The Vice Bondage of a Great City; or, the Wickedest City in the WorldHarland, Robert O.
History
The Vice Bondage of a Great City; or, the Wickedest City in the World
Harland, Robert O.
Chicago (Ill.) -- Moral conditions; Prostitution -- Illinois -- Chicago
He later told me to go with another man, a big heavy set man in a gray
suit who told me that if I would hunt up two or three other fellows he
would give me an extra half dollar. He offered a dollar for votes. I got
one fellow for him and another lad got three or four. Six of us went over
to LaSalle and Adams, where we were halted in the alley and two at a time
taken to the polling place at 146 LaSalle street, in a basement bookstore
where I voted under the name of William Johnson, 172 Madison street (2nd
Precinct, 1st Ward). The big man gave us the names on an envelope and a
sample ballot marked as we should vote. It was a Democratic ticket. At the
door of the polling place we met another man who went in with us. I gave
the name assigned, asked for instructions and the judge told the man who
went down with us to go down and help me. He went in with me and marked
the ballot. I did not even open the sample ballot. When I came back to the
alley the man gave me a dollar and also gave the other man who went with
me to vote a dollar.
I then went back to Van Buren and Clark and met a man from the West side
who said he wanted twenty or twenty-five men to go over there. There were
seven or eight of us went over together and I voted at the corner of
Sangamon and Madison streets, under the name of Danford Stowe, 27 North
Sangamon street (Pct. 11, 18th Ward). We went in three at a time. We got
the names from an old man who had them written on a slip. We had to
remember them as he gave out no printed or written names. I was paid a
dollar after I voted by the man who gave me the names.
We then went up the street and were told to ask for "George"; we went west
three or four blocks and I voted under the name of Gordon Seymour, 19
Bishop Court; the polling place was on Madison street in rear of a barber
shop. We asked for "George" and were directed to a man who stood on the
corner with a poll list. He gave me the name of Gordon Seymour (Pct. 5,
18th Ward). The fellow with me was given the name of James A. Sharp, 22
Bishop Court. I don't remember whether or not it was Democrat or
Republican ticket but think it was Republican. George went in with us and
marked the ballot. He then took both of us and gave us a dollar a piece.
The saloon was full of men. A man there had another list.
George wanted us to go in and vote again but we refused to go back to the
same place again. He then sent us down to the "brick-layers hall" on
Monroe street where we asked for Barney who gave me the name of Sheldon.
The polling place was across the street from the brick-layer's hall.
Barney took us to the door. Another fellow went in with us and marked the
ticket. Barney took us into a saloon and bought a drink for us and paid us
each a dollar.
JAMES BARNES.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this twentieth day of September, A. D.
1910.
WM. F. MULVIHILL,
Notary Public.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account