_Presentment of the Additional Grand Jury for the January Term of the
Court of General Sessions in the County of New York, in the matter of
the investigation as to the alleged existence in the County of New
York of an organized traffic in women for immoral purposes._
_Filed June 29, 1910_
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS IN AND FOR
THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
_In the matter of the investigation as to the alleged existence in
the County of New York of an organized traffic in women for immoral
purposes._
To the Hon. THOMAS C. O'SULLIVAN, Judge of the
Court of General Sessions.
Sir:
We, the members of the Additional Grand Jury for the January term,
1910, respectfully present as follows:
In the charge delivered to us by Your Honor on the 3rd day of
January, 1910, Your Honor said:
"There have been spread broadcast in the public prints statements
that the City of New York is a center or clearing house for an
organized traffic in women for immoral purposes, or what has come to
be known as the 'white slave' traffic. Some of these statements may
have been published with ulterior motive and may have been mere
sensationalism, but some are said to be based upon official
investigation and charges made by persons who profess to have
knowledge of the fact.
* * * * * * *
"This traffic in women, it is charged, follows two main objects:
First, the procuring of women of previous chaste character, who
through force, duress, or deceit are finally made to live lives of
prostitution; second, the procuring of women who are already
prostitutes and placing them with their consent in houses where they
may ply their trade.
* * * * * * * *
"But the main object, gentlemen, which I desire you to keep in mind
throughout your investigation is the uncovering not alone of isolated
offenses, but of an organization, if any such exists, for a traffic
in the bodies of women.
"You should make your investigation sufficiently broad to cover not
only present conditions, but also conditions existing in the past
within the statute of limitations.
"I charge you that it is your duty to pursue this inquiry into every
channel open to you and to present to the court the facts found by
you."
Pursuant to Your Honor's instructions, we have made an investigation
into the matters referred to in Your Honor's charge. We have called
before our body every person whom we could find who we had reason to
believe might have information on the subject. Among others were the
following: a member of the National Immigration Commission assigned
to investigate conditions relating to importing, seducing, and
dealing in women in the City of New York; the author of an article
which appeared in _McClure's Magazine_ for November, 1909, entitled
"The Daughters of the Poor"; a former under sheriff in the County of
Essex, New Jersey; the President of the New York Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children; the author of a pamphlet entitled
"The White Slave Traffic"; a member of the New York State Immigration
Commission appointed by Governor Hughes in 1908; a former Police
Commissioner of the City of New York; detectives and other agents
especially employed in connection with this investigation; members
and ex-members of the New York Independent Benevolent Association;
witnesses in the specific cases presented to this Grand Jury, as well
as a number of other citizens. In addition, the foreman, the
District Attorney and his Assistants, have interviewed
representatives of the following organizations:
The Committee of Fourteen; its Research Committee;
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children;
The New York Society for the Suppression of Vice;
The Charity Organization Society;
The Society for Improving the Condition of the Poor;
The Committee on Amusements and Vacation Resources of Working Girls;
The Society for Social and Moral Prophylaxis;
The Florence Crittenden Mission;
The New York Probation Association;
The Headworkers of various Social Settlements;
The Women's Municipal League;
The Society for the Prevention of Crime;
The Bureau of Municipal Research.
We also published in the daily press of this city on the 6th day of
May the following:
"The Additional Grand Jury, sworn in in January by Judge O'Sullivan
of the Court of General Sessions, was charged with the investigation
of the truth or falsity of certain statements which had been publicly
made during the past few months to the effect that the City of New
York is a center or clearing house for an organized traffic in women
for immoral purposes, or what has come to be known as the
'white-slave traffic.'
"Pursuant to this charge the Grand Jury has been seeking legal
evidence on this subject from all available sources. The information
which many citizens have volunteered to give has proved in most cases
to be general rather than specific.
"Before closing its investigation the Grand Jury desires to announce
publicly that it will be glad to receive definite, specific
information as to the existence in this county of any traffic in
women for immoral purposes from any citizen or official or other
individual who has such information. Those who are willing to assist
the Grand Jury in its investigation are asked to call at the office
of James B. Reynolds, Assistant District Attorney, Criminal Court
Building (within the next week). It will save the time of many
individuals and of Mr. Reynolds if only those appear who are willing
and able to present facts regarding the specific matter above stated.
"On behalf of the Additional January Grand Jury.
"JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.,
"Foreman."
As a part of this investigation evidence has been presented to us and
we have found 54 indictments: