The sun., 1919-06-30
HYLAN WOULD HIRE
LAWYER FOR WOMEN
Asks Rodman Wanamaker to
Provide Defence in Vice
Squad Cases.
CALLS TRIALS FARCICAL
Mayor Defends Majority of
Policemen as Decent, but
Black Sheep Creep In.

Mayor Hylan, addressing himself to
the public stir that has been caused lately
by the arrest Of women on charges OF
immortality who later were exonerated IN
Magistrates courts. wrote q letter yes
tsrday to Rodman wanamaker. chair
man of the Mayors committe on pub
lie welfare. asking the committee to en-
gage a woman lawyer to defend these
cases in the women's day court. I
The Mayor said that Commissioner
Enright has been assigning policewomen
to investigation OF tenement house vio-
lations and that notable improvement In
these conditions has been accomplished.
10 was impossible, he said.to guarantee
that none Of the. 1000 policemen who
make arrests in these cases may not be
guilty of misconduct. Many Of the trials
accorded these women he described as
farcical. His letter follows:
"a report / have received from Com
missioner Enright, which Is now before
me, showing the excellent work done by
the Police Department during the war,
with the cooperation of the military po-
1ioe, looking for the elimination and the
safeguarding Of the hundreds of thou
through the city, gives me the idea OF
suggesting to you that your committee
could be very helpful in a new Geld Of
public service.
1900 Arrests in IS Months.
'slnce January, 1915, 1909 arrests
hAye been made of prostitutes caught
plying their trade. During that same
period forty houses OF designation, mas
queradins as hotels, all Of which had
been operated In this city for many
years. were suppressed by the police.
"Police officers charged with the per-
Torrance Of this very disagreeable duty
/ have been repeatedly cautioned to exer-
else Judgment In making arrests and to
avoid any course of conduct that might
work an injustice TO any one in these
cases. The police have been instructed
TO warn those whose action and appear
ance were not in the best interests OF the
welfare of the community to keep away
from the locality where arrests of this
hind had been made and where persons
OF this character have been known to
frequent.
THE Commissioner further states that
he has assigned number OF police
women on these cases, and IL this proves
successful this kind OF work will be done
in the future by policewomen. 1t has
been intimated that police officers were
working with despicable lawyers who
make speciality Of preying upon women.
and demanding extortionate fees for de-
Tending them ION charges OF soliciting.
The District Attorney has very properly
suggested the ACCESSIBILITY OF appointing
a woman as an assistant prosecuting
of1cer. which Is highly commendable.
could not your committee engage q
good reputable lawyer, preferably a
woman. who would be assigned to the
women's court to look after the legal
rights of women who have been ar
rested? This would aid Justice and not
obstruct IL It would work toward the
elimination OF the ,shyster lawyer who
devotes himself wholly to preying upon
women who are arrested and brought to
court
women brought to court should be
informed that there is some one at the
court with whom they can advise ana
to whom they might state their case.
who would appear for them without
charging n fee. This would drive these
lawyers from this kind OF practice and
end any possible connection between
such lawyers and the police.
Some Policemen OverxeaIous.
ut is very likely that police officers
assigned to this special kind Of work
become overzealous in the performance
OF their duties. A woman under arrest
surely needs help In a case like that.
Then again It sometimes happens that
INSCRIPTIONS policemen will make an ar
ransement with an INSCRIPTIONS lawyer
whereby after the arrest the lawyer gets
the case and all the money that he cen
squeeze out OF the woman. The case
goes TO trial The officer assumes it to
be true. o.,
''Ths lawyer. who ought to be pro-
tecting the woman never questions the
veracity OF his friend the policeman.
In most cases the woman is found guilty,
sentence is suspended and the de-
PENDANT placed on probation. This pro-
o1dure protects the officer, stops any
criticism OF the Magistrate. and plea SEES
and profits the lawyer in the case. The
whole thing is a farce. II the lawyer
was not under obligation to the police
man, he would not hesitate to cross-ex-
anime at the trial. The Magistrate would
then pay more attention and the laxity
which terminates the procedure in many
ef these cases and In minor criminal
courts would be thus eliminated.
Il am happy to say that the police are
for the most part clean. decent men,
but with a force OF 10000 men some bad
Just as they do in other walks OF life.
When We see a condition that invites
Q corrupt practices II IL our duty when
We can to correct It. l believe that II
you can get the right kind of a lawyer
working under your direction It will do
q lot of good. OF course you would
have TO get man or woman who will
give his or her whole time 10 this well
fare work"