The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-22
by RUSSELL J. BIKDWELL
(Cnnc;a1 rnr.nc,,nr.lccA

(opcclal COrrespOndcnt)
Tiajuana. Mexico. Feb. PA young
American sailor. clad In the blue uni
form Of the United States navy, has
been lying in dank cell in the filthy
Jail here for six months.
He still has nearly two years to
serve. He is victim Of the thing
that passes for justice in this border
town-justice that hops on the weak
eagerly but approaches the powerful
very gingerly.
His Story
Here is his story:
He is Elmo Kaye Gordon, aged 81.
who came down here on leave from
an American battle ship at San Diego.
He went to a dance hall here and got
into an argument with one Dora Nor
emo, dance hall girl, during WHICH he
struck here.
Thereupon he drew Sentence of
tive years, three months and % days
in Jail. He is lodged in a dim, badly
ventilated cell. is contracting tuber-
culosis there and, if he has to serve
out his term, may not live to the end
Of it.
The Mexican authorities claim he
gouged out one of the girls eyes.
But an investigation started by Com
mander j. B. Smith, Capt. l.. N. Tay-
lor and DR.. j. A. Perez, all Of the
eleventh district Of the U. S. Navy
discloses that she is now working in
a gambling den here and that moth.
ing ut all is the matter with hel
eyes.
/, The navy has demanded Cordon's
I: release. Mexican authorities don''
What Happened 70 Mary
If h sailor strikes prostitute here
he will be punished severely. No one
ever has been or will be punished TO,
| what happened to girl known as
] Mary, an American girl who--bu1
: listen to her story.
| It is told by Captain James NJ. Ad
.amson, q Fnkerton detective who is
here investigating the clubbing te
death in the Jail Of T. N. N. George
wealthy Atlanta, Ca. cotton insur'
ance man. He ran across it accident
ally, and offers it as a tragedy al
bad as the Pctcet case.
Mary came down here with hel
| fiance, also an American. to see the
sights. Scarface, Mexican police
| man, saw her and wanted her. Ht
tore her forcibly away from her H.
ancc and took her to the cuartcl, Of
Jail.
There he attacked her. Then he
threw her into cell and stood by
laughing while six other Mexican:
did tho same. Finally he turned tht
half conscious girl out into 'h'
street.
To Hide Her Shame
Mary's fiancc tried to find her, but
couldn't. She was ashamed, heart
broken. She disappeared somewhere
Neither her lover nor anyone cls'
who knows her has ever seen hcl
since.
What happened in the Jail woult
not be known It an American wa
veteran had not been prisoner ir
an adjacent cell. He saw 1t all ant
gave Adamson an affidavit telling o
And it is not an isolated case. Hun
dreds of girls like Mary have come
down here to see the sights ant
have met with tragedies like hers
u. S. customs officials on the border
know that it is an old story. Man!
girls, in the thrpes of despondenc!
following such experiences. tell thei1
cases to the customs men, but tn
latter are powerless to do anything
The Best Advice
The one thing they can dO--pnt
they do its to issue this advice t.
AL Americans:
"Stay out of Tiajuans."
! But Tiajuana realizes this, and il
now trying frantically to gloss owe
| its sins before the rest Of the world
SO a big purity exploitation cam
paign" is on. l shall tell about j
tomorrow.