Here Mr. Fenton laughed very heartily.
“What were the plans of the society for the eradication of the evil?”
“I don’t think the society had any hope of wiping out the evil. All they hoped to do was to keep it in check. I know that my views were simply these. The law of the land declares that keeping a house of ill-fame, or being an inmate thereof, are offences punishable by
FINE AND IMPRISONMENT.
The chief constable and all his men are sworn to enforce the laws of the land, and I proposed they should do so in this particular class of cases.”
“There were some raids made about that time. What were the results of them?”
“Well, during the discussion of the question large numbers of the women took fright, and they left the city in droves. Quite a number were arrested when the raids were made, and a few sent to the Mercer, and more fined. Two or three keepers were frightened out of the business.”
“Didn’t the girls disappear off the public streets at that time?”
“Yes; I am told they did.”
“But are they not now as bold and as numerous as ever there?”