Look Back: Crime and courts at the turn of the last century
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Wine Caused a Night of Hilarious Excitement in the Tenderloin.
This mornings term of Police Court was a busy one. The ordinary routine of regular drunks, was relieved by the presence of four women who are prominent in the Bohemian society of the Pickle District. They were Madame Minnie Fitch, Ivy DeMarr, Georgia Reynolds and Madge Holliday. There was much disorder down at the Fitch house, No.11 Market Street, last night and in the early hours of this morning. Wm. Ball dropped in with money and began to cut into the grape very extensively. It appears that the female persons who reside with Madame Fitch, and indeed, the madam, herself, are unused to handling wine. Beer and booze are not strangers to them, but wine is a liquid luxury that they understand not how to handle. That is apparent, for they dallied too long with it last night and it caused them to do things and make noises in the neighborhood that attracted the attention of Lieutenant Smith and a party of his police guardians. They pulled the house, escorting Madame Fitch and the three girls aforementioned, and also Ball, to the city lockup. They were arraigned before Judge Smith, this morning, Madame Fitch charged with keeping a bawdy house and the three girls and the man with loitering therein. The women pleaded not guilty and a trial was gone into. The evidence of Ball, alone, was sufficient to prove the charge preferred against the four women by Chief-of-Police Landsittle. It was strengthened by that of the officers and the Chief, himself. Madame Fitch was fined $20 and costs, and the three girls $5 and costs each. The Madame put up her diamond ring as security for the payment of her fine and the fines of the three girls.
The Madame and the girls were very huffy about being hauled to court and did not hesitate to remark on the indignity thrust upon them. The Madame vowed, as she departed from the tribunal, that she would have the lower end of the city -- the entire tenderloin -- pulled before night. As she was leaving the building, Constable Deem, of Squire Carfer's court , placed her under arrest. This was well nigh too much for the Madame and she howled with rage. She was compelled to accompany the constable to the magistrate's office, where her trial, on a warrant sworn out by Myrtle Tucker charging her with calling the complainant vile and indecent names and threatening her bodily harm, will be held this evening.
Ball pleaded guilty to loitering in the Fitch house, where the officers found him, and was fined $45 and costs, which he paid. When arrested he had $26 on his person which the police took charge of. He claims to have been robbed of some of his money while he was indulging in the wine drinking contest at the Fitch residence.
Platt McConnell, James Donahue and Ed Knowles pleaded guilty to being drunk on the streets and each of them was fined one dollar and the customary trimmings.
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AT POLICE COURT
John Kelly was arrested for being drunk and begging on the streets. John was given the privilege of leaving the city by noon or remaining in the lockup for thirty days. He chose the former for which John cannot be blamed.
Sanitary Policeman Marion Roberts while in the discharge of his duties yesterday, went on the property of Henry Alleman, of St. Mary's Avenue. Alleman ordered Roberts away and shoved him. A warrant was issued for Alleman for interfering with an officer. He appeared in court and Judge Smith heard both stories. An amiable understanding was had about the misunderstanding between the two men and after the court had admonished Alleman to be careful how he opposed the city's officers hereafter, he was allowed to depart.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
July 12, 1901
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.