H.A. Brownley Charged with White Slavery, Dec. 12, 1922

Another White Slave Case for Court Here. . . Federal Authorities Call the Nerve of H.A. Brownley, Who Wouldn’t Take the Chance He Had

After living in this city for two years with a woman who was not his wife, and after having taken her back to Pennsylvania, and then returning to this city with the announcement that he would make his home here, H.A. Brownley, reporter for the Daily Advance, was apprehended by Federal authorities here Friday morning and placed under $400 bond for his appearance at the April term of Federal court to answer a charge of violating the Mann White Slave Act.

Brownley, given a hearing before U.S. Commissioner T.B. Wilson, stated that he lived with the woman as charged, but that she paid her own way to Elizabeth City. He further stated that he intended to marry her if he could get a divorce from a wife living in Pennsylvania.

Brownley was apprehended by U.S. Deputy Marshall J.W. Wilcox who swore out the warrant upon the recommendation of Federal authorities. When taken by the Deputy Marshall, he begged to be let off, saying that it was his intention to leave town the next day.

Eight Elizabeth City men went on his bond to the extent of $50 apiece. Immediately afterwards, Brownley promised to leave town until April. He should have gone to some other town to start over if he had wanted to escape the penalty. Brownley is known under two aliases.

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 1922