Evening star., 1921-08-19
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Street PROHIBITED
Police Will Start Cleanup of
All "Curbstone
Johnnies."

Ninth street, the mecca of apparent
vagrants, loafers and other persons OF
questionable regulations, Will be
cleaned of this undesirable element. If
possible. under existing statutes, 1t
was announced by Capt. w. E. Brown
of the first precinct.
Orders already have been issued to
the policemen to keep the thorough
fare free from the crowds of men and
boys, which dot it's corners from
Pennsylvania avenue to New York
avenue. obstructing pedestrian traffic
and making offensive remarks to
passing women.
Merchants Make Protest.
This action has been taken as the
result of a protest lodged against the
ness Mems Association at its organiza-
tion meeting. The association subse-
quently discussed plans for initiating a
crusade against the loafers which. II
avowed. had given the street the the nam name
toms broadway" which was at one
time its popular cognomen.
Capt. Brown said that he pro-
poses to detail squad OF plain
clothes men on 9th street for the sole
blies of the ''curbstone Johnnies
which the loafers are termed. He
pointed out. however. that the present
laws are not sufficiently drastic to OBJ
tain the desired results. and advocated
more stringent statute.
Better Laws Urged.
Give US effective unlawful assem-
bly, and vagrancy laws" said Ca. capt
Brown. "and have the courts inter-
pret them correctly. and we Will bring
in the loafers and the persons having
no visible means of support. not only
on 9Th street. but all over the city"
Under the present laws. Capt. Brown
said, it requires great deal or
evidence to convict persons who con-
gregate on street corners. He indi-
Gated that it was not as hard to con-
vict them on a disorderly conduct
charge when they made remarks to
women. but stated that the men of the
type who habituate 9Th street are al
ways careful to avoid doing SO in the
presence of az policeman. Therefore.
he contends that the only method pos
sible of rounding up the men who IN
suit the women is to detail spe-
cial squad of officers in civilian clothes
to beats on the thoroughfare. This he
intends to do. but expressed the op1n-
ion that the men would soon recog-
nize these officers and he would De
forced to constantly make changes in
the men on the beat.
First Arrest.
The first arrest in the crusade to
suppress the loafers and mashers on
the streets was made last night. when
Policeman Schotter of the first pre-
cinct arrested Lawrence Grogan.
twenty-four years old, salesman.
Grogan was arraigned before Judge
Hardison in the United States branch
of Police Court today, and pleaded not
guilty to two separate charges of as
sault. His trial was set for Septem-
ber ..
According to the police. Grogan ac-
costed two girls who were on their
way home from work at the bureau of
engraving and printing. The girls are
on the night shift at the bureau. They
gave their names as Mary Fletcher.
eighteen years old, 745 18th street
southeast, and Anna Briscoe, nineteen
years old 709 c street northeast.
Since the inception of the campaign
against the "curbstone Johnnies," the
police report that conditions have
greatly improved not only on 9Th
street, but Pennsylvania avenue and
F. street, and other streets where wom-
en- are accosted by strange men.