But crime is not the only long suit of the Matrimonial Agency. Some of
these miserable frauds have descended into the depths and wallowed in
the slime of the ultimate shame.
With unbelievable effrontery they have attempted to trade upon the
basest instincts in human nature; they have attempted to coin the most
abominable of the brute passions of men.
Nothing can exceed the turpitude, the brazen shamelessness of the
Matrimonial Agency, when it decides to go the limit.
Attest the following from the literature of the New Era Advertising
Agency and Introduction Bureau, Curtis, Clark & Co., Props., formerly
located at 112 Clark street, Chicago. This abomination was raided
by Detective Wooldridge and the following sample from one of the
circulars seized shows the nature of the concern:
"If you are willing to give your name and protection to
one who has fallen and wishes again to enter the ranks of
respectability, we have some young women who have led fast
lives and accumulated considerable money, and want to marry
some respectable man, settle down in a new place and be
respected and respectable. THEY ARE HANDSOME, STYLISH,
LIVELY AND FULL OF FUN: HAVE MONEY ENOUGH FOR BOTH. They
will no doubt make good, loving and true wives for some
good-natured fellow who is not particular about their
past. Through our efforts several wealthy ladies of the
demi-monde have married very poor men in return for their
name and protection, given them a life of ease and luxury,
and the opportunities are greater today than in the past,
considering the fact that the world in general is anxious
to lend a helping hand to those who have erred and wish to
become respectable again."
This pole-cat literature was being sent broadcast through the United
States mails. In some way it evaded the inspectors until the 23rd of
September, 1902, when Detective Clifton R. Wooldridge descended upon
the nest of pole-cats, seized the literature, chased "Curtis, Clark
& Co." out of Chicago, and made further evil-smelling operations
impossible.
These abominations are now practically impossible, thanks to the
activity of the great police detective. But the above illustrations
shows to what depths the marriage bureaus can descend, once they have
become started on their infamous careers.
November 26, 1902, Detective Wooldridge raided the Climax Matrimonial
Agency, located at 418 LaSalle avenue, which is situated on the North
Side, in one of the most fashionable places in Chicago.
It was run not only as a matrimonial agency, but a matrimonial paper
and mail order house. Among the literature seized was a circular
containing a picture of the manager's wife, and of which he sent out
over 300,000. which gave the description of her, which read as follows: