Police Department Begins War Against ‘Em Following Stories of Two Girls Who Leaped from Auto to Save Themselves
The Chicago police are going to war on automobile flirts, fashionably dressed young men who ride about the city at night, hunting down young girls as prey. Added activity was given the campaign by the shocking story of two young West Side girls, who are at their homes seriously injured as a result of being forced to jump from an automobile going 30 miles as hour to escape the attentions of two young men.
The girls—Mary Rossman, 21, 1851 W. 12th St., and Rosie Shieldhouse, 20, 12th and Lincoln sts.—made the mistake of responding to a flirtation with two young men. The car passed the girls at 12th st. and Ashland av. There were three men and a woman in the car. Two of the men offered the girls a ride. The machine was halted, and, after a trivial talk, the girls—reassured by the presence of the woman and the clever talking men—entered on the promise that they would be taken home in half an hour.
There was a short dash through the park and along the boulevard. Then the woman, who had been in the car first, and one of the three men left.
The girls became nervous. The men sought to laugh away their fears and promised to take the girls right home. But instead they sped in the opposite direction. Then the men began fondling the girls. One of them screamed. The man at the wheel put on extra speed.
The girls saw how desperate was the situation. They stood up, struggled with the men and then with the car careening along at a 30-mile clip, the girls decided to leap.
Miss Rossman’s right arm is broken and she may be injured internally. Miss Shieldhouse is badly hurt.
The girls paid an expensive price for their thoughtless act. But their price is trifling compared to the prices hundreds of other victims of “auto flirts” are paying each year.
The auto seduction evil is growing each summer. Out along 31st, 43d, and 63d streets, where the streets are crowded with young people, girls from the department stores and factories, out for a little relaxation, these men ply their villainous trade.
They understand what an auto ride means to a girl to whom such a thing is a wonderful luxury quite beyond purchase from her slim, little pay envelope.
And so, every night you can see the cars steaming along, with the men in them calling gallantly to the girls: “Come, we’ll take you home.”
The girls hesitate at first. Then they think it can’t be so very wrong to take a ride with a man that’s strange when he’s so nice and attentive. A ride in a machine is so much more fun that a walk or a car ride [street car ride]. And they finally get in.
Once in the car the work of the man begins. It’s very easy at first, but it soon bursts into a torrent and the girl is placed in a very dangerous position.
The police have also received complaints of girls who have been carried far out of the boundary lines of the city against their will and they are ruined or they are forced to walk back.
West Madison street, Milwaukee avenue, 12th street, North Clark street and the Wilson avenue district, 31st, 43d, 63d and Halsted streets are the principal hunting grounds of these men. The various captains of police in these districts will seek to stamp out the evil.
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