New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-01-20
SWEEPING EFFECT
OF the Mann ACT
Lawyers Say Supreme Court De
. CiSiOn Has New Effect

Decision of the supreme court in
the briggs Caminetti case and it's in
depreciation of the scope Of the Mann
white slave" law will, local attor-
now tried in city and police courts,
will be turned over to the United
States District Court at Hartford.
Few people in the state, excepting
ciSion from a legal viewpoint, realize
What the decision really means.
THE law in it's reading" says
Prosecuting Attorney Alexander l..
Delaney of Bridgeport, now fully
confirmed by the highest tribunal,
means that no male person is actu-
ally safe in furnishing transportation
by train, boat or even automobile to
another state to a female, whether 1t
De friend, wife or relative"
Where the practice among prose-
cutors in Connecticut courts has been
to try complaints of women under
the state laws governing adultery and
other minor charges, there is no OPP
ton today when the case originates in
another state.
so broad is the law" continues
Prosecutor Delaney. lin it's reading
and interpretations which have been
placed upon it that even the conduct
ing of a female, friend mother, wife
or sister, to localities in New York,
Rhode Island and Massachusetts,
where the woman may become in
toXicated, may invoke the law and re-
suit in states prison sentence of
five years, a fine of $1,000, or both,
at the discretion of the court.
While no act of immortality may
nave been performed, the law is SO
broad in its specific form that even
the intent to dehauch or make a
woman taken from one state to an
other, or whose transportation has
been furnished wholly, or in part, is
considered a felony and becomes
prosecutable."
AS result, attorneys rule of the
decision all complaints relating to
women, where transportation im-
morality or debauchery has been ac-
complished, or was intended, includ-
Ing the numerous complaints of adul-
terry commonly tried in the police
court will hereafter become federal
offenses in New Britain and other
Connecticut cities.
Relative to his Interpretation of the
decision. Attorney NJ. d. Sake, says:
The opinion of the supreme court
OF the United States just handed down
IN the briggs aminetti case, which
was brought under the Man white
slave act is very sweeping in charac-
ter and 1T is doubtful whether it's
present Interpretation by the supreme
court was ever contemplated by the
trainers of the law. Everyone is ia
miliar with the agitation that swept
tho country, which resulted in the
enactment of this law and it's purpose
was essentially to impose severe pen
alties and If possible, to wipe out for
ever. white slavery" and CONNER
cialized vice" The supreme court re-
fuses to inquire into or take cogniz-
/ ance Of what was the original pur-
pose Of the law. The words in section
2~of the act "or for any other immor-
al purpose where transportation into
another state is furnished to a female
gives jurisdiction immediately to the
federal courts over offenses that were
heretofore prosecuted by the state
courts. 1t is doubtful whether there
was any need of federal disposition of
ordinary offenses affecting the morals,
unless it was for the purpose of get
ting at the root Of the white slave
menace. This act has been n very
fruitful field for backmail and ex-
tortion and will Of course continue to
remain so, unless the act is repealed
or amended so as to Confer iurisdic-
ton upon the federal courts over COM
mercialized vice which can be dealt
with adequately only by the United
States courts.