Male ‘slaves’ auctioned

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 21

Male ‘slaves’ auctioned

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) LOS ANGELES, April 12.

Undercover police agents have infiltrated a bizarre male-slave auction in a Los Angeles “health” club, and arrested 40 people on involuntary servitude charges.

Captain Jack Wilson, of the Los Angeles Vice Squad, said

yesterday that 65 officers went to the Mark IV club after receiving a tip that a homosexual auction was to be held.

“Sure enough, there was a slave auction, and we bought one,” Captain Wilson said. “The building in which the auctions were held was equipped with dungeons and cell-blocks. In the very dimlylit dungeons were chains and articles of restraint.

“The slaves were, however, willing participants in the auctions, which were held on a specially-constructed, stage on the building’s patio. 'f'Sfa-tfes-, were led to . the stage by an auctioneer, and were then inspected by the potential buyers. The auctioneer would display the slaves’ wares, and the auctioning would begin. “The group — they called themselves the Leather Fraternity — ran the Mark IV as a private club for homosexuals and sado-masochism cultists. The slaves were usually kept in subjectivity for 24 hours after their purchase.”

Captain Wilson said that an investigation of the club began several weeks ago, when literature about the auction began circulating. More than 200 people were in the building at the time of the raid.

In all, 40 people were arrested under a slavery statute, and two others on outstanding traffic warrants. Bail was set at $5OOO for those taken into custody under a law which Police Lieutenant Daniel Cooke said 'was usually used against a

male pimp selling a female prostitute to another pimp. Conviction on the charge could result in a prison sentence from one to 10 years.