“On what is he basing this charge?”
“Exactly the point! On what, indeed? Well, for starters, he says the City Council has approved of the existence of a segregated area for the brothels, and further that the women are paying for protection to live and conduct their business there.”
“And you’re saying there is no truth to that? Everyone in Winnipeg knows about the existence of the Point Douglas brothels. My God, Rupert, Annabella Street has become a veritable tourist attraction on Sunday afternoons.”
“It’s not a truth anyone needs to expose, Doddsworth! Establishing the segregated district in Point Douglas has been of enormous benefit to the citizenry in getting the sporting women off the streets and out of view. This is a quiet and workable arrangement. It’s too complicated for an oafish boor like Shearer to understand, and all he wants is to create trouble so he can make a big name for himself.”
“What about the fact that the city was involved in organizing the district?”
“That’s not exactly true. Instructions were given to the police chief to deal with the prostitutes who were scattered in brothels all over town. He went to work, and by summer of 1909 the complaints about the social evil were considerably lessened. That, Doddsworth, is the whole story.”
“How is it that you came to own the properties?”
“I bought the houses as a silent partner with my real estate agent, a very capable man by the name of Percival Wright.”
“Yes, I know him.”
“It was strictly a business opportunity. Once it was decided to have a segregated district, I quietly furnished the money to secure the properties, and Wright handled the transactions to sell the homes to the ladies. Some of the keepers chose to rent. In some cases, where the buyers were short of money, we offered financing to allow them to buy their homes on Annabella and McFarlane Streets.”
“What level of profit did you see?”
“Do you have to know?”
“If I am to be of help, Rupert, I have to know everything that will be asked of you if you testify. How much profit?”
“On average?”
“Sure.”
“Well, I bought most for between two thousand and twenty-five hundred dollars, and we sold the houses for between eight and twelve thousand dollars.”
“Nice.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Doddsworth! There’s nothing illegal about making a profit. And the truth of the matter is that we did think it was rather nice for these women business owners. They came off the streets, everyone knows where to find them, and there is the added benefit of the cops keeping an eye out, which makes it safer for them.”
“So, they are also paying for protection then. Is that it?”
“They are certainly not paying me for anything but the mortgages or their rent.”
“But you are on the police commission.”
“What has that to do with anything?”
“People will expect you will have knowledge of whatever protection has been promised. What can you tell me about it?”
Rupert shot out of his seat and began pacing again.
“They have a variety of arrangements, I am sure. My involvement ends with the financial concerns for their properties.”
“So you’ve said.”
“As to the rest, Doddsworth, you would have to discuss the matter with Police Chief McRae.”
Doddsworth read the document through and shook his head. “This does have the makings of a major scandal, Rupert. You could get hurt.”
Rupert exploded. “What do you think I’ve been saying? Now, let me tell you something, Doddsworth. If I do get hurt, it will only be because my lawyer is not smart enough to help me finesse my liability.”
“That’s a low blow, Rupert.”
“Forgive me. I am rather rattled, as I am sure you can appreciate.”
“When does the inquiry start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? That’s awfully fast.”
“City Council dealt with the request this afternoon. A resolution was passed, and the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba has ordered it to start tomorrow.”
“That’s very fast, Rupert. It would be very helpful to learn who has been asked to testify.”
“I’ve seen the list.”
“Oh?”
“Someone in the court owed me a favor,” Rupert winked. “It includes the chief of police, of course, the mayor, some of the commissioners, a few residents in the area, and a good long list of the prostitutes.”
“And how long will the inquiry last?”
“Thankfully, not long. It’s scheduled to run just two or three days.”
“Excellent.”
“Excellent? What are you talking about? I could be ruined.”
Rupert, calm yourself. It appears to me that with the extremely quick response in launching the inquiry, the city is looking to face the charges and discredit their accuser as quickly as possible.”
“Well, that could be true. Yes, I would say that calling Winnipeg the ‘Rottenest City’ was like poking a smoldering stick directly in the eye of City Council. The council would have voted to start the inquiry the very day of the resolution, had it been possible. Everyone is very embarrassed and angry.”
“Exactly my point,” said Doddsworth. “Rupert, they might not even have time to hear you. If my hunch is correct, no one is going to put a businessman on the stand ahead of a long list of prostitutes. If I’ve learned anything about Winnipeg in the time I have lived here, it is that there is a great appreciation for theater. From what you are telling me, this inquiry is shaping up to be the best show in town, and there appears to be no time to ruin the production with boring details like the ownership of the properties. Leave it to me, Rupert.”
Rupert peered at Doddsworth as he processed his words, and then a smile broke across his face, like sunshine breaking through cloud cover.
“Now I know why I pay you so handsomely. Thank you, Doddsworth.”
Doddsworth’s assessment of the inquiry’s theatrical appeal proved correct. Despite cold and snowy weather, he and Rupert had to push their way through the throng that had gathered on Main Street in front of City Hall to get to their seats as it began.
Men in top hats carrying walking sticks stood next to scruffy boys in worn out shoes and patched jackets as the crowd grew in anticipation of the arrival of the witnesses.
Once inside, there was standing room only in the City Council chambers as the proceedings began under the direction of the Honorable Hugh Amos Robson, chief justice of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench. Some well-heeled audience members had paid people to hold places in line for them. Rich and poor, all wanted to hear what the prostitutes had to say. Just to have a chance to see them in person was titillating. The hearing had the potential to escalate from theatre to circus.
“Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All rise!” the court clerk cried out as Chief Justice Robson, tall, broad, and imposing in his black robes, swept into the room and took his place. With a scowling glare beneath his curly white wig, he grabbed the gavel off his desk and pounded it heavily against the rumble of chatter in the room.
“Quiet! This court is now in session. Anyone who cannot behave will be removed from the courtroom, forthwith!” the chief justice shouted over the noise and settled into a long preamble stating the purpose of the inquiry as people jockeyed for space and pushed against the rails of the oak balustrade to catch every word.
The judge held the large document out at arms length and read with a booming voice. “Whereas, according to reports contained in the press, allegations of graft have been made against the police authorities in the City of Winnipeg, and it is stated that houses of prostitution pay for police protection, and whereas Reverend Shearer has been quoted in articles published in Toronto newspapers saying, quoted here “that these dives sell liquor twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and as the price of being permitted so to do, each house pays four hundred dollars,” end of quot
e.
“And whereas Reverend Shearer further states that the district could be shut down in twenty-four hours if there was the political will to do so, we commence this inquiry on November 22nd, 1910 A.D.”
He smashed the gavel down again, and the crowd hushed with anticipation. Next on the agenda was another long reading of the order passed by Winnipeg City Council that initiated the calling of the Commission of Inquiry.
While Commissioner Robson droned on through one “whereas” after another in reading the resolution, Rupert read through the witness list for the day and whispered to Doddsworth.
“I thought you said McRae would be saved for last. He’s testifying today.”
“This is better,” answered Doddsworth, looking very important, in his starched white collar against his black courtroom robes. “This way he eats up the time. By the time they get to the prostitutes and then the mayor and Magistrate Daly, they are going to have to start dismissing people from the witness list.”
“Who’s this J.B. Coyne fellow?”
“He’s a talented young lawyer who will be acting on behalf of the Moral and Social Reform Committee. He will be questioning Chief McRae.”
“Do we need to worry about him?”
“Not at all. Coyne is here with James Aikins, of the law firm you might know as Aikins, Robson, Fullerton and Coyne.”
“Did you say Robson? The commissioner?” This was startling news to Rupert.
“The same.” Doddsworth polished his glasses as he whispered, “The name of the firm has actually changed since Robson was recently named a judge. But the thing of it is, all of these men know each other, and I believe it is fair to say they all want to see Winnipeg’s reputation saved.
“I don’t think we can expect to see anything come of this inquiry that will put Winnipeg into a difficult light over the long term. In fact, Reverend Shearer may end up facing charges of defamation by the time we’re done here.”
“Quiet!”
The gavel sounded again, and Justice Robson ordered two boys and a man removed from the courtroom for creating a disturbance. At this, the crowd finally quieted and testimony began with the swearing in of Police Chief John McRae and the introduction of Mr. James B. Coyne, who would examine the witness.
After establishing that the chief had been in his job over twenty years and was very familiar with the pertinent issues, the crowd was finally rewarded with the entertainment they sought to find at the hearing.
Mr. Coyne walked purposefully about in front of the witness stand as he asked his questions. Chief McRae’s demeanor was polite and confident in the early questioning.
“What motivated the women to settle on Annabella and McFarlane Streets?” the lawyer asked.
“They understood they were going back to the old order of things,” the chief answered.
“That they would be undisturbed?”
“No, because they were not undisturbed when they were on Thomas Street,” McRae explained. “They were going back to the old order of things. They would be apprehended when there would be sufficient cause to justify it.”
“What do you mean ‘sufficient cause’?” Coyne looked at his notes.
McRae sat back in the chair and considered his words. “Oh, disorderly houses, thefts, robberies, the admission of persons who should not be there and traffic in virtue.”
“That would leave them open to conviction?”
“Trafficking in any young persons, thefts, drunkenness and robberies. That was the old order of things and that would subject them to conviction.”
“What did you know of the proceedings for the establishment of the colony? We will call it a colony in distinction to area.” Coyne faced the judge’s bench.
Rupert felt his heart start to pound, and his eyes slid to Doddsworth who motioned to him to stay quiet.
“I got a telephone call from Minnie Woods,” the police chief answered. “She was well known to police and to the other ladies of the profession from her previous prominence on Thomas Street and had a role in selecting the new area for the colony, as you say. She had picked the area and told me she had a man who was acting on her behalf to help secure the properties.”
“Do you know the name of this man?”
“Percival Wright. He is a real estate man,” answered McRae. “Mr. Coyne, at this point I would also like to state clearly to the commission that despite what has appeared in some newspaper accounts, Mr. Wright is not my brother-in-law. I do not have any connection financially to this man, and I have not profited in any way from the sale of the houses.”
A murmur went up from the crowd. The rumors had been widely circulated, and everyone had an opinion on whether the police chief had been making money from the brothel district.
“After the real estate man became involved, then what happened, Chief McRae?”
“Minnie understood that they were going back to the old order of things, and she was asked to talk to the other girls about it.” McRae answered. “Then she got in touch with the real estate man, and by summer there were many properties all set up, as was the implied intent of the police commission.”
“Did you talk to other women?”
“No, I sent them to Minnie Woods to get their information.”
Rupert felt his heart leap and cupped his hand over his mouth as he turned to Doddsworth.
“He dropped it. He’s not going to pursue the question of profit and ownership.”
“So far, so good, Rupert,” Doddsworth nodded.
Mr. Coyne strutted about the witness stand and consulted his notes before he approached the police chief with a new line of questioning. “I suppose the object of the department was that, when the segregated area had been decided upon, they would drive anybody of that description from the rest of the town to that area?”
McRae nodded his head in agreement. “It was intended to bring about the change of conditions to remove the evil that had spread throughout the city into one area.”
“Did you collect the names of the men who were customers of the brothels?” Coyne asked.
This sparked another eruption from the crowd, and the commissioner had to silence the courtroom before McRae could answer. “We tried it, and it didn’t work. There had been an order in place from the police commission, but typically when officers were posted at the houses to ask the names of the men, what they got in answer was ‘some very prominent names’, or answers like ‘none of your business’, or fictitious names, names of well-known businessmen. Finally there was a very brutal attack on a constable because he looked into a hack, a taxi. Since then we don’t ask the names. I don’t know of any right which I have to ask men under those circumstances.”
“Chief McRae, how do you mean you don’t know of any right you would have to ask the men, these customers of the brothels, their names?”
McRae paused, searching for the right way to explain himself. “Here is what happened. On that previous occasion I just spoke about, at a house we had picketed, we had instructions to collect the names. That was done. What led to the rescinding of the order is that one special constable was brutally assaulted there when he looked inside the hack to identify the brothel customer. The person committing the assault was committed for trial. The judge and jury acquitted him, and the judge said the police had no right to ask people their names.”
The questions continued for two solid hours. Near the end of the afternoon, the tireless young James Coyne appeared as composed as he had from his first question. The chief of police, however, was starting to wear at the edges.
Coyne consulted his papers and turned again to the witness box. “Chief McRae, Reverