Wednesday, May 11, 2011

1877 Rose Stout and Others

On Friday last complaint was made by Deputy-Sheriff Parshal and Nightwatch Stevens against one Rose Stout, charged with being a common prostitute. The case was tried by jury before Justice Goul, and the defendant 'sent up' for 90 days.

On Monday evening the suspicions of the night watchman was aroused by a man who was sneaking around the back yard and peeking in the windows of a residence near main street. He finally collared the person when he arose on his dignity and claimed to be a 'gentleman' and 'high toned clerk' from Howell, and after being identified by one of our citizens was released. He continued his strange proceedings, however, and was again taken into custody when it came out that the 'hired girl' was the cause of his special attention at that particular house. The 'high-toned gentleman, clerk' from Howell was finally persuaded to go about his business and leave the 'hired girl' to her peaceful slumbers, or there would be a vacancy in the ranks of the 'high-toned gentlemen, clerks' in the village of Howell.

'Paradise hall' is a thing of the past and it is well it is so, for the citizens were becoming disgusted and something would have 'dropped' if it had not closed.

So there you have it. In all of my research, I have found numerous articles regarding drunkards, shootings, robberies, tramps, gypsies, on and on, but very few regarding 'ladies of the night.' The above three were found in early issues of The Fowlerville Review, shortly after G.L. Adams began the newspaper.

Coming up toward the end of June, I will be speaking at the Fowlerville Library on the subject of 'Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.' A discussion will follow of articles I found in the newspaper at the end of the 19th century; particularly 1896-1899. I'm thinking it could be quite interesting, especially since I know some of what I'll be presenting.

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