcians OF all factions familiar with
conditions in Philadelphia since the open
Ing of the Smith administration know t~hat nat
The Mayor has been double crossed pS
nnsr whom he had a right TO consider MS
srtsnds and supporters. Just how TAR ne
iii 20 10 retaliate is q question that Is
causing some OF the guilty ones to lose
That the Mayor is in earnest in his de-
sira 10 divorce politics from vice Is generaily
believed, but whether or not ne VIII inaHe nan.
snv headway, and yet not disturb the TEN,
.nTarv harmony patched up for the fall
camnaiKn, remains to be seen.
.TIunan bait" Is the term applied by
DoII,Icians TO the dwellers of the Thirteenth
and neiRhboring wards who have mad theiI
illegal activities brought to light as result
- The raid Of July is. IL Is a common
-. t.noant that these unfortunates were
made 10 serve the purposes OF the men 70
,,,hor, thew looked for protection. The use
- the underworld for other than voting
nurDoses is not a novelty In TINS CITY, nor
10 tha ward ana DIVISION leaoeFsi anu 'tie
sT,,ation Is one similar in many ways 10
conditIons in the past, when two powerfui
Srganzation factions have been warning ror
supremacy.
CLEAN AT THE START.
hfayor smith on assuming ONCE found
,,tss AZ thoroughly quarantinsd against vice
az was possible. He lost no time IN an
nouncina IN emphatic terms that the hd
x,,ould stay In place, and so instructed Di-
rsctor Wilson In placing him at the head OF
,hs Dapartment OF Public Safety Wilson
az a matter OF course, transmitted the
MAYORS Views and orders TO his suoordl-
nstes in the Police Bureau. A Few raids
og a nonspectaeular nature were made ana
tba MAYOR was assured that his orders were
hainE obeyed and that the city was clean .
After that all was quiet.
The preliminary fight for power between
tha wares and Senator McNichol ended with
decisive rout OF the AlcNichol forces and
~ bfg municipal improvement program
snvolvinR loans OF S114,526.000 was ap-
nrovad By the people and Councils This
6ebt made bitter feelings on both sides
and threats were made TO put the Mayor
"in q hole
II was not until his administration was
forr months old that the Mayor learned
mai noliticians had, behind his back, quiet
= passed the tip to the underworld 70 open
ID Tor business. and when he did learn II.
irstsad q calling upon his self-appolnted
head q tie police power, be called N y.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
MAYOR SMITH MAY FOLLOW VICE PROBE
WITH EXPOSURE OF POLITICAL BOSSES
aWben They Finish I'll Start" He Said When Jury Was
in Session-Inside Story of How Big Raid Came to Be
Pulled and How He Forestalled Plan
to "Show Him Up"

Clarence Gibboney. This is looked upon
as very significant Director Wilson owes
his position and power to the influence the
Wares have with the Mayor.
The tip to the Mayor carried a list OF
politicians accused OF collecting graft. and
has been a carefully guarded secret. Much
of the information contained in II Is said
to be capable OF easy proof should the
Mayor carry out his avowed intention OF
getting the men higher up.
MAYOR WARY OF FRIENDS.
Grating is secondary to political schem-
ing In the present vice situation In the
opinion of Mayor Smith and the few ad-
visors he-now cares to trust and take into
his confidence. He believes he has been
made the goat" by men he thought his
friends.
1t is now an open secret that leaders OF
the Penrose-AIcNichol, faction OF the or
ganization were preparing to make
spectacular expose of vice conditions in
Philadelphia when forstalled by the raid
OF July 16. The raid is looked upon as
"stolen thunder" and the fact that 1t was
conducted largely in wards controlled by
Senator McNichol is deemed significant
That the word TO open up the tenderloln
In both Ware and McNichol wards was
given but a short time apart is now ad-
mitted, but is said TO have resulted from
'follow-your-neighbOr" action and that
the original offers OF protection came first
from leaders anxious 20 place the Mayor In
an unpleasant light before the people and
was followed by others, who believed that
the time was ripe for a general opsning-up.
on the other hand, claims are made that
the leaders giving the original tip that. all
was safe believed they could WELD sum
eient influence to save themselves as
against the Mayor.
SOME WARD LEADERS.
Congressman John R. K Scott Is the
Ware leader OF the Fourteenth Ward and
only a comparatively few dlsreputabls
houses were raided in that ward Across
the street. In the Thirteenth, the destinies
OF which are supposed to be presided over
by John +. Flaherty, clerk OF the courts
and Select Councilman. the raidng was
general
The Fourteenth Ward Is a political hght-
ing ground. the Wares being busy with
Scott influence. and Common Councilman
William II. Jones on the ground trying TO
secure foothold In a section which Is
credited 10 Senator McNlchol
Politicians OF both factions expect the
Mayors activities during the late summer
and early fall 10 indicate clearly just how
far they win be able to use the vice stua-
ton In future schemins and Just how pow
erful some Of their number will prove 70
be when Il comes 10 a showdown. Fea
men doubt that the Mayor Is Ia earnest,
but that be will be able 20 lay the real
ehlprits oy the heels ls moot question
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
Samuel Anderson

CHESTER. Pa, Aug. 12.-SamueI Ander-
son, 80 years old, a member OF a family
prominent In Delaware County for a cen
tury, died at his home here yesterday after
an illness of few weeks, the first illness in
his life. In early life Mr.. Anderson was
Philadelphia business man. Forty-hve
years ago he went with the Pennsylvania
Railroad, being connected with the auditing
department He was retired 10 years ago
He was paymaster on the United States
steamer Jacob Bell during the Civil War.
Three children survive.