100 years ago in Tucson June 18: Red light district and theft

CITY COUNCIL DECLARES GAY ALLEY RESTRICTED DISTRICT

WHAT THE COUNCIL DID YESTERDAY EVENING

1. Located the restricted district in Gay Alley.
2. Approved assessment roll of southside paving in spite of protests.
3. Postponed proposed closing of Yuma Road on protest of Menlo Park company.
4. Referred resolution for extending the city limits to street committee.
5. Cut off free water from public schools, Y.M.C.A. and the two railroad parks.
6. Added another patrolman, Owen Nugent, to offset absence of three officers.

The ordinance for the location of the restricted district in its present location in Gay Alley was passed by a unanimous vote of all six councilmen. Acting Mayor Bernard, elected at the beginning of the meeting to fill the place of Mayor Corbett during his absence, stated that its passage was necessary in view of the fact that legal proceedings had been started against the district.

Council Hohusen read figures showing that the vote on the question of maintaining the restricted district in Gay Alley two years ago had been as follows: First ward, Yes, 798; No, 316. Second ward, Yes, 164; No, 32. Total, Yes 962; No, 348, a majority of more than 600 in favor of the district.

“You have done a very wise thing,” Acting Mayor Bernard said after the resolution had been passed.

Protests from Mary Zabriskie, A. Olsen, Chas. Odell, Josephine Goodwin, against the southside assessment roll, and a general protest against property being assessed for paving, from Mrs. Eva Mansfeld, were read. The southside assessment roll was then passed by Resolution No. 450.

City Attorney Dunseath was about to read Resolution No. 451, closing the Yuma Road, when a protest was read by City Clerk Cowan. As the resolution had been drawn on the request of this company, it was stated, the whole matter was referred to the building and land committee with instructions to report at the next meeting.

The resolution for the extension of the city limits was read by City Attorney Dunseath. It directs that the Mayor petition the superior court to extend the city limits and take the other necessary steps to have the boundaries extended. The proposed extension includes a strip of land on the west extending to the foothills, the Lester addition on the north, the University and other property on the east, and a strip of land on the extreme south end of the city. The resolution was referred to the building and land committee with instructions to report back at the next meeting. Councilman Parker voted “No,” while the five others voted “Aye.”

The water question came up in the form of an announcement by Acting Mayor Bernard of a meeting at the private office of City Manager Clark Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock to consider the matter of the water department deficit.

After some discussion a motion was carried cutting off all free water, which includes allowances to the public schools, the Southern Pacific and El Paso and Southwestern depot parks, and the Y. M. C. A. Councilman Grossetta declared emphatically for metering the city as the only remedy for the water deficit question.

A quit claim deed for Lot 11, Block 136 to Irene Dunseath was ordered given. Permission for the erection of an iron shed at the rear of 144 Alameda street, was granted. The Standard Oil company was granted permission to make alterations in their plant. Officer Duffy of the police force was granted five days leave of absence. Owen Nugent was appointed on the police force because of the absence of three officers.

A communication was received from Superintendent F. B. King, of the El Paso and Southwestern railroad, proposing to accept the offer of free electricity for lighting the railroad park by making connections with the 110 volt system and installing a time clock.

The council adjourned to meet June 26.

MAN ROBBED ON MEYER ST. OF FORD PRICE

Alleges He Was Drugged and Relieved of $200; Found at Door of the Sheriff’s Office; Romero, a Musician, Is Held

After having been drugged and robbed of more than $200, Elias Fernandez, a miner of Ray, Arizona, was taken by some person or persons yet unknown to officers, and laid on a bench just outside the sheriff’s office in the court house yesterday morning. There he was found by officers when the sheriff’s force came down to work.

Whether this was a fine bit of irony perpetrated by the robbers or whether some one in a charitable spirit picked up the robbers’ victim and took him to the court house for his further protection, is not at this time known, in fact it was not until when Fernandez was being in police court on the charge of drunkenness that it became known to Deputy Sheriff Ezekials that there had been another robbery staged on South Meyer street.

Having seen Fernandez at the court house before he was delivered to the police for trial on the charge of drunkenness and having subsequently heard reports of the robbery, Ezekials connected the two cases and after working all day on the case not only had under arrest the man charged with the robbery but also had witnesses, when four o’clock came.

The man under arrest charged with robbery is Cruz Romero, a musician. A complaint was issued by Justice Comstock yesterday charging him with grand larceny and he was remanded to jail.

Fernandez, whose calloused hands show that he has been a hard-working miner, says he came from Ray to purchase a Ford automobile which he and a partner planned to run as a jitney bus. He says that he was held up on South Meyer street and forced to drink from a bottle of liquor and that after several drinks he became oblivious to what was happening, which was his state when he was delivered by someone, friend or foe, to the sheriff’s office prior to seven o’clock in the morning.

He had over $200 when he arrived in Tucson, enough presumably to buy the Ford car. After paying a $20 fine in police court on the charge of drunkenness, he had $70 left, so it is figured that Fernandez was robbed of over $200.

The car in which Fernandez was seeing the sights and lights of the city driven by a youth, Luis Zabalo. He told officers yesterday that Fernandez’ purse was lying on the back seat of the car and that he saw Romero take $20 therefrom but that he forced him to return it against Romero’s protest. He had also said that earlier in the day he had seen in Fernandez’ purse two fifty-dollar bills.

The presence of Romero in the car was explained by Zabalo’s statement that as he was driving the car down South Meyer street Fernandez saw the musicians pass by and he invited them to take a ride. It is alleged that the robbery occurred during the ride that followed. Zabala denies having anything to do the placing the victim on a bench in the court house corridor.

Romero and his companions were still enjoying the spree which they started yesterday morning when he was found yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock at a house in Barrio Libre. Deputy Ezekials had some trouble in getting Romero, as his companions protested and would have intervened has they been less drunk.

Officers do not take seriously Fernandez’ statement that he was held up and forced to drink from a bottle. It is believed that he obtained the booze from a bootlegger, who are said to ply their trade in the streets of the hinterland.