Houses of Ill Repute
Kearney Hub
- June 1889 – Arrested
Cora Osborne arrested for keeping a disorderly
home.
A Kearney man petitioned police court to do
something about it.
She plead guilty and was fined $29.70
Five men were fined $5 each but their names
were not published
December, 1889 – 7 arrests
Kearney Hub
-
Dec 26, 1889
---John Gabriel filed a complaint in Justice Nichol’s court
to-day charging the proprietor of one of the south side
bawdy houses of selling spirituous liquors without a
license. A change of venue was taken and the case is set
for trial on next Monday afternoon in Judge Learn’s court.
The sympathizers with the accused are very indignant over
the matter as this is the first case of the kind brought up
in this city. That the violators of the law will be brought
to a sense of the law need not be gainsaid.
Kearney Hub
-
Sept. 27, 1890-
An Appeal
As a citizen of Kearney, I ask in the name of
our proud little city, why the ordinances regulating the
bawdy houses have not been enforced. I have time and again
complained to the mayor and police of the nuisance which is
uncomfortably near my home, and no attempt has ever been
made to rout the offenders. If we as citizens and taxpayers
must submit to these nocturnal and inhuman nuisances being
almost at our thresholds, why not destroy all of the city
ordinances. W. A. McDonald
Kearney Hub
-
Sept. 29, 1890
A Reply
ED. HUB: A reply to the “Appeal” published in Saturday’s
HUB regarding the bawdy houses I will say that if any or all
of the city officials fail to uphold the law, they can be
indicted for malfeasance in
office. Reader
Kearney Hub
-
March 2, 1892
Case Postponed
The case which was brought up this afternoon
charging Emma J. Sewal with keeping a house of ill fame in
the north part of the city, was postponed until next
Saturday at 1 o’clock p.m. About twenty witness were
subpoenaed, for the trial this afternoon, and the courtroom
was full of spectators.
Kearney Hub
-
March 5, 1892
There was quite an interesting case brought up
in the police court today, which had been postponed from
last Tuesday, and a large crowd of spectators was present.
It was the case of Emma J. Sewal who was charged with
keeping a house of ill fame in the northeast part of the
city. Several witnesses were examined, and some of them
gave very damaging testimony against the defendant, who was
fined $5 and costs, which was about $20 altogether. She
paid her fine and was discharged.
Kearney Hub
-
March 3, 1893
---The police made twenty-six arrests during the month of
February, eleven of them being for visiting houses of ill
fame.
Kearney Hub
-
Dec. 9, 1893
Bank Burglar Bagged
Officer Walker Locates Him in a Cellar
and Bid Him Come Forth
[Two young men broke into the Dawson County National Bank in
Lexington and only took a box with $100 belonging to one
boy’s mother who was the postmistress.]
The next morning one of the boys was caught but
his pard got away and was tracked to Kearney by an officer
who came there Thursday. He reported the matter to Chief
Overmier and Officer Walker was detailed to assist in
ferreting(sic) out the boy’s hiding place. After doing some
very clever detective work the burglar was located at Maud
Gebhart’s house of ill fame and the officers commenced
watching the place.
Yesterday they were rewarded by seeing their
bird go into the house and they at once followed. The woman
who answered the knock said no such person was there, but
the officer knew better and walked in.
After searching the house thoroughly Officer
Walker determined to go down to the cellar and drew his gun
as he did not know what he might come in contact with.
Seeing this the woman admitted he was there and said she
would call him which she did and the youthful burglar came
forth. He was immediately turned over to the officer from
Dawson County and taken back home last night. He afterwards
admitted he was armed and would have “plugged” the officer
if he had gone down in the dark after him.
Kearney Hub
-
Apr 10, 1894 - [report given to City Council, bold type
mine]
The annual report of the police chief was read
and showed the number of arrests made during the year and
causes for same to be as follows:
fast driving, 3;
inmates in houses of ill fame, 99;
keepers of houses of ill fame, 41;
disorderly conduct, 11;
petty larceny, 20;
grand larceny, 4;
disturbing the peace, 28;
vagrants and crooks, 415;
street walking, 11;
running hack without license, 1;
shooting within city limits, 1;
defrauding hotel keepers, 2;
perjury, 1;
peddling without a license, 1;
carrying concealed weapons, 1;
trespass, 1;
obscene language, 1;
seduction, 1;
adultery, 1;
assault and battery, 7;
burglary, 4,
riding bicycle on sidewalk, 1;
forgery, 1;
keeping gambling rooms, 5;
false imprisonment, 1;
prostitution, 3;
draying without license, 1;
riding on sidewalk, 1;
fugitives from justice, 2;
sent to reform school, 4;
total 724;
number of dogs killed, 110;
amount paid for burying dogs, $58.25;
amount paid for boarding prisoners, $37.75.
Kearney's Mayor Brady
Kearney Hub
-
May 12, 1894
Mayor Brady continues to be the subject of a
great deal of unfavorable comment because of his continued
refusal to enforce the law for suppression of gambling and
the continued partnership for revenue with houses of ill
fame. The small boy who climbed on trains has been called
down, there has been a crusade upon the surplus canine
population of the city, and the slot machines had to take a
tumble, but the gambling rooms have not been disturbed and
there has been no change in the policy toward bawdy houses.
It is, of course, understood that boys, dogs and slot
machines do not have votes but that is not supposed to make
any difference in a matter of enforcement of law, and the
mayor cannot afford to ignore law or public sentiment in
respect to these things. Even if he should there is a City
Council that is supposed to have a voice in the matter and
are not free from responsibility.
Kearney Hub
-
June 4, 1894
Mayor on a Tear
Has a Big Time With the Maidens of the Burnt District
A Row That was Nearly a Riot – Defies the Sheriff and Other
Officers to Arrest Him
There has been great excitement in this city
since Sunday morning over a reported disgraceful occurrence
at the bawdy house of Maud Gebhart last Saturday night in
which the mayor of the city is alleged to have taken a
prominent part, and as the affair is generally discussed on
the streets and a warrant was sworn out for the mayor’s
arrest, it is due to the public that the facts should be
stated as explicitly as possible. In doing so, however,
THE HUB does not wish to be misjudged as making a personal
attack on the chief executive of the city because it has
previously opposed him twice for mayor and has been making
war on his policy with reference to gambling and
prostitutes. Indeed, it would be a great deal more
agreeable to say nothing, to shield his estimable family,
and not advertise the city’s shame; but the offense is so
great, coming from this official source, that public policy
demands both exposure and punishment.
To make the long story short. Mayor Brady came
home from Omaha Saturday evening under the influence of
liquor, to an extent quite noticeable during the evening.
Between nine and ten o’clock he got into an altercation with
Ed. Cutting in Brock’s saloon, and abused him to the extent
of all the profanity and billingsgate he could command, and
which few men will endure. Leaving Brock’s he took a hack
and drove to the notorious resort of Maud Gebhart on the
south side. Constable Julian who had kept an eye on him
during the evening to “look after” him and keep him out of
trouble, followed in another hack accompanied by Ed.
Cutting.
What transpired at the Gebhart house is too
revolting to print, suffice it to say that the mayor and
inmates held high carnival, a portion of the time in a nude
condition. Julian tried to get the mayor away but was
blackguarded and abused for his pains and given to
understand that he (Brady) was the chief magistrate and
couldn’t be molested.
Sheriff Nutter and his deputy, Tom Gass, were then called
in, and for a few moments there were indications of a fight,
the inmates declaring they had paid their license and had
been guaranteed protection from interference by officers of
the law. They were somewhat violently squelched by the
sheriff and the deputy, who in turn came in for their share
of Mayor Brady’s abuse. The sheriff being uncertain as to
how far he could go in proceeding against the mayor, and the
jail being filled with desperate prisoners, he started out
in search of legal advice. Meantime, at a little past
midnight the deputy sheriff loaded the mayor into a hack and
took him home.
Police Judge Brown was called out of bed about
midnight and issued a warrant on a complaint by Ed. Cutting.
Up to noon today, the warrant had not been
served for two reasons. One, that a deputation of citizens
intended to wait on Mayor Brady and give him his choice
between resignation and arrest, prosecution, and impeachment
proceedings. The other that the sheriff was not decided
whether to have the complaint brought in police or district
court.
A number of citizens got together this afternoon
and talked the matter over but did not decide on any plan of
action.
Constable Julian was seen at 4:30. He had not
served the warrant but stated that he would do so this
afternoon.
It is rumored, however, that Mr. Brady quietly
plead guilty in Justice Beeman’s court, but when a reporter
called Mr. Beeman was out and the record was not accessible.
Further developments will be watched with
interest.
Kearney Hub
-
July 17, 1894
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
At this point the Council was about to adjourn
when O’Kane arose and asked if anything had been done by the
police to suppress the giving away or sale of liquor at the
houses of ill fame as directed five or six weeks ago. The
chief of police was present and said he had ascertained that
these houses were provided with a government license and
consequently had the right to sell beer by the “package.”
The chief said he had consulted with the city attorney in
the matter and that official declared that these houses had
been living up to the law. Thereupon, O’Kane offered the
following motion:
To the Mayor and City Council:--As the keepers
of houses of ill fame have defied the city council for four
or five weeks past and refused to obey the order of said
council in relation to selling and giving away intoxicating
liquors, I move that you the police be ordered by this
council to arrest any man found visiting these houses of
prostitution and bring them before the police magistrate of
this city to be dealt with as the law provides and that no
man’s name be suppressed.
The motion carried by a vote of seven ayes and
one nay.
The council then adjourned.
