CHICAGO AND ITS CESS-POOLS OF INFAMY BY SAMUEL PAYNTER WILSON Author of “Chicago by Gas Light”, “Wilson’s Epitome of Historical and Chronological Facts” and “Wilson’s Concise History.” DEDICATED TO THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN OF THE WORLD WITH THE HOPE THAT THE VICIOUS MAY BECOME BETTER MEN AND WOMEN CHICAGO SAMUEL PAYNTER WILSON SIXTEENTH EDITION MR. SAMUEL PAYNTER WILSON. Chicago, Ill. MY DEAR FRIEND:— I have read your book with great interest. It tells the truth, though no book can tell all the truth. You have been a great help to our community by the practical and useful service you have rendered in the investigation of vice and the bringing of those responsible for it to justice. Our city is the better for your work. I hope your book will do much good. If parents but knew the dangers that confront their boys and girls in our great cities, they would at least take some ordinary precautions before turning children adrift amid these perils. Very sincerely yours, MORTON CULVER HARTZELL, President of the Douglas Neighborhood Club. Contents. Pages Dedication 3 Hartzell’s Letter 4 Preface 7-11 Chicago 13-22 Chicago Society 23-34 The White Slave Traffic 35-58 Smashing the Traffic 59-74 Why Girls Go Astray 75-85 More About the Traffic in Shame 86-90 Crime in Chicago 91-103 The Police 105-119 The Lost Sisterhood 121-140 Chicago’s Crowning Curse 141-148 Gambling Hells 149-160 Criminal Operations 161-163 Life Under the Shadows 165-173 The Pawnbrokers 175-184 Pacific Garden Mission 185-191 Churches 193-196 Concert Saloons and Damnation 197-201 Divorces 203-215 Tramp’s Paradise 217-219 Theatres 220-223 PREFACE Chicago is to the West what New York is to the East. It is not only the Great Metropolis of the western states, but is the chief attraction upon this continent, the great center to which our people resort for business, and pleasure, and as such, is a source of never-failing interest.