LONDON "LIFE."

NZ Truth, Issue 152, 16 May 1908, Page 8

LONDON "LIFE."

A SWELL MOB BESET BY BARE-BOSOMED BAWDS.

Concupiscent "Continental" Capers.

VENAL VICE IN " EVENING DRESS."

A "Ponce" that Pushed His Wife to Prostitution.

Under the somewhat misleading caption "London Life," "Reynolds's Newspaper" gives, m a recent issue, a remarkable account of Police Court exposures 'of vice at two ends of the social scale m the greatest cifcv iv the world. The depravity of the well-to-do profligates is illustrated by the account of doings at the Hotel Continental, where women m eventing dress «o for the purpose of plying the trade of prostitution, and where these women, scantily clad m strikingly low cut dress, form themselves into mobs for the purpose of inducing their fashionable patrons to become their companions for the night. Another^ account is that of a man m poor circumstances who, having driven his ov.n wife to a career of prostitution, had become the companion ,of another prostitute. London is a city with an enormously large copulation, and no city m Australasia contains such characters as the despicable husband just mentioned ; but we have not yet reached the Hotel Continental stage. Says the paper referreu to : — An extraordinary tale was told by counsel and a police sergeant recently at Marlborough-street Police Court, when Alfred Young Wilson, licensee of the Hotel Continental, Regent-street, was summoned for that he on February 18, 19, 20, 27. 28, and 29 last, nerniitted the premises to be the habitual resort of women of a certain reputation. Mr I-I. Musketfc prosecuted for the Commissioner of Police, and Mr Horace Av.ory, K.C. and Mr Muir, instructed by Mr Frekc Palmer, appeared for the defence. Mr Muskett, m opening, said that the prosecution was an effort on the part of the nolice to stamp out what was regarded by -them as a veritable , plaguesoot m the Metropolis, the m-emises being an habitual haunt of vice

IN ITS WORST FORM. Evidence would be given to show that at night, a£ about eleven o'clock, or shortly afterwards, women of a certain ciass, well-known, to the police, would enter the hotel m their dozens, being driven thereto m .hanttsonu- or broughams. . They would tale seats at tables, and when gentlemen cumc m, solicit them man open, /lagrant, and shameless manner. It was, added Mr Muskett, a peculiar fact that a whisky and soda at these premises cost half a crown each, and the woman who ordered such an expensive drink eenerallv looked for the eeutleman who happened to be m the room near her to pay lor it.

Night after night them were on the I premises from CO to 100 of these ladies lin evening dress. When the place was [about to be closed, these well-dressed j v/oineu lined the hall, and openly solicitI ,ed the geni.k-men customers as they left j the hotel. So numerous .were these wo- , men, that it was frequently found ne- ! cessary to bundle them off the premises, | after which they continued their solicitations m the street. WHAT A SERGEANT SAID HE SAW. Sergeant Jamss Wilson said he was instructed by his superior "to keep watch an the hotel. On February 18 he entered the premises, attired m evening dress He there saw 30 women, one a wellknown disreputable character named T , wearing a very Low-cut dress, with a piece of transparent lace to cover her breast. He saw her sit down beside a gentleman, who acted m an indecent manner towards her. Both, after having had a liquor and smoked cigarettes, left the hotel. . He also saw Miss K. T , who accosted him (witness) and o-ave him her card. She then accosted another gentleman. B»th sat down at a table and had refreshments. He heard Miss K. T say to the gentleman, "WiU you come home with me to-night, dear ? Ido not live far. If you can call any time, do so. Lsk for Miss K.,T ■—." The woman gave the »:.•■■• tieman a*i address at certain mansions. Miss Tf. T then left that Rentleman, sat at another table with two cither gentlemen, and left at closing tame. -

Witness also ?aw another young woman, named MdJle. , attured m a large white ha 1 ; and a smart, lie Jit blue icpstumc. This lady sat down beside witness at a small tabled and asked him to GO HOME WITH HER at certain mansions. Witness and she had drinks together, alter which she left him and went to a table where another jr,ui'.leman was sitting.. At closing time women to the number' of 60 or 100 packed themselves as the bottom of the stairs soliciting gentlemen as they left the pre.mises, and violence had to be used by the officials to eject the women. In many cases, women left the hotel m hansoms, being accompanied by gentlemen. On another occasion he saw a young gentleman, wearing a monocle, enter the hotel. A woman named Miss L— , wearing a green hat, waved her hand to him, and the young gentleman went and sat down beside her. Another lady came over to the couple, and laid her hand upon his shoulder, entering into conversation with the couple. Witness sat at another table, and had not been there long before another woman came up and sat at the table. She said to._witness. "Can you give me a cigarette, dear? What are you here for to-nisrht ?" Witness replied that he was there for a change of comnanv. The woman then told witness that she had been betrayed. After this she took from her purse

SOME INDECENT o! herself. Witness had to pay Is 6d for a whisky and soda and Is for the table. Another smartly-attired vouna; woman came un. and said to witness, "I am here every night., dear— this is my table. If ybu tell the waiter you are m* friend he , will allow you *to sit there till I come. vSometimes I get a gentleman at a place of amusement. Then I don't come here ■ jfeill late." Witness saw one snlendidlydressed woman go m front of a mirror and out herself m various nostures. to the 'admiration of the gentlemen present. She pulled up her skirts and fastened a bsussender rounrt her stocking. He saw one eentleman pinch another woman's Jog. after which she sat on ' his knee.: At this noint the hearing was adjourned. * * * There was a well-dressed Catherine at MarilJprough-street Police Court when. Mr Mead heari the adjourned summonsSergeant Wilson now entered the wit-ness-box to be cross-examined. Mr Horace Avorv at onc,e rose and said i that he had decided not to cross-exam-ine the officer and not to contest the case further, being; of opinion that the evidence °iyen by Sergeant Wilson went so show that i WOMEN STAYED ON THE PREMISES longer than was necessary for the purj pose of refreshment. Mr Avory went on i to say that at the hotel there had foe years been carrying on the business of Droviding dinners and suppers, a course of procedure of which the police had 'ong i been aware. But no lfind of warn ng jad erer been given by the police to the die-,

ectors of the hotel that they were committing any breach of the law. No kind of complaint or objection had ever been made to the Licensing Justices at tha annual renewal of the license, the licensa being renewed m the ordinary way this year, as had been the case hitherto. Nor was the attention of the directors called to the complaint that had now been made. The police had, m fact, been m the habit of visiting the premises m uniform on an average two or three times j a week for many years past, and saw what was going on. He, of course, had nothing to do with the Dolicy of the prosecution, but he held the strong opinion that it was ill-advised, and that to drive these women FROM PILLAR TO POST

was not at all m the public interest. He desired to say, on behalf of the defence that the suggestion that bona fide suppers were not supplied at the hotel 'could be disproved by figures— that, in' fact, a very large business m dinners and sudpers was done at that hotel. During the past year the receipts for lunches, exclusive of drink, had been £828 ; from dinners, £990 ; and from suppers, £4030. That, of course, would not displace the evidence given, and which he was not maa position to contradict as to wo»eq staying on the premises longer than necessary for the purpose of obtaining Refreshments, but it went to show that a bona fide business m luncheons, dinners and supners was done, and that it was not a blind.

.There were, m fact, seven men, including a chef , employed m the kitchen -at a wage of £90 a month. He desired to call the attention of the Magistrates to the fact that the moment their attention was caiiea to the case the directors caused the following letter to he written to Mr Muskett, as representing the Commissioner of Police :— j Having regard to the very large question which is involved and may 'have to he discussed at the hearing of the summons, while we submit that there is no err'ound for the accusation made, we write to ask you whether the Commissioner of Police will be prepared, if an undertaking were given to close the Hotel Continental at 11 o'clock every night, to allow the summons to be adjourned sine die. The reply to that letter was that- the CASE MUST PROCEED. He would like to point out to the Magistrates that since the case had come before the Court and the evidence given, the .directors gave orders that on the very Friday night of the day of hearing, the place should be closed at 10.30 p.m., so as to put a stop to the supper business, and since that day the place had been closed at that hour, and there was no intention on the part of the directors to 're-open the place for that class of busi-j ness. Mr Mead, without expressing any opinion one way or the other, said, "Defendant will be fined £10, and £5 5s costs." The money was paid. j ** ! * At Marylebone Police Court, Henry Sims, 43, described as a musician, and Florence Ellorv. 32, living at Great Western-road, Paddington, were charged on warrants, before Mr Paul Taylor, the , man with having kept a part of the premises for certain purposes, and the woman with assisting m its management. Mr P«anis, .solicitor, prosecuted for the Paddin«ton Borough Council. Sab-divisional Inspector MacMillan said he went to the premises about midnight and found the woman m the top floor front room. A man was also m the room, She remarked, "I suppose it's alfiipnow. I have only been doing this to clear up" my rent. T owe the landlady £4 10s, so what was I to do ? I'have been very ill, lost my employment, and had '

TO TAKE TO THIS LIFE. I do not see why you should not take the fellow who is living with me as well." The man with the woman said he met her m the street, and agreed to give her 2s. When the warrant was read over to the male prisoner, he said, "I am not living on her, anyway. I have only been living here five months, and played the clarionette for my living." The rent book showed that he paid 8s a week rent, and was five, weeks m arrears.

Mr Paul Taylor said the could not have been doing a big business if that was so. Police constables gave evidence that couples efftered and Jeft the premises. P.O. Gunn stated that the male prisoner was patrolling outside the house 'from 7.30 the previous night right up to the time of his arrest. His practice was to play the clarionette outside public-houses. The women who frequented the house were well-known to the witness. P.O. 46F informed the Magistrate that -the male prisoner had turned out his wife, and she was now walking the Eastbourne and Westbourne Terraces. Mr P_aul Taylor bound the prisoners over m £5 to be of good behavior.