MORALS IN NEW YORK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 37, 12 August 1930, Page 13

MORALS IN NEW YORK

WOMEN VICTIMISED

Excitement has been caused in New York by tho action of tho Women's Court in New York City in finding Mrs. Oscar Hammerstoin guilty oiv a charge of immorality. This lady is the widow of an opera impressario, and she and her friends have been very active in endeavouring to securo disproof, as well as others who have come into the case from general interest. It appears that a self-appointed "Committee of Fourteen," a private body of citizens, is, responsible for gross injustices to women. This committee obtained the passing of tho present law, which presses very heavily on women, placing all responsibility on them, and has also supplied funds under wMch a special group of policemen have conducted what is called an "anti-vico crusade." A determined fight, says a correspondent, is mow in prospect to obtain equal treatment for men and women under tho law. At present men involved in morals cases almost always escape without'their identity being disclosed, whereas the overwhelming majority of women arrested are found guilty and fined or imprisoned, or both. Even innocent women who are accused hesitate to face the publicity which tho effort to fight the policemen's testimony involves. Judging from tho stories which' come from Now York and Chicago, 'America is not altogether a happy placo of residence in the present. A more pleasant state of things is mentioned in connoetion with tho general statistics regarding crime in Great Britain,'as it'appears that the milder treatment of older criminaL, is mainly successful, and the keeping up of the number of crimes recorded is stated to be owing to the increased willingness on tho, part of the people, the victims, or those connected with them, to report a certain class of crime. There "are changes in the' moral outlook of men and women, and far greater interest is taken by women in all that concerns their sex, thus loading largoly to improved conditions. The "motor age" is mentioned as causing an increase in crime, both because criminals can hope to make good their escape from the of their evil'deeds, and also on account of the temptation to a certain class of mind, to steal carsfor the purpose of joy rides. The writer neglects to put the matter in the considorate terms which obtain at this end of the world, and plainly says "stealing," instead of "converting the ear to his own uso."