The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-07-20
Interesting Story of Under world Revealed with
 This City as Finale

is as follows:
 Betty (F'renchy) Ryan was re- leased today from the city work house as a reward for her help in convicting three persons. two of them policemen. on charges involv- ing protection of the house of ill fame she formerly operated at PAP Hennepin Avenue.
 She was freed on recommenda- tion of County Attorney Ed J. Golf who said: Tn view of all the services she has rendered the state in the past and in view of future services, maybe, I recommend the court ex- tend leniency to this defendant
 "As the hearing ended, Golf asked her to come to his office to be served with a subpoena to appear at trial of Clarence McClaskey, detective supervisor, September g on an in- dictment charging bribery.
 Miss Ryan appeared in a black form fitting dress and postage stamp hat, decorated with flowers, and filmsy veil, and at one stage of the proceedings appeared some what overcome She asked for water and her attorney got it for her.
 "She served five months of her sentence of one year in the work house for operating the house of ill fame.
 "She was ordered to leave the state and stay away except for visits to her parents and trips here to appear as a witness at later trials.
 "The remainder of her sentence was suspended for two years, as was S1,00O fine assessed at the same time she was sentenced.
 Two indictments, enc charging operation of a house of ill fame at 422 Hennepin in 1937, the other charging sale of liquor without a l license, were nOlled.
 After the hearing, she went with Mrs. Agnes Lutz, superintendent of the women's workhouse, to Goff's office to be subpoenaed.
 "She will, she said. take a plane tonight to Chicago, then drive west enroute to JUNEAU, ALASKA, where she said she hopes to start life over again.
 "She has, Golf said in discussing her case, rendered valuable aid by appearing in five trials {three in- volving Charles Grunewald, assist ant morals squad head. convicted at third trial, of wilful neglect of duty; one involving Al Palmer sten, morals squad head, convicted of similar charge, and one in- volving Dave Weisman, alleg e d "payoff man." convicted of com pounding felony). We could not have obtained convictions without her Golf said. Although she was in a vicious busi- ness, I don't believe she is vicious as the police who permitted her to operate.
 Testimony disclosed police re- ceived money for extending her this favor. Of all the witnesses who appeared in these trials I believe she has been the most truthful of any. She has made a clean breast of the past.
 Though there are two indict- ments pending against her, the ln- dictment charging operation of a house of ill fame at 422 Hennepin was brought by a grand jury which did not have all the facts before it. Miss Ryan was charged when, in fact, Vera Moore was operating the place.
 "'So in view of the service she has rendered the state, I believe she has served sufficient length of time. She has served considerably longer than the sentences served by other women charged with sim liar offenses. Some of them were released within 60 days
 At this point Judge Luther w. Youngdahl called Miss Ryan to the stand
 He asked her if she intended to visit her parents at Frazee, Minn., and she answered in the affirma- tive. He asked her if she was will ing to get out of the state and stay out except for visits to her parents, if extended leniency.
 "'Yes,' she said, but I have a home here. I'll have to do some thing about that
 Haven't you a sister here? Couldn't she arrange to dispose Of your home?'
 "'Yes, she could
 "'If needed to testify in other cases here, will you come back?
 "'Yes.'
 "'The most important considera- tion, Judge Youngdahl said, is your own future. You have chance to Head the kind of life you should lead. Your past has brought you no happiness. and it had no future You were always in trouble. + "sYou should seek new environ meut where you will not be hounded