Women

Nebraska, 1901

They Drink Not Wisely But Too Well and Are Haled Into Police Court

This morning the police judge was busy trying a bevy of prostitutes taken up in a raid on the lowlands the middle of last December. The trouble all came from a little drunk indulged in by Bell Naden. The 17th of last month she went on a tear and at the same time went calling on her neighbors, which is against the rules. She was in a boisterous condition and the police were notified. They went to Dora Brown's house and found a great rough house. Everybody in the place was about as drunk as they could be, and, from the sounds that penetrated through the walls of the house, were having the biggest kind of a time.

Incidentally they arrested Mattie Head, Bell Naden, Mary Glasco, Hattie Thurbie, Geneva Newberry and Ruth Collins. This morning they appeared in police court for the last time on the charge and received their due.

Mattie Head will wait a few days before paying her fine. Bell Naden drew ten days in the county jail, Mary Glasco was discharged because she was sick, and, Hattie Therbie pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later. Geneva Newberry paid $5 and costs. Ruth Collins did the same.

Dora Brown was also present and raised a great disturbance. Her attorney took occasion to roast the police and did it to a finish. He said that his client was a special mark for the few men who control the destiny of the lowlands. Across the street from Dora Brown's house was another brothel which was much worse but had not been raided. He wanted to know about it.

Miss Dora Brown drew $10 and costs, notwithstanding. This she paid in part, after expressing her opinions to the court. She complained that she was the special mark for police prosecution, that they were running her business and spent their time eavesdropping at her windows. She was a poor innocent prostitute, no worse than the others, but suffered for their crimes.

—Lincoln Evening News, Lincoln, NE, Jan. 7, 1901, p. 6.

Slippery Rock War On Vice, Street Walkers, Debauchery

Pennsylvania, 1913

Sun Calls Upon Citizens to Rise in Their Might and Stamp Out Social Evil

Slippery Rock is in sore need of social house cleaning. In it are festering sores of licentiousness which are spreading so rapidly that the clean and whole part of its body is in danger of infection from the loathsome suppuration. The Sun has been importuned by some people to turn on the light of publicity in an effort to stop the growth of social evil in our midst. Still more people have cautioned silence on the ground that publicity of our shame would "give the town a bad name."

We have come to the point where the town, has a bad name because the people who practice lasciviousness have not been rebuked for their crimes against morality and decency. Emboldened by the evident desire to brush and gloss over their rottenness, the lecherous slaves of a brute passion give little heed to the opinions or sentiments of the moral and virtuous majority and nightly practice their soulless and lustful business.

For years a bunch of girls who have forgotten how to blush have been street walkers and dissolutes, loitering on corners and about public places seeking their mates in the hellish business of social depravity. A brood of nameless illegitimate children are the fruits of their shameless crimes. We have all sympathy for the unfortunate girl who falls because of her love and trust in a lecherous and brutal man, but when in brazen disregard of her own shame or the moral rights of her associates, she persists in the practice of her infamy and seeks to draw mere children, perhaps her own fatherless ones, into the life of virtueless debauchery, even the broad mantle of Christian charity is scarcely able to cover her sin. from such a school was graduated the poor girl who paid the penalty of her shame with her life a few months ago and the recital of which calamity in the public press brought a blush to everyone who owned Slippery Rock as a habitat.

But not alone is the street walker to blame for the condition in our town that is a stench in the nostrils of decency. People who enjoy position in the social, business and church life of the community, have so far forgotten man and womanhood, the marital vows and a sense of moral obligation that they have put themselves on a plane with the back alley dissolutes. And their crimes are greater, because they not only debauch their own moral natures, but invade the homes of neighbors, bringing the horror of undeserved shame upon the innocent wife or husband who learns of the detection of her or his unfaithful mate.

After much deliberation and conferring with those who are working for the moral uplift of the community, The Sun has decided that the only way to stop the obscene and vulgar practice is to turn the spotlight on those who are persistently guilty. Hereafter any scandal touching on the social evil will be printed, and with it the names of the participants, be they street walkers, church workers, business or professional people; not because it is scandal, but that the right kind of publicity may warn the passion slaves that their underworld actions will be shown in the broad light of day. Such a campaign will be more dangerous to dissolute husbands and faithless wives than to the unmarried lawbreakers and that is as it should be. — Slippery Rock Sun.

—Reprinted in New Castle News, New Castle, PA, Oct. 31, 1913, p. 10.

