March 29, 1935 - MASSAGE PARLOR INDECENCY COSTS

[Libertine]

Chicago Daily Tribune
March 29, 1935
on page 16

MASSAGE PARLOR INDECENCY COSTS

3 WOMEN FINED

Judge Sorry He Can't Impose Jail Terms.

Municipal Judge Edward S. Scheffler yesterday ruled that three women seized during police raids a month ago on disorderly houses operated in the guise of massage parlors were guilty of violating city ordinances relating to decent management of business establishments. After fining each woman the Judge said:

"I am only sorry that the law does not allow me to impose a jail sentence. In this case, however, the only punishment I can inflict is a fine, since none of the women is charged with a criminal act. By fining these people the city and state government benefits from immoral acts. The law should be changed."

Three Fined $190 in All.

The women are Helen Williams, 45 years old operator of a "massage parlor at 935 North State Street, who was fined $100; Lee Ray, 24 years old, also of the State Street address, fined $50; and Shirley Lewis. 23 years old, 609 Dunning place, also employed at the State Street "parlor," who was fined $40.

All three were arrested on Feb. 28 after Sergeant Frank Sullivan, acting on orders of Police Commissioner Allman, had visited the "massage parlor." Before Judge Scheffler, on the day following the arrests, the Sergeant described how the women, wearing only bath towels, had given him a massage and an oil rub.

After Massage a Parade.

When he emerged from the shower room, he told the court, he saw a bedroom door open and the Lee Ray woman "paraded out absolutely nude."

Through their attorney, Morris J. Slater, the women pleaded that they had been entrapped into the violations by the policemen.

However, Assistant Corporation Counsels Otto Weiner and William Daly gave an opinion to Judge Scheffier in which they asserted that entrapment was no defense in as much as the policemen had visited the place as a customer and had received the same treatment accorded all patrons.

"I have studied the law and I am convinced that this case does not involve entrapment," Judge Schemer stated after pronouncing sentence.


March 29, 1935
Chicago Daily Tribune
on page 16

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1...men-fines#text

[un camacho]

It's so sad in a city ravaged by gang shooting to use public money for stings to prosecute providers...

[monger1]

Originally Posted by camp

It's so sad in a city ravaged by gang shooting to use public money for stings to prosecute providers...

The article is from 1935...unless you're referring to St. Valentine's Day Massacre but that occurred in 1929 during the prohibition era.