Police Raids Falter in Jury Trials

Two more of the women arrested for being inmates of disorderly houses were given jury trials before Judge Rivers yesterday and were acquitted. They were Lina Harmon, keeper of the "Club" house, and Myrtle Rapp, an inmate of the same house. The numerous police officers, the only witnesses the city had, when they came to the test could only give hearsay evidence. The "Club" house, so far as they knew, was all right. All they knew was what other people told them. From their personal knowledge they could swear to nothing. The city attorney had absolutely no case, and could get no evidence besides that given by officers, who, under orders from the chief of police, are making the raids on houses. Three women have been tried, all had jury trials and were acquitted. The cost to the city for these three cases amounts to $51.40. The city attorney says that with the evidence furnished him he cannot convict any of the many women now awaiting trial. "It is next to impossible to convict a woman of being disreputable before a jury," said Judge Rivers. Despite the adverse decisions of the juries, the police still have orders to arrest the women the moment they open their doors to the public.