Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1918-05-10
Throws Further Light on What Has Been Going
On In Putnam's Under World the
Past Few Years
RELATES UNPRINTABLE FACTS OF ALL NIGHT ORGIES
IN WHICH YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG AND OLD
MEN FIGURE.
Picks Up Girls In Teens Entertain Soldiers
Says Putnam Is 'Worstest Place She Has Lived In.

OF all the places she has lived in,
Putnam is the "worstest,' according
to little sixteen-year old Alphonsine
Berger, who was committed to the In
dustrial School for Girls, in the Put
nam city court Monday morning.
Asked why she told her horrible story,
she said that it was because possibly
some other little girls may be saved
from the life she has led and the con
ditien in which she now finds herself.
She wanted to go to the state school
to get away from it all. When she
was told that she might be parolled in
short time she said she did not want
to be. II want to stay there until
am 2 years old | would be afraid
to return sooner" she said. To bring
child of sixteen to such state of
mind it may readily be imagined that
her life has been .a hard one and her
bed bed of thorns. That this is so
would be apparent could the awful
details of her story be printed.
The girl gave herself up to Miss
Austin, in charge of the local board
of charities in the city of Willimantie,
and when Miss Austin learned that
she was from Putnam she sent her
here The child had an adherence OF
Putnam, for it was here that her trou,
bles began, but when told that she
would be cared for said she was will.
ing to come Broken down in health
she said she could not longer wori
| aud was willing to go any where
Jails or state institutions only doomed
before her tired mind and body as
places of, refuge from men who prey
upon children. She was charged
with being in danger of falling into
habits of vice and appeared cheerful
and contented when the sentence to
the Industrial School was imposed
Little Alphonsine Berger was born
in Fall River Her father worked on
steamboat between Fall River and
New York Six years ago he was
drowned while the boat was nearing
the dock The mother was left in
strained circumstances. She began
to take men boarders The character
of the house attracted a low class OF
men. Intoxicants were brought there
and soon the mother took drink She
took more and got the habit. From
there to a life or immortality was but
a short step.
The family removed to Putnam
The home came under the surveillance
of the police and it was known that
things were not all they should be in
the Berger house. The two boys got
into trouble and appeared before the
police court on charges of theft. One
for Boys.
The mother removed to Manchaug
with one of the boarders and it was
while there that Alphonsine and her
two brothers ran away. The girl
said she knew that her mother was
not a good woman and she was afraid
she would get to be like her. She had
hard work trying to procure a living
in Putnam. She finally received en-
ployment in restaurant, since clos
ed, at dollar a week and board. She
had no money. She needed clothes
She was tempted and she fell. At this
time she was but fourteen years old,
and she says that it was a married
man almost old enough to be her
grandfather that first caused her
downfall From then on it was eds
ier. She walked the streets more or
less and was the prey Of many men.
She met other young girls. Some %
them have been sent away since the
recent vice crusade started. These
young girls were sought continually
by men, young and old.
The facts about the orgies they
we're induced into are unprintable
The parties they were invited to were
surrounded with horrible details. In
one instance man in civilian dress
procured her and two other girls,
promising to take them in an auto
mobile to a dance in Danielson. Be
fore the car had proceeded far five
soldiers were met and taken in. The
rest of the details of the nights do
ings cannot be told The tale rescm
bled some of the stories of what tn,
Germans did in Belgium. And al
this was happening right here in stait
{ old Windham county.
At other times these young girl
were taken to houses in Putnam ane
, the Grosvenordales where only mel
resided. They were given drink ane
made intoxicated They were KEEP