VICE RINGS OF U.S.A.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1931, Page 2

VICE RINGS OF U.S.A.

AMAZING REVELATIONS. New York is not squeamsih about graft, and at the recent disclosures regarding a ring of court “fixers,” which exposed policemen, detectives, lawyers, bondsmen and magistrates, working together, the city showed no marked dismay. Continued investigations, however, have revealed conditions that have startled and disgusted the city, and evidence that in their search for revenue the “fillers” have for ten years been preying upon unquestionably respectable young women. Both single and .married women have been “framed” on false charges of immorality and mulcted accordingly of sums ranging from hundreds of dollars down to about 20 dollars (£4), In this horrible huniuess the stool pigeon* (informers) made if their husiues s to plant charges, From the stool pigeon to the police and detect!res. from the lawyers to the bondsmen, from the bondsmen to the petty politicians, and on into the women’s court, these terrified and helpless women were passed. Each section took the toll it could. Some of the women, it they had money, or could raise it, paid and got, free. About 57, however, are known to have been sent uiljiistly to tefcil'lliliiorjefe and other institutions. Proof of tiled 1 absolute iniiofiencc has been produced, and legislation is being brought down at Albany to release them—legislation which will clear their names and wipe their fingerprints and charges from the records.

Wealth From Bribes. A curious similarity has marked the behaviour of magistrates accused o! wrongdoing. First, have, come vehement denials and blustering asseverations that they could prove their innocence. Then, for some, came trips abroad. Illness attacked others and tlwy could not appear for examination. Eventually in some instances, voluntary resignation followed.

The prosecutor has called 1800 witnesses, including brokers and hankers, in the sca-reh for deposits of money made hv magistrates, police lawyers, intermediary “fixers” . and bonding houses upon whom suspicion has fallen.

The first witness, heard hv Judge Sea bury, confessed that he was worth £20,039 and a fifth of this amount lias been traced to bribes from lawyers, bondsmen and policemen for having aided discharges in vice and ininioralitv cases.

The prosecutor brought from Ring Sing gaol ail expert witness. Such an expert has rarely been brought to the aid of justice. He is described as a notorious silk thief, and his expertness is attested by his achievement in frustrating and delaying court actions against him. Many times lie has been accused of theft, hut only oiice piinis ed. He arranged 27 postponements of title trial. How did he do it? By whom was he helped? How did he go about, securing this aid? These are questions that tlie prosecutor want* answered.

Extortion by Police, The commission headed by Judge Soabury is inquiring into Magistrate’s Court corruption charges. Startling evidence has been given of tlie existence of a police “vice-extortion” ring, of “framed-up” charges against, innocent women, and of tlie activities of the police stool pigeons. Recently the underworld of New York placed a price of £2OOO on the head of “Chile” Acuna, a police stool pigeon, who gave evidence in regard to police participation in the vice traffic. and two bands of gansters are seeking to put Acuna “on the spot.” An anonymous letter, to be delivered to Judge Seabury, was received by the “New York Post” giving this information and warning the judge to see that Acuna was carefully guarded, but not “trusted to Mulroonev’s men.” (Mulrooney is Police Commissioner in New York.) Acuna was thereupon placed under careful guard.

The excitement caused by the inquiry was intensified when Lieutenant Henry Barr, head the plainclothes “vice and gambling” squad of the 13th Inspection District of Brooklyn, shot himself dead at his home. The tragedy caused belief in police collusion to spread from Manhattan Island to Brooklyn, where Barr directed the activities of the “vice squad” in Wi 11iamsburg, one of the “toughest” parts of the area. Powerful groups of New York women’s associations joined in demanding of Governor Roosevelt that every woman convicted of charges connected with vice on the"strength of manufactured testimony by police stool pigeons should he pardoned forthwith.

It was revealed in evidence that the police “vice squad” spent more than £20,000 a year for the maintenance o" stool pigeons. A number of young women have given evidence of victimisation. The story of Miss Alary Palmer is typical of many others.

She told the commissioner that slm was in her compartment with her cousin, Elizabeth Watson, one night IS months ago, when Acuna rang the bell. “I asked him what he wanted, and lie said, ‘I am a friend of Jack. He sent mo to say hello and get acquainted.’ T asked him who Mack’ was. but before Acuna had a chance to reply two policemen entered and said wo were under arrest. Acuna started to explain something to them, but they slanpcd his face and told him to get out. Both of us were fully dressed. AVo were taken to the police station, where a bondsman asked me how much T had. T said I had £125 in the bank. T paid £S to the bondsman, and was released on hai 1. At v cousin was kept in a cell overnight, and released when she snrrendeered £7 in cash and three rings worth £2OO/’

Lawyer’s Fee, Mis* Palmer declared that a lawyer, whom she named, agreed to handle her case for £199, which was paid, hut she asked the bondsman what she should do if the police lied about her. She quoted the bondsman as replying, “ I he cops are taking care of you, and you have nothing to worry about.” Miss Palmer added: “I was given to understand that the £199 I had paid would take care 0< the lawyer's lev and the policemen.” She later appealed lie-fore Magistrate Brodsky and wa.s discharged.

£1,000,000 a Year Harvest. The vice ring is said to leap as much as £1.990,969 a year limn women arrested on charges ol immoral < onduct, says Reuter. Some of the victims have been prominent women, many of them married, wnile others are chorus girls anti night club cnt'itainers possessing jewellery and e-o n ing good salaries

According to the New ! or!; “Sun, one of the methods of the ring in tin case of women who have not enough money to put up hail is to furnish hail itself, and try to drive the- vic>im to vice in order to earn enough to pay the ring’s “costs.” “Once a woman is within t.he ring s grip there seems to he no escape except b.v paying and paying 'again,' 1 is the comment of the “Chicago Tribune,” which is quoted h.V 1 1"’ “Central News,” “The ring does iiOt uw crude method*, hut highly jnepdici! plans, particularly involving wome.fi with excellent reputation*} am] wealth. Plans are prepared with gS’nl care, and when the woman visits a cabaret or night chili a disorderly scene takes place by arrangement, or she is made acquainted with a notorious character. Immediately she is warned that if sh ■ does not pay cash to the gang her reputation will he injured, \\ hen sh" pays, a further warning is given that, the police have found mil and are investigating, a.ml more money is demanded.”