Woman from "Restricted District" Commits Suicide

Reno, 1912

YOUNG WOMAN TIRES OF LIFE

After Filing Suit for Divorce She Takes Poison and Passes Away

At Time of Death Was Leading Miserable Life in This City

Bertha Manhart, a young woman who for some months past has been in a house in the restricted district, died in a local hospital last night from the effects of bichloride of mercury poisoning taken Saturday evening in the house in which she lived, and yesterday afternoon a woman of the same name filed a suit for divorce in the district court against Elmer L. Manhart. The attorneys for the woman who filed the suit state that they do not know whether their client is the same person who died last night or not, but friends of the dead woman state that she is the woman who filed the suit and that her husband resides in Salt Lake City or Chicago. They also state that she had a little daughter in Chicago living with her mother and that her sister, who is said to be a vaudeville artist, is on her way from Salt Lake City to Reno to take charge of the remains and to attend to the administration of her estate.

The woman came to this city about eight months ago and entered a house in the restricted district and it is said that she had two bank accounts in the city and that she also sent considerable money to the east. It has been stated that she is a native of Florida, but acquaintances who claim to know something of her life, state that she came to Reno from Salt Lake city and that prior to that time she was a resident of Chicago.

One of her friends stated this morning that the woman took mercury tablets Saturday evening and was taken to a local hospital and last evening death claimed her.

This morning the county physicians performed an autopsy on the body and tomorrow morning Coroner Lee J. Davis will hold an inquest when more facts concerning the unfortunate woman's life may become known. She was known in the tenderloin district as Margaret.

—Reno Evening Gazette, Reno, June 19, 1912, p. 1.

Two Illinois Girls Capture Wall Street, Polishing Boots

1903

GIRLS CAPTURE WALL STREET.

The Forest Sisters of Champaign, Ill., Polish the Brokers' Boots.

The very newest get-rich-quick concern that ever struck New York was launched in Wall street recently by two pretty young girls from Champaign, Ill. Marie and Belle Forest, two sisters, one 18 years old, the other two years her senior, invaded the field just before the bulls and bears had begun to shout their wares on 'change. These two enterprising maidens, both attractive brunettes, with the red rose bloom of country on their cheeks and smiling mischievously, were busy all day distributing tickets bearing the following legend throughout Wall, Beaver, News and Broad streets:

"This entitles the holder to one shine at the Eagle tonsorial parlor, No. 71 Wall street, on Monday, March 2."

At first the brokers and kings of finance turned to them the real icy countenance. "Don't want any women canvassers," was the answer the Illinois girls had in the offices.

By and by it was learned that the maidens were endeavoring to earn an honest living by shining shoes, and that, too, with dainty white hands. Then "the street fell." Before noon a thousand tickets had been paid for at 10 cents each, and the question now is, how are Belle and Marie going to keep the contract?

What they offer is to shine for one day the boots of every customer who enters the barber shop at No. 71 Wall street. While Marie is at one foot Belle proposes shining up the other.

"I'll just tell you how it was," said the latter, as she spread out fifteen tickets, fanshape, for speedy purchase by gallant brokers in the consolidated exchange. "Marie and I just came from Champaign and we had a notion to start a manicure parlor here. Everybody seems to get rich in this place. We thought it would be easy to earn an honest living.

"But in about three weeks we had not found a thing to do, and our funds were on the last ebb. We were living then in West Twenty-ninth street, right in the Tenderloin district, and the things we saw there just fairly sickened us."

"'Marie,' I said one day, when we did not know whether to have dinner or breakfast, for we were having but one meal per day, 'I'll do any mortal thing rather than live like these women around here. Ill black boots.'

"'Well, just that,' Marie said, 'let's black boots,' and now you know it all. We're going to be on hand next Monday bright and early, practice up in the meantime, and I'll bet we make a lot. Just see the way they're buying tickets."

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 5, 1903, page 2.

Men's Names Shield in Vice Raids, Women's Names Published

Kingston, New York, 1916

MEN SHIELDED IN CITY VICE RAIDS

Women Protest at Action of Police — Publication of One Woman's Name Led Daughter to Leave City for Shame of Exposure

Poughkeepsie women are making a spirited protest because the police in making raids on certain alleged disorderly hotels in that city gave out the names of the women taken but withheld the names of 59 "gentlemen" who were permitted to go. Because of the publication of the name of one of the women in the affair, her daughter who is a young woman of refinement and a member of the Y. W. C. A., was so humiliated that she has disappeared and all efforts to locate her have failed.

