Evening journal., 1919-10-28

ihounds as these men that VIII stoop "a
any means OF gaining that almighty
dollar. IL is time that something was
done In this city OF ours 10 protect the
poor who have not at their command
money enough at the time these hounds
demand 1t. II IL were just / would not
say anything. but TO my mind these
men that are practlcing this rent pron-
teering are the worst class OF men that
the city OF Wilmington has ever had.
The sooner we are rid OF those, II there
IS any way OF getting rid OF them, / say
the sooner the better. I am In favor OF
passing any ordinance, OF passing any
resolution that can compel those peo-
pie TO respect, at least any unwritten
law OF humanity. There are people In
/ this city today, or was until lately, that
/ know OF, that were forced 10 leave
their homes while they were paying
rent for the rooms in which they lived,
by the owner OF the property. because
they did not take In addition TO the
house, five garages and pay that owner
at least 81 per month for each garage
whether the tenant rented them or not.
/ lt is time this high-handed robbery, I
have no other name for it. should stop
and n there is any way for Ms as rep
resentatlves Of the city OF Wilmington.
to stop them for humanity sake let us
start at once. ! am willing To- go the
/ limit In anything that Will drive these
| hounds out OF business II necessary.
even to take from them the property
they own, II we could do IT,"
Councilman Mulvena, OF the Tenth
ward, deplored the acts OF the landlords
and the constable. saying that such
things, II allowed 20 go on. would re-
! suit in Bolshevism. He also said that
: he had been informed that Herman in
sisted that his tenants purchase their
groceries from his store and any red
blooded man under such conditions.
would be compelled TO flght.
Councilman Forwood. OF the Ninth
ward, said the case was a sad one. and
the acts were the most heartless ne had
ever heard OF.
President Of City Council Lyon said
that three cOnstables had refused 10
serve the writ on the Gardens and sug-
gested that Council pass a resolution
asking the Levy Court 90 revoke the
commission OF Vitelli, the constable
Councilman Murray amended this, say
ing the court should be asked TO "nre"
the man.
Councilman Hopkins, OF the Sixth
ward, then raised the question as to
whether Herman or Vitelli were Amerl-
can citizens.
President OF Council Lyons announced
that Deputy Attorney-G General Green.
who was present. had suggested that
the Court OF General Sessions be asked I.
to revoke Vitelli's commission as a prl- /
vate detective, and a resolution TO that
effect was passed.
President Lyon also suggested that
the detective be muzzled. Councilman /
Mearns shouted: lie should be sent 20 .
JAIL
Henry r. Isaacs, attorney for Her
man, was granted the floor and ex-
planned that his client desired TO be
heard. He thought a committee OF
nifty should be appointed He volun-
ieered HIS services 70 such a commit
lee.
Herman took position near the Presis
ient's seat in Council chamber amid
he Kisses OF the audience. President
lyon appealed to their belief in Amerl-
AN fair play and as they ceased, Her
nan started 10 explain his side OF the
'ase. He said the newspapers had not
)een fair to him.
Garden had difficulty representing
himself. and as he and Herman denied (
'ach others statements they had % be (
leld apart. At one point I'm Hen hans 4,
statement Councilman Murray arose ,
md shouted that the whole thing was I
a pack OF lies" creating considerable \
Herman said Garden and ,
lis wife had defled him, refused TO pay ,
ny rent or TO move. Garden had /
10 split his head open, he
aid.
Mr.. Isaacs asked Deputy Attorney
ieneral Green for an opinion on the ,
writ that was served. Mr.. Green said
hat City Solicitor Huxley and he had
xamlned 10 and 70 was not worth the
aper II was written on. He referred 10 !,
as the German scrap Of paper"
The audience broke in here with q,
earty cheering. Mr.. Green said the
tate laws on a holding over tenant T
ad not been observed and Vittelli had r
xceeded his authority IN taking a sew
ig machine, a family Bible and I'm not Y
,avlng the tenants goods TO the amount Z
Z $500. as required by law. L
Mr. Green, in giving his opinion, Il
sid the question OF forcing tenants TO a
ty groceries from the landlord was
OF Illegal. but manifestly not a square u
cal. CT
Colonel Weller z. Slower, OF the e.
GARD OF Assessment, explained how he
ad been investigating rent proflteerlng. u
lying that in most cases little II any
roflteering was being done by Ameri-
ms, but that there was one preacher
this city who owned considerable IL
'operty whose tenants had registered "
,mplaints. Publicity. he said, was b.
hat the landlords feared. and he cited b.
case where a house owner rented the cl
upper floors 10 whites and the lower C.
DOT TO negroes. He suggested that a u
'mmittee Of one hundred citizens be 10