"A SINK OF INIQUITY.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 19 March 1920, Page 7

"A SINK OF INIQUITY.”

LONDON WEST END CLUB. Astounding allegations, reminiscent of West End life before and in the early days of the war, were foreshadowed’in the opening of a summons at Bow Street, London, against Harry Dalton and Kate Evelyn Merrick, manager and secretary respectively, of Dalton’s Club, Ltd, Leicester Square, * They were charged with permitting the premises to be used as an habitual resort of women of ill repute. A second summons against Dalton’s Club, Ltd, and Mrs Meyrick, called upon the m to show cause why the club should not be struck off the register on the grounds that it was not conducted in good faith, that it was used for unlawful purposes, and as a resort of women of bad character.

Mr H Muskett, prosecuting for the police, explained that the premises were situated entirely underground in Liecester Square, next door but one to the Alhambra. It comprised a restaurant in which light meals were served, a cloak room, some domestic offices, and a ballroom. The proprietors of the club were Dalton, Mrs Hooker, Mrs Meyrick and the latter’s daughter, a girl of tender years, whose association with such an establishment was to be regretted.

The promoters, besides the persons already 'mentioned, included two ladies whose names would not be involved in this investigation. Mrs Meyrick drew £lO per week salary as secretary, and the net profits were divided monthly between her and the three other persons he had named. The club had an excellent set of rules, but as they were not observed they were not worth the paper they were printed on. It called itself a dancing club, proceeded Mr Muskett, but it would be no exaggeration at all .to call it a dancing hell—an absolute sink of iniquity. It was a noxious, fungus growth upon our social life, one of many which had sprung up during the war. Police evidence would be adduced to show that in the ballroom open and unabashed indecency and impropriety were the order of the evening. Finally, on November 22nd, Inspector Collins paid a second visit. He found the underground dancing room crowded and insufferably hot, there being no ventilation. Of 92 people present, several of whom were convicted unfortunates, 52 declared that they were members, but the names of only 81 appeared in the members’ boob, and of the remaining 40, who described themselves as visitors, only 10 appeared in the visitors’ book. One man was incapably drunk, and, after being ejected was taken into custody. If one half of the facts alleged by the police were proved there could bo no doubt that the sooner the club ceased to exist and was struck off the register, the bettor it would be for the interests of public decency and morality. The hearing was adjourned.