Miss Mary Hinkley, president of the Women's League for Civic Education, who led the discussion, pointed out as ridiculous the excuse she said was offered by the district attorney shielding the men, "that many of the latter were respectable and in danger of losing their positions." When some one brought up the argument that the families of the men must be protected, it was asked, "What of the families of the women; what of the case that has just come to light?"

"We are disgusted at this periodic revelation," Miss Mary Hinkley said, "We must clean up the dirt once for all and be thoroughly assured that after one case has been brought to light, paraded to the public gaze and rectified, that another won't be found again and the endless tragedy repeated over and over."

—The Kingston Daily Freeman, Kingston, New York, June 29, 1916, page 2.

Edna Brown Despondent Over Mother's "Career," Drowns Herself

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DRIVEN TO SUICIDE

Pretty Edna Brown, Well Known in Newark and Granville, Despondent Over Her Mother's Career Drowns Herself at Zanesville in the Muskingum River.

Word was received in Newark late Friday of the suicide of Miss Edna Brown, a charming young woman who was a student in Shepardson college from 1894-96, frequently visited Newark friends. The story of the sad affair follows:

Miss Edna Brown aged 22 years committed suicide by jumping into the Muskingum river. The body was recovered at about noon and was taken to the home of her aunt, Mrs. Orville N. Townsend, with whom she lived for the past 12 years. The motive ascribed for the suicide is temporary insanity caused by constant morbidness due to the conduct of her mother, Mrs. Lizzie Brown.

Thursday evening about 9 o'clock the young woman, with her sister Miss Cora, retired for the night, occupying separate beds in the same room. Not until breakfast was ready was she missed. As soon as her absence was learned an investigation was begun and at about the same time it was reported that a woman's hat and a ten-cent piece were found on the river bank. They were identified and a search of the river bed was begun.

Before leaving the Townsend residence Edna placed a new pair of gloves, her purse and a photograph on the hall stand and moved the stand to the front of the steps. She took only the ten cent piece with her and it is presumed that she started out with the intention of purchasing some drug, but finding the stores closed went to the river.

The young woman, who attended the Shepardson college at Granville, and graduated from the Putnam Seminary three years ago, has been employed in the art studio of the Weller Pottery for the past two years. While going back and forth to the seminary and the pottery she was compelled to pass the resort kept by her mother, and she frequently returned to the Townsend house in tears, and exclaimed that she would have to turn her face in an opposite direction to keep from seeing the shameful life which her mother leads, the Brown House on Muskingum avenue being most notorious.

It was this constant shame and disgrace from which she could not escape that caused Edna Brown to become despondent, and when she was stricken ill a week ago from the effects of a carbuncle on her forehead she appeared to give more thought to her mother's career. The swelling caused from the carbuncle prevented her from reading, sewing or painting, and she had much time to think of her troubles.

Edna Brown, a pretty little brunette, was a social favorite in Zanesville, no function in society circles being considered complete without the presence of herself and her sister. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend took the Brown sisters from their mother 12 years ago, and have given them a home which wealth makes happy and refined. The young ladies have been carefully trained and educated and society has taken them in and treated them with a hearty consideration calculated to drive away their natural inclination to despondency. But Edna ever seemed to fear that the world in its baser mood kept a finger of shame pointing toward her. A bright companionable girl, she had little to wish for had it not been for the influence which her mother's life had upon her. It was the one great sorrow that overshadowed her every pleasure. The unfortunate mother, upon learning of her daughter's sad death, became hysterical, but her grief was quite in contrast with the tears of love and affection that streamed from the eyes of Mrs. Townsend when the frail little body was carried into her home. Mrs. Brown's wailings aroused the neighborhood, but there was none to sympathize with her grief.

It has even been said that Mrs. Brown with one or more of her boon companions, has been wont to promenade in front of the Townsend residence frequently. Her husband, who was of a good family, died about 15 years ago, and it was after his death that the woman adopted the life she now leads.

Before leaving her home Edna put on a walking skirt, a silk waist, jacket, walking shoes and white kid gloves. She was scantily clad.

At the last ball of the Assembly Dancing Club two weeks ago, Edna Brown wore a fashionable gown of pale blue, and her dark hair was dressed in Janice Meredith style. Her splendid beauty was frequently commented upon. She seemed unusually happy and bright. Her tragic death and the sad circumstances surrounding it have caused universal gloom.

A sequel of the tragedy may be found in the threats against her mother. The woman will probably be compelled to leave the city.

--Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, December 15, 1900, page 7.