Hookers, Fair Soiled Doves & Ladies of the Night - 1873 to 1887

[COL. A. M. YORK.]

WINFIELD COURIER, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1873 - FRONT PAGE.]

Col. A. M. York.

This individual, who has obtained so much notoriety in connection with the Pomeroy scandal in Kansas, is not a stranger to Tennessee. He served in the U. S. army in this state in the years 1864, 1865, and 1868, having been stationed at various times at Shelbyville, Bedford county, Springfield, Robertson county, and elsewhere in the country around Nashville.

He was at one time captain of company G, of the 15th U. S. colored infantry. This regiment was made up at Columbia, Shelbyville, and Springfield, Tennessee. Many of our readers will remember that about the time of the enlistment of these troops there were certain agents from Massachusetts in this state, enlisting colored soldiers to fill the quota of that state. These agents received from $1,000 to $2,500 bounty for each soldier so enlisted. Many of the soldiers of the regiment above referred to were enlisted as Massachusetts recruits, and were credited to that state. The colonel and lieutenant colonel of the regiment were implicated in these transactions, and were said to have received $500 for each recruit in their regiment so enlisted, and credited to Massachusetts. Captain York was author of the plot by which these officers were induced to take part in these unlawful transactions, and which resulted in their being court-martialed, convicted, and sentenced. Lieutenant Jackson to pay a fine of $25,000 or to be confined at hard labor in the penitentiary for five years; and Col. T. Jeff. Downey to be dismissed from the service.

At all events Captain York was the principal witness against them; and after their removal, he was made colonel of the regiment. It was generally believed that he acted as a spy, informer, and prosecutor against them, in order to accomplish his own ambitious designs. He was looked upon as a smart, scheming, unscrupulous, and ambitious man, who stopped at nothing which could contribute to his success.

He had a brother who was assistant surgeon of the regiment, but was court-martialed and dismissed for bringing a prostitute into the camp disguised in the uniform of a soldier, and who had been retained for some time as cook.

There are a few of the reminiscences of the citizens of Nashville and vicinity in regard to this scheming adventurer. He was mustered out--with his regiment--at Nashville, in 1866, and subsequently went to Shelbina, Missouri, where he established a newspaper; from thence he went to Kansas, where his adroitness as a conspirator has given him an unenviable notoriety.

Nashville Bulletin.

---

[QUANTRELL.]

WALNUT VALLEY TIMES, FEBRUARY 13, 1874 - FRONT PAGE.

QUANTRELL.

While seated in the office of the Eldridge House, Sunday evening, we entered into conversation with a gentleman from New York, connected with a large dry goods house there, whom we have known for the past six years. Among other topics the Quantrell massacre was brought up, when our friend remarked that he had personal acquaintance with Quantrell, knew his antecedents, early history, etc., and the circumstances connected with his death.

At our request, he made the following statement.

"Quantrell's name was William Charles Quantrell, son of Thomas H. Quantrell. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, or very near there. When he was about two years old, his father with his family moved to Canaldover P. O. (village of Dover), Tuscarawas County, Ohio. I was living in Dover in 1843 and became acquainted with the family, who traded at my store. The Grandfather of William lived in Washington and was a professional gambler. He died in New York about six years ago. His uncle was sentenced to the Maryland penitentiary for twenty years for stealing. His father was a coppersmith by trade, a man of fine appearance and good education. He abandoned his trade later in life and took to school teaching, and at the time of his death (1854) was Superintendent of the Union School at Dover. His father published a book called "Mechanic Arts," and purchased the first patent right for the practice of the Daguearean art. He died poor. His mother was a very ordinary woman, both in education and personal appearance. Her maiden name was Hart. There were four children, of whom our Quantrell was the oldest. His sister Mary died about one year ago. The other two children are boys and still live with the old lady in DoverCone is a cripple.

Will Quantrell left his home in August, 1854, the same year his father died, and ultimately came to Kansas with other people from Dover, including Colonel Harry Torry, once of Paola, and several young men. In the course of a year the young men returned home and gave a bad account of Will, stating he was a hard case and was stealing and pillaging half his time. This report surprised his friends very much, for he had left with the best wishes of all his acquaintances and high hopes were entertained of his life in the West."

Our informant then went on to say that some time ago he became acquainted in New York with a man named White, who said he had not only known Quantrell, but at one time was a member of his band. He said Quantrell first collected five men together and told them of a rich man living near Kansas City, who had stock and money which they could easily rob him of. He got them to follow him there, and when they reached the confines of the farm, he told them to wait while he went ahead to reconnoiter. He went to the house and informed the proprietor of the men outside his farm, told him their object, and arranged an ambuscade, into which he afterwards led his followers and everyone was killed. For this treachery Quantrell got a certain sum of money and a fine mare.

White once asked Quantrell why he sacrificed his comrades in Kansas City, and Quantrell replied that they had belonged to Jennison's Jayhawkers and had killed two of his brothers; he was after revenge. This story was of course untrue.

White states that whenever Quantrell was hard pushed by his pursuers he would flee to the house of a friend at Paola, where he would sometimes remain concealed for several days. The last time he was there he had gone to bed when his friend came to his bed and aroused him, for "they were after him." Quantrell jumped out of the window, reached and mounted his mare, and fled rapidly out of town. This is the last time he was known to be at Paola. White left the band in a short time, or as soon as he found out how desperate and lawless a crew he was associated with, and went to Texas. When White was in St. Louis a year or so ago, he met a woman there who was keeping a house of prostitution whom he recognized as Quantrell's old mistress. He called to see her and learned from her lips the sequel of Quantrell's life.

After Quantrell sacked Lawrence he fled across Missouri into Kentucky without molestation, but at Columbus or Fort Pillow, Kentucky, the band had a skirmish with a small body of Union troops, in which Quantrell was wounded in the knee. He was taken to Lexington, Kentucky, placed in the Sisters of Charities hospital, where he died. Before his death he sent for a Catholic priest to whom he confessed all. He had $5,600 in cash about his person, one-half of which he gave the priest for charitable purposes and the balance he gave to his mistress, with which she purchased furniture and started a house of ill-fame; which at last accounts she was keeping in St. Louis.

Lawrence Journal.

[COMMENTS.]

FEBRUARY 19, 1880.

Old Mrs. Clarke, who lives on Posey Creek, in Pleasant Valley township, was arrested last Saturday on complaint of Charles H. Payson, charged with having committed adultery with a man named McCrate. The case was tried before 'Squire Boyer, and was the most disgusting affair that ever encumbered the docket of a criminal court. If one-half the facts that come to our ears are true (and the neighbors seem to think they are), this Clarke outfit ought to be drummed out of the community. COURIER.

---

The above is a sample of the fairness of the COURIER. Here is a woman who trusted all the money she had to Payson, and he converted it to his own use, and because she prosecuted and had him disbarred for it, he got up this charge against her. She was tried before a jury of twelve men, good men, everyone of them, and they found her not guilty, and that the complaint was malicious. Why is it that the COURIER is ever defending such men as Payson, and assaulting poor, ignorant, and defenseless people like this unfortunate woman? It can only be accounted for upon the theory, that "birds of a feather flock together." If this poor woman is to be drummed out of the community for merely being charged with the crime of adultery, what shall be done with the man who robs her? The COURIER is quick to assualt Mrs. Clarke, but its columns are closed to anything reflecting upon Payson, who took advantage of her. Monitor.

REPLY BY COURIER.

The idea that the above item was calculated to "defend Payson," is simply absurd, and will not receive a second thought at the hands of sensible men. If he has defrauded this woman out of her money, he is no less guilty than if he had stolen from respectable people. Of the Clarke outfit, we have but few words to say. From the admission of parties, this man McCrate was once the husband of Mrs. Clarke, and is the father of several of her children. He still lives with them, apparently master of the premises, although he is passed off as a brother-in-law. Mr. Clarke is a decript old man, nearly deaf, and easily imposed upon. These simple facts, even if they were not backed up by evidence of a nature too revolting to appear in print, would be enough to brand them as the lowest of the low. Numbers of the best citizens of Pleasant Valley township have, during the past three weeks, complained to us of the Clarke's; but we have refrained from speaking of the matter until convinced that the community would be better off without them. Brother Conklin is in poor business when he puts this outfit up as a picture of "injured innocence," and installs himself as their champion. If he needs must have some subject at which to direct the effervescence of a too fertile brain, we would humbly suggest that he give us a few "grammatical criticisms." They would at most be harmless and equally as foolish.

---

Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.

McCrate, et. al., who formerly figured so prominently in the reports of the Cadiz Township Trustees, in the exhibition of expenditures for c. d. p., and whose divorce from McCrate and hasty marriage to old man Clark were noticed in these columns, are making themselves as famous in Kansas as they were in Cadiz. They will find out McCrate, et. al., in the court of time.

Cadiz (Ohio) Sentinel.

We have found them out already, and they will learn ere long that we have no more use for them here than they had in Cadiz.

[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, FEBRUARY 2, 1881.]

There are eight or ten prostitutes plying their trade in Arkansas City at the present time. Better deal with them as with the saloons--make a legal business of it, or stop it.

---

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Editors Traveler: Have we any law in this community? It is understood that our present council was elected for the purpose of making $600 per year out of our saloons. But is there no limit prescribed by law for the saloon traffic? Did our council license these saloons to sell liquor to minors? No; yet not a day passes but the stripling in his teens raps up the drinks for himself and crowd and your smiling bar-tender pockets the money. The law plainly says that no habitual drunkard shall get liquor in a saloon; yet every night the poor besotted beasts that once were men totter to and from the bar as long as they can stand--or so long as their money lasts.

Gambling is forbidden; yet every citizen of Arkansas City is satisfied in his own mind that a set of landsharks infest this city and "rope in" whoever they may. They have attempted every crime known to State and society--and make no secret of it. They are proud of it, and would have us to know that they are "bad men"--which means cowardly blacklegs in English.