Kearney Hub
-
Aug. 8, 1894
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The police court report was interesting. There
were sixteen fines during the month for keeping or being an
inmate of a house of ill fame. Two fines of one dollar each
for street walking. Eight fines of one dollar each for
creating a disturbance. One fine, one dollar, for harboring
dogs. Total $107.00 [$107 – 11= 96; 16 fines x $6 = $96]
[plus costs]
Kearney Hub
-
Oct. 5, 1894
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The police court report for September was nine
fines for keeping or being an inmate of a house of ill fame
and one fine for fornication. The fines amounted to $61.
[plus costs]
Kearney Hub
-
Nov. 16, 1894
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The police court report for October was nine fines for
keeping or being an inmate of a house of ill fame and two
for intoxication. The fines amounted to $59 [plus costs]
Kearney Hub
-
Dec. 5, 1894
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The police court report for November was ten fines for
keeping or being an inmate of a house of ill fame. The
fines amounted to $70 [plus costs]
Kearney Hub
-
Feb. 5, 1895
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The receipts of the police department for January, were $136
fines, $36 costs; total $172. There were two fines for
intoxication, 9 for houses of ill fame, 4 for gambling and
three for disturbance of peace.
Kearney Hub
-
Aug. 16, 1895
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The police judge reported having received $53
in fines and $18 in costs, a total of $71. Seven of the
fines to the amount of $50 were collected from inmates of
houses of ill fame, one for street walking, one for visiting
house of ill fame, and one for fast driving.
Kearney Hub
-
Feb. 10, 1896
[Suggestions by the Hub for city government that citizens
would approve]
6. Enforce the law. Close up gambling places. If gamblers
will gamble then hedge their profession about with so many
strands of barbed wire that the youth of the city cannot
gain access to a gambling room. Close the bawdy houses. If
they exist at all, drive them out of the corporations, where
they will be the least injury to the public. As to saloons,
simply enforce the law as to hours of closing, Sunday
traffic (back door), and the maintenance of good order, and
permit no gambling games or wine rooms in connection with
them.
Kearney Hub
-
Apr. 17, 1896
[City Council meeting minutes reported]
The police judge reported having received $10
for fines and $12 for costs, a total of $52. The fines were
all received from inmates of houses of ill fame.
Kearney Hub
-
Apr 13, 1897
[Annual Report of the year given to city council]
The city marshal submits in his annual report an
inventory of arrests, and charges on which arrests were
made, as follows:
Bawdy Houses inmates…………68
Gambling………………………..40
Intoxication……………………..32
Street Walking………………….13
Tramps – arrested without
warrants & walked out…321
Vagrants kept over night……….148
Horse stealing…………………….1
Number of dogs killed………….124
Kearney Hub
-
Sept. 17, 1897
A Shelton Man’s Antics
A man who lives near Shelton was in the city
Thursday evening, and started out in the evening to visit a
house of ill fame. He got directions mixed and tried to
enter a house on the south side where a respectable family
lived. The man was home and he pounced on the fellow and a
lively scrap ensued. The Shelton man was driven away.
Whether he was suffering from the affects of drink, or was
crazy is unknown, but hereafter when he comes to town the
police will keep a weather eye on him.
1898
Early 1898 there was a strong Anti-Saloon League movement
against “scarlet women” and gambling as well as drinking.
By spring gamblers and scarlet women were gone. New mayor,
Bruno Hostetler was elected. Houses of ill repute “on
the bottoms” closed and owner & wife moved to Hastings.
Kearney Hub
-
Apr 12, 1898
[new mayor, Bruno Hostetler, outlined his policies]
The Bawdy House
“The bawdy house and the private resorts of like
character Will not be recognized or licensed. “He
prostitutes” and “she prostitutes” will receive no
protection from my administration.”
Kearney Hub
-
April 10, 1900
[Hostetler apparently was reelected and made the same
statement about bawdy houses.
But after he left office they returned.]
Kearney Hub
-
Jan. 17, 1903
---In police court Saturday afternoon, Mrs. H. L. Buckley,
Sadie White, and Sadie Green, charged with conducting and
being inmates of a house of ill fame, appeared by their
attorney, paid the costs in the case and agreed to leave
town at once. The complaints were accordingly withdrawn.
Kearney Hub
-
March 31, 1905
The proprietors of two bawdy houses were supporting the
political ticket supported by the New Era-Standard
but not the Hub.
Kearney Hub
-
Sept. 26, 1905
[Child custody case, parents divorced two years ago, girl is
now five]
In his petition Russell alleged that the mother
had been convicted in the police court of the city of
Kearney of keeping a house of ill fame and that she was not
a proper person to have the care and education of a child in
her hands. Russell is at present a lineman in the employ of
Farmer’s Home Telephone company of Shelton. A large number
of witnesses both men and women in the court to testify a to
the character or lack of character of the parties in the
suit. After listening to the testimony and arguments, Judge
Hostetler concluded that neither mother or father was a fit
person to have custody of the child and placed it in the
custody of Mrs. Clara Marti, the mother of Mrs. Russell,
until further orders of the court.
[Winsor Hotel – Recognized as “red light” probably in 30’s]
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