But a few nights ago a darkey was made to dance in one of our saloons, while the drunken keeper fired a pistol at his feet. A certain saloon here makes no pretense to closing at 11 p.m. or on Sunday. Certain men in this town have violated the law sufficiently to send them to the penitentiary, and our marshal knows it, yet no notice is taken of it. What is the cause of all this?--what does it mean? It looks very much as if the saloon element owned our council, boots and breeches. You say the fault lies with the city marshal. So it does, but that doesn't help the matter any. He knows the law is violated every day, but for reasons best known to himself, he makes no arrests--and what are you going to do about it? I make no direct charges yet, but this thing must be stopped. Let our council wake up, and see that better order is kept. If one man won't do his duty, get one who will.

There is one thing certain--it will cost this city all the revenue obtained from saloons to pay a competent marshal. I have said nothing about a house of prostitution now in operation in our city. A certain city official said there was no ordinance bearing on this subject; hence they could do nothing. Some men would have brilliancy enough to pass a necessary ordinance in the course of a lifetime. Our mayor and councilmen are men of sense, at least. Let them ponder on the present state of affairs, and then take active measures looking to a radical reform.

Respectfully,

CITIZEN.

---

"Citizen" has some good at all events. See ordinance.

[Published February 9, 1881.]

ORDINANCE NO. 88.

Entitled an ordinance relating to misdemeanors.

Be it ordained by the Mayor and councilmen of the city of Arkansas City:

SECTION 1. Bawdy houses--Whoever shall, in this city, keep a bawdy house, or houses of ill-fame, or assignation house, or shall permit any tenements under his or her control to be used for such purposes, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than ten dollars.

SECTION 2. Who shall be deemed keeper. Every person appearing, or acting as master or mistress, or having the care, use, or management for the time, of any house mentioned in section one of this ordinance, shall be deemed a keeper thereof within the meaning and intent of said section.

SECTION 3. Inmates of Bawdy houses. That any person, male or female, who shall be an inmate of, or boarder or lodger in a house of ill-fame, or prostitution, or assignation in this city, or who shall visit or frequent any such house for lewd, licentious, obscene, or indecent purpose, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars, and the fact of any person being found in any such house in the night time, between the hours of 6 o'clock p.m. and 6 o'clock a.m., or being found in such house at any other time under suspicious circumstances, shall be prima facie evidence of his or her visiting or frequenting the same for such purpose, or of being an inmate thereof.

SECTION 4. Keeping prostitutes. Any person who shall keep, maintain, or harbor, in this city, any female prostitute, knowing her to be such, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than five nor more than fifty dollars.

SECTION 5. Unlawful cohabitation. That it shall be unlawful for a man and woman to abide and cohabit together, in this city, as husband and wife, not being married; and any person or persons violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined in a sum not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars.

SECTION 6. That ordinance No. 88 shall be and remain in force on and after its publication once in one of the city

papers.

A. J. CHAPEL, Mayor.

Attest: I. H. BONSALL, City Clerk.

---

Winfield Courier, May 5, 1881.

The marshal came near capturing a lady of the "fair but frail" order Saturday evening. He worked the case up admirably, found out where she resided, and that she was "at home," etc., etc., but while he was gone after more men to make the arrest, the lady escaped. John now regrets that he didn't attempt to capture her with the force then at hand.

---

[FROM THE WELLINGTONIAN.]

Winfield Courier, MAY 30, 1881.

A fair soiled dove rejoicing in the name of Belle Lockwood, went to Winfield last week, to buy morphine. Returning to this city she became intoxicated, and while in that condition was robbed of fifteen dollars, and Jim Reynolds, a brakeman on the K. C. L. & S. K. R. R., was charged with the aforesaid steal. The trial was set for last Monday morning, to be heard by Jas. Lawrence. In the absence of positive jurisdiction, the latter official dismissed the case.

[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, MARCH 22, 1882.]

The house just outside the city limits, on the north part of town, occupied by Mollie Burke and one or two prostitutes, took fire last Tuesday afternoon, and burned to the ground. Some furniture and carpet were consumed with the building.

---

The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, March 8, 1883.

Shooting at Hunnewell.

A report came in late last night to the effect that R. V. Dodd, employed as cattle inspector at Hunnewell, had been killed at that place by Pat Hanley, a herder in the employ of Syl. Flitch. Dodd left Caldwell for Hunnewell late on Wednesday afternoon, and upon arriving at the latter place, hit Hanley with a revolver. Hanley pulled his pistol and shot Dodd, killing him almost instantly.

This is the story as given us. It is also said that the trouble between the two men was of long standing, and grew out of their relations to one of the prostitutes of Hunnewell.

Arkansas City Republican, August 15, 1885.

A Bold Game Tried on an Innocent Girl Near Cedarvale.

A warrant is out for the arrest of Sam McWhirt, who lives near Hart=s Mills, charged with taking a young lady--Hettie Conklin--away from her home for the purpose of prostitution. The particulars are as follows: It seems that Miss Conklin had been employed to do house work in the family of G. W. McKinney--McWhirt=s father-in-law--who resides in this city, but had left there some time ago and gone to her home, about four miles east of town. It is reported that McWhirt had remarked in the hearing of certain parties that he believed he would go to Miss Conklin and ostensibly employ the girl to do house work and then take her to the territory for the purpose above mentioned, and it appears that one day last week he attempted to carry out his nefarious scheme. He went to the home of the girl and represented that he came for her at the request of Mr. McKinney, who wished to employ her again to do house-work. She finally consented to go with McWhirt and they started, but instead of coming here McWhirt drove toward the territory. The girl saw they were not on the road to town and spoke of it, but McWhirt quieted her by saying they would first go to his house near Hart=s Mills, and then back to town. In the meantime Mr. McKinney had in some way learned that McWhirt had gone off with Miss Conklin and started in pursuit. He overtook the couple below Hart=s Mills near the territory line. Covering McWhirt with a revolver, he told the girl to get into his buggy, which she lost no time in doing. McWhirt was then allowed to go his way and McKinney brought Miss Conklin back home. The girl=s stepfather, George Wendover, the next day swore out a warrant for the arrest of McWhirt, but at this writing he has not been captured. Cedarvale Star.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 2, 1886.

One hundred and ten of the most substantial citizens of Caldwell, Sumner County, have organized themselves into a Law and Order league. The following being one of the resolutions adopted by them will explain the objects of the organization: AResolved, That we demand of the mayor and all the city and county officers the enforcement of all state and city laws by which the city may be rid of all gamblers, vagrants, and prostitutes.@

Arkansas City Republican, January 23, 1886.

Since the arrest of Geo. Cuppy, it has transpired that he is wanted by authorities out west. He purchased a team of horses in the vicinity of Attica and mortgaged it. He brought the team here and sold it to a farmer over in Bolton, so we are told. The money he secured for the team he squandered on the two prostitutes who were arrested with him. It is very likely to go pretty hard with young Cuppy if all that is told of him be facts.

Arkansas City Republican, February 20, 1886.

Monday night the council passed an ordinance against prostitution. Thursday Mollie Anthony, Jennie Jones, and Dora _____, all professionals from Winfield, were taken in by Marshal Gray under its provisions. They were taken before Judge Bryant and plead Aguilty.@ Each was fined $10 and costs. Jennie Jones and Dora _______ paid, but Mollie Anthony asked for an extension of time. She was returned in custody. These women had their resort near Rosenberg=s restaurant.

Arkansas City Republican, February 20, 1886.

The REPUBLICAN does not advocate the uses of dynamite in all cases, but there are many in which its use is justifiable. A short time since two girls who cared naught for their woman-hood appeared in the 1st ward and opened up a house of ill fame. In a few days the citizens gave them notice to leave. The girls refused and in a night or so afterward they were very much surprised to hear a very loud report and at the same time have their shanty picked up and whirled around off the foundation. Giant powder did it, and now the girls have gone. That is the way houses of prostitution disappear in ward No. 1.

Arkansas City Republican, March 20, 1886.

[MORE JOTTINGS.]

Annie Davis was arrested by Marshal Gray Thursday, on the charge of prostitution. Judge Bryant fined her $10 and costs. She paid up in full.

Arkansas City Republican, March 20, 1886.

[MORE JOTTINGS.]

Mrs. Sarah Mendenhall was arrested Monday morning on the charge of prostitution. She was taken before Judge Bryant, plead guilty, and was fined $10 and costs. Total, $19.50. She paid.

Arkansas City Republican, April 24, 1886.

[MORE JOTTINGS.]

Four prostitutes paid into the city treasury their monthly installment of $10 and costs each, Tuesday.

Arkansas City Republican, May 22, 1886.

Yesterday Sheriff McIntire was in the city. It became rumored that he had a state warrant for the arrest of the prostitutes in the city, and the consequence was that inside of an hour after the rumor got abroad, the birds had flown. The sheriff was down on other business.

Arkansas City Republican, May 29, 1886.

There is a city ordinance prohibiting females from running houses of ill-fame. Yet there is no ordinance for the punishment of men who visit these houses. We hope our city fathers will attend to this matter. It is useless to try to break up prostitution unless a penalty is fixed for each of the criminals.

Arkansas City Republican, June 19, 1886.

Halt!

There is a time in the course of events when a halt should be called in everything. It is talked generally upon our streets and is a well-known fact to nearly everyone that the upstairs of several business houses in this city are being rented by the owners to lewd women, who sell their chastity as a means of gaining a livelihood. This state of things has been in existence for some time. The REPUBLICAN has said nothing upon the subject, supposing our city officers would, as soon as they could get sufficient proof of evil doings, rout them out, but, alas, they close their eyes, only too willing to stand aside and do nothing, except seeing that a small fine is paid into the city treasury once a month. The owners of the buildings, cannot claim they do not know these women to be prostitutes, for their tenants have appeared before Judge Bryant several times and entered the plea of Aguilty.@ They are cognizant of all, yet they appear to be willing to sell their good name for a few dollars. Why is this? Have they become entangled in the meshes of the fallen women?

In the upstairs of a business block, three of Arkansas City=s best families have made their homes. The lady members of each family have been annoyed and frightened almost to death a number of times by brutes in the shape of men seeking the proteges of these aforesaid businessmen. The husband of one of these ladies tells us that only a few days since a burly man came upstairs, rapped at the parlor door, and upon the lady opening it, pushed by her into the room without saying a word, and sat down in a chair. As good fortune would have it, assistance was near and the unwelcome visitor was speedily gotten rid of.

The above instance is only one of the many to which the lady members of these respectable families have been subjected, simply because they have made their homes in the second story of property which they own.

As we stated at the start, it is time to call a halt. If certain businessmen of Arkansas City cannot do business unless there is a bawdy house above them, let respectable citizens force them to remove to a back street, and there live and die in their lustful desires.

Arkansas City Republican, June 19, 1886.

Police Court.

Monday Judge Bryant shed his ulster and set himself on ice to keep cool. Cases came in thick and fast. The following were the ones disposed of.

Nellie Tartar was arrested for prostitution; but before the judge, plead not guilty. Her trial was set for Tuesday morning. She was turned loose upon her recognizance, with hopes that she would emigrate to some other seaport and not stand trial. Nellie has been fore his honor several times and heretofore always plead guilty.

Arkansas City Republican, June 19, 1886.

This morning Nellie Tarter, who is up for prostitution, appeared before Judge Bryant and informed him that she would not stand trial, but would plead guilty. She was fined $10 and costs. She paid part of it and asked until Saturday to Arustle@ the remainder. Her petition was granted.

Arkansas City Republican, July 3, 1886.

[MORE JOTTINGS...FROM MONDAY=S DAILY.]

CALLING A HALT.

Under something like the above caption, our daily contemporary recently indulged in a scathing and savage criticism upon some of our businessmen, which contained a rather pointed inference in regard to their own personal characters. While the motive which prompted the article was perhaps a laudable one, our brother editor must remember that there are subjects which cannot be quite so plainly discussed in print, and that so public a warfare upon certain forms of vice and immorality are more injurious than beneficial to the cause of virtue and morality. The article in question was a notorious and effective advertisement of the very class of individuals and forms of vice which it attacks, and can only result in their favor. While we are no defender of vice and immorality, and would as heartily delight to see our city kept pure and unsullied from all contaminating influences, yet we believe that so long as such forms of vice abound, it is far better that it be confined to the business streets of the city than allowed to infest the residence portion with its degrading influence, as it has done in time past.

The above Abeautiful@ paragraph is taken from the Democrat. It is a splendid performance of the almost worn-out act of carrying water on both shoulders, for which our able contemporary is noted. We admit the first sentence of the above article to be true, but in the second we fall out with him when he says it is not within the province of the press to discuss such subjects. We claim that through the press such evils should be shown up. That it is a duty which an editor owest to God and man. Every journal should place itself on the side of morality and put itself on record in this wise: AWhile we are no defenders of vice and immorality,@ yet we will close our eyes and permit such vice to exist for the few paltry dollars we get from the evil-doers in the way of patronage. Every great evil of the day has been attacked by the press and shown up in its true colors. Noble minded people are thus aroused to action, causing them to put their shoulders to the wheel in the eradication of it. We have heard our Democratic neighbor say the Republican party was a party of corruption and vice and yet it has attacked it with all its might, forgetting that it was affording Anotorious and effective@ advertising for the Aform of vice@ and that Aclass of individuals@ it was attacking Aand which could only result in their favor.@

How inconsistent our neighbor is, especially when it comes to institutions of vice of which he is an ardent admirer and defender. We have read tirade after tirade in our neighbor=s sheet where he indulges in savage remarks about the Aboys@ gambling in some back room. This was all proper and we compliment him for the good he did. But, when it comes to ventilating houses of prostitution, an evil that is the full-pledged cousin of gambling, he tells that one must say naught because it affords effective and notorious advertising to the evil attacked.

The REPUBLICAN is not in favor of houses of prostitution being allowed in the city, especially on the main business street, and if there are businessmen in the city who have no more regard for their once good name than to rent the upstairs of their blocks to lewd women, they deserve considerable Anotorious and effective@ advertising.

Arkansas City Republican, July 17, 1886.

ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS, JULY 10TH, 1886.

To all whom it may concern and the public at large.

I, Samuel E. Wright, hereby state that all reports of prostitution which I circulated on my wife and daughter are false and unfounded.

Arkansas City Republican, July 24, 1886.

Jennie Parker, Mollie York, and Martha Taylor, were arrested this morning for running a house of prostitution. Before Judge Bryant they plead guilty and paid the fine of $10 and costs each.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 18, 1886.

Police Court Doings.

There was a disturbance in a bagnio on Summit Street on Friday night, which led to the arrest of all the inmates, and their appearance in the police court the next day. Fred J. Webb was the first offender tried, the charge against him being unlawful cohabitation. His story was that he had treated one of the inmates of the house to a carriage ride, had had a social time with her, and when he arrived at her rooms went to bed to sleep off his debauch. While in the house he was assaulted by J. J. Thompson and driven out into the street. Fined $10 and $7 costs.

J. J. Thompson was next arraigned for unlawful cohabitation and assault. His assessment was $25 fine and $6 costs.

Mrs. Jeffries, for keeping a house of ill fame, was mulcted $10 and $4 costs; and her daughter, Miss Jeffries, for being an inmate of a disorderly house, was assessed in the same amount.

The same day Police Judge Bryant was called on to settle an African war waged in the fourth ward. Ross Warner with a voluble tongue and profuse vocabulary of epithet, assailed Maggie Solomon, who procured her arrest for disturbing the peace. The irate Ross condoned her offense by paying $2.50 fine and $4.10 expenses.

Arkansas City Republican, September 18, 1886.

The indictment in the district court against E. M. Hutchison for keeping a bawdy house was quashed Wednesday by Judge Torrance on account of some flaw. Yesterday he was re-arrested by Sheriff McIntire, on another warrant. He gave bond for his recognizance in the sum of $500.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.

From Our Exchanges.

WINFIELD VISITOR: Billy Green, a painter, came near ending his earthly existence yesterday by taking the morphine route to glory. He got stuck on Becky Hulse, a girl at the Occidental Hotel, and was told yesterday that he needn=t come anymore. Billy said he would go and kill himself and proceeded to take so large a dose of morphine that it required the services of a doctor to keep him on this man-dane sphere.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 13, 1886.

Complaint comes to this office of the ill treatment of a two-year-old child by its mother--a fast woman, who lives over Godehard=s store. The suffering inflicted on the little innocent is said to be merciless, and we publish this complaint that the city marshal may acquaint himself with the facts.

Arkansas City Republican, October 16, 1886.

We are informed by city officers that there is a woman who lives in the upstairs of the B. F. Child=s building, who is a fiend incarnate. She is the mother of an 18 months= old babe, and the brutal treatment she subjects it to is horrible. She appeared in police court the other day to answer to the charge of prostitution. She had the babe with her and its little face and body bore many bruises which the cruel hand of the unnatural mother had inflicted. Can this be a Christian community and permit such fiendishness to exist?

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 22, 1886.

A WASHING OF FAMILY LINEN.

A Slight Overhauling of the Social Abominations in our City.

[THERE WERE SOME MORE SUBHEADINGS...FOLLOWED BY POETRY...BUT I COULD NOT READ CLEARLY...SO I SKIPPED.]

The violation of the prohibition law and the demoralization that is spreading through our community in consequence of the flagrant disregard of law are topics that engage every tongue. Some of our citizens who profess to speak from personal knowledge, declare that we have dives now open in our city, which are the centres of dissipation and debauchery, as unblushing and menacing to the public welfare as ever existed in the border towns of this state during their palmy days. The evil has long existed; it has been recognized as a public scandal; it has been cited in other localities as a reproach to our city. But these lawbreakers have been allowed to pursue their unholy callings unchecked; they have derived their support from lawless characters who naturally gravitate to such sinks of iniquity, until this dangerous element has acquired force and cohesion; and now the better class of our citizens have a work of purification on their hands, which will require resolution and unity of purpose to consummate.

The question is naturally asked, what is our city government about that this bad state of things is not corrected? Our mayor is not lacking in enterprise and astuteness; our police force has been strengthened lately in order to deal efficiently with the hard cases who make this city their resort; and the machinery of the courts is certainly competent to deal out justice to offenders. But complaint is made that Mayor Schiffbauer is remiss in the performance of his duty; that he is unreserved in his condemnation of the prohibition law--believing it the legislative work of purists and fanatics--and openly scoffs at all attempts to provide for the efficient administration of our city affairs. He is naturally interested in the method of raising a sufficient revenue, and meeting all demands on the city exchequer. His talk to all his friends is that the income to be derived from high license far exceeds the amount that can be raised by the occupation tax; the use of liquors as a beverage cannot be abolished, and it is the sheerest absurdity to close the saloons and yet allow the traffic to go on under gauzy disguises. With this feeling in his mind the mayor seems to forget that he is merely an executive officer; that the laws are made by another power, and that it is his duty to administer them fairly.

The members of the council appear to be affected with a similar indifference. In a recent meeting of that body, Councilman Hill called attention to the lax manner in which offenders were dealt with by the city magistrate, trifling fines being imposed where heavy penalties are prescribed in the city ordinance. Judge Bryant, being present in the council chamber, explained that he was acting under orders from some of our municipal officers, and felt himself hampered in the performance of duty by some sort of circular combination closed around him. This officer seems to forget that he is elected by the people, and that his responsibility is solely due to them. Of this fact he was admonished by the councilman from the first ward, who to strengthen the magistrate=s hands, offered a resolution that when dealing with habitual offenders against certain city ordinances, the police just be instructed to impose the full penalty prescribed. But not a second could be obatined to the resolution.

In another column briefly reporting the trial of a jointist, named Gant, in Justice Lindsay=s court, a whole array of suggestive developments was made which our citizens may peruse with profit. This young man had been keeping a clandestine bar on an upper floor on Summit Street for five months, and during this time he had given in the way of fines (or hush money) $512. Councilman Thompson visited his saloon every month, with the regularity of a landlord receiving his rent, collected his little bill ($100 it appears in this case), and the saloonist supposed this gave immunity to his illicit trade. Nine joints are reported in the city, which pay a monthly bonus or divy of $50 to Capt. Thompson. These transactions are entered in no book, but we have Judge Bryant=s statement that the $50 fine is paid over to him in each case, and by him covered into the city treasury; the odd $2 being divided between himself and the collector as a sort of balm to the conscience.

How many houses of ill fame (under their various disguises) are running in this city, we have no official record. These scurvy establishments are under the management of Marshal Gray, who also makes his monthly rounds, and collects $10 from every courtesan he meets. This, we are also to suppose, finds its way into the city treasury, through the hands of the police justice.

It will be remembered that when Judge Bryant entered on his duties nearly two years ago, he incurred the severe displeasure of the mayor and our city council because he failed to make his collections pay the expenses of his office. Swashbuckler bravos might incarnadine the town, and in the mere exuberance of imbibed spirits, fire their revolvers at random. Judge Bryant=s mulct would be a dollar and costs. Young men of a sportive turn of mind could have lots of fun at a very trifling expense. His judgement was impugned by his censors, but his friends urged in defense that he had a heart as big as a quarter of beef. Councilman Davis, having less regard for sentiment than the speedy redemption of outstanding city scrip, put his sole foot down on Athis monkey business,@ as he termed it, and peremptorily ordered the police judge to cinch every mother=s son that came before him.

Sources of city revenue are more abundant now, and Judge Bryant=s office pays a snug little subsidy to the city. But what assurance have we that all the fines professedly paid, into his hands, find their way into the city treasury? The jointists, the prostitutes, and the gamblers, an immaculate class of which the city may be proud, are all willing to pay liberal charges if this will secure them immunity from disturbance. Such an arrangement seems like compounding a felony; but if the wages of sin are to be paid in coin, certainly it should be honestly applied to public uses.

But this whole method of dealing with law breakers stands condemned on the face of it. It is too much like a family arrangement. Our city officers are not paid to encourage evil doers by dividing profit with them, and evidently they are ashamed of the business by their endeavors to hide their dealings from the public view. The effect is baleful and is daily growing worse. It is the duty of the city council to make diligent quest into this matter, to inform themselves why these contraband liquor dealers, these lewd women, and these festive spirits on the green are not rigorously hunted up, effectually rooted out, and their charnal houses abolished. Let the city be purged of its present infamy. According to our understanding of the matter, every member of the city government owes it to his good report to deliver himself from this disgraceful condition of things.

Arkansas City Republican, December 25, 1886.

Fannie Keller, a prostitute, got drunk on morphine yesterday, and was arrested by Marshal Gray for disturbing the peace. She was without friends or money, and the marshal bought her a ticket and sent her to Wichita, where she claimed she had friends who would look after her.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 29, 1886.

SCURRILOUS INNUENDO.

AIt does seem strange to fair and liberal minded men of our thriving city that there is a few in our midst finding fault with our honorable mayor and city council, when they are doing all they can for the interest and welfare of our booming city (and how we do boom). Never in the history of Arkansas City could you find the improvements going on and the business transacted by our merchants, with real estate doubled and trebled in value as under our present administration; and yet we have to tolerate these growlers and back-biters, who are making money and getting rich among us. My advice to these would be to move to the little village of Winfield, where they may get their whiskey straight in the drug stores, take it home, or to some hotel, and get a dining room girl to your room and have her shoot you. That does away with joints and houses of prostitution. Brother Lockley or any others whose minds are worried over the city finances derived from joints and houses of prostitution, are respectfully referred to Judge Bryant, who will show them the police docket, and for any further information you can desire on the subject, please call on me at the Security Investment Office, which is now open for business. Respectfully, C. O. THOMPSON.@

The above is copied from the Democrat, and being signed by the president of the city council, we regard it worthy of comment. It is addressed to Agrumblers,@ (which heading we have removed), the grumblers being citizens and taxpayers who object to the loose and irregular manner in which justice in this city is administered. The city is prosperous without question; real estate is increasing in value, the building industry is active even at this inclement season of the year, and population flowing in faster than it can be accommodated. But is this relevant to the writer=s argument? Does he assume that because joints are fostered in the city, and loose women allowed to ply their illicit vocation, that our business prosperity is brought about? He cannot delude himself so egregiously; or if he is himself misled, he cannot thus mislead others.

Law abiding citizens who take becoming pride in the growth of their city, and desire to make a desirable place for others who are seeking homes to adopt are scouted as growlers or backbiters, whom the Democrat writer invites to get up and leave! Does Capt. Thompson know how large a portion of his constituency is included in this insulting dismissal? He will remember that as councilman from the second ward, he is sworn to execute the laws; his own sense of what is right and expedient in the state statutes not being allowed to govern.

The Agrowlers and backbiters@ aforesaid have raised their voices in condemnation of the collusion of our city government with law-breakers. The constitution prohibits the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and an ordinance of the city imposes a fine of $50 to $150 for violation of this provision. What does this ordinance mean? Are we to understand that the people of Arkansas City, acting through their municipal officers, have declared their acceptance and acquiescence in the prohibitary clause, and show their will to enforce it by clothing their local officers with the proper powers? Or was the ordinance passed as a blind? To save the appearance of loyalty to the state constitution and the laws, but with no intention of enforcing it? A Pickwickian price of municipal legislation, to place our city government square on the record, but not intended to kill at forty rods or any greater distance?

Our second ward councilman makes a clumsy attempt at humor. His proffered advice to the editor of this paper and to every moral and law abiding citizen in sympathy with him, is to remove to our neighbor city, get their whiskey straight in drug stores, take it to some hotel room and have the dining room girl shoot them. Our censor carries a bitter wit. We are to understand that the clergy of the city, the parents who wish to preserve their sons from the contamination of evil surroundings, every man in short who believes the liquor traffic a monster evil which should be suppressed, are all surreptitious tipplers, whose pharisaical austerity is assumed to hide the sin of the libertine and the indulgence of the reveler. Does Capt. Thompson include his own constituents in this unsparing and injurious innuendo?

We would respectfully inform the gentleman from the second ward that Brother Lockley of the TRAVELER is not worried about the joints and loses no rest over the city finances. He has simply performed his duty as a public journalist in calling the attention of the council to the irregular way in which the city marshal and the police magistrate are performing their duties, and he leaves the writer of the article quoted above, to account to his constituents for the bad taste and worse morality he has displayed.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 29, 1886.

Police Docket for November.

FINES RANGED FROM $1 TO $50...COSTS FROM $4 TO $7. IN SOME CASES ONLY A FINE WAS ASSESSED. NOT BOTHERING TO LIST FINES/COSTS/DATES.

The docket of Police Judge Bryant for November shows the following fines and costs paid.

George Miner, drunk; Thos. O=Conner, drunk; James Hedley, drunk; James O=Neal, drunk; John Doe, disturbing the peace; J. Smith, drunk, fined $5; left his overcoat in pledge, which was sold for $6.

James O=Connor, selling liquor; Ed Fenstrock, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $10. John Stevenson, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $50. John Doe, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $50. Frank Long, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $50.

Thos. Conway, drunk; J. J. Bacon, drunk and committing nuisance.

John Doe, drunk; Barney McGinn, drunk; ____ Cline, drunk.

W. Waltz, disturbing the peace; John Moore, drunk and disorderly; Geo. Miner, drunk.

PROSTITUTION...ALL FINED $10...TWO HAD TO PAY $4 COSTS.

Rhoda Wood; Mollie York; Mollie Brown; Emma Dodge; Mary Sherwood; May Shirtz; May Carter; May Smith; Nell Tartar; Ed Day; Mat Jones; Jennie Pruitt; Lou Raymond; Emma Jackson.

TOTAL FINES: $415.

TOTAL COSTS: $ 65.

TOTAL: $480.00

Paid to the city as per treasurer=s receipt: $430.76

Paid to same by city marshal: $16.50

TOTAL: $447.26

[ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATOR: DIFFERENCE OF $32.74 IN TOTALS.]

In addition to the above, twenty arrests were made from which no pay was derived, of which seven were drunks and five disorderlies, who had no money and served out their time in jail.

Arkansas City Republican, February 12, 1887.

Mable Noe and Anna Van Hook were arrested over at Geuda yesterday by the city marshal. They were wanted here for a Abig time@ they had night before last in rooms in the Ex-Occidental hotel building. Mable and Anna and a youth by the name of Fred Hall went on a drunken spree and during the debauch the first named fought with another prostitute by the name of Jennie Miller. The gang thought they would play it sharp on Marshal Gray and the following morning skipped for Geuda. But they were headed off by the telephone. Marshal Gray ordered their arrest and they had scarcely touched the town until they were taken in. Before Judge Bryant the gay Mable was fined $10 and costs; Anna $5 and costs. Fred Hall had his trial this morning and was fined $5 and costs. Marshal Gray ordered Noe to leave the city on the first train or he would put her in jail.

Arkansas City Republican, February 26, 1887.

The council passed an ordinance last evening making it a finable offense for the owners of buildings wherein whiskey is sold. This is as it should be. If the jointist is fined, the man who rents him the building should be treated in the same manner. We would recommend that parties who visit houses of prostitution, as well as prostitutes, should be fined also.

to Subject Index Page
to bbott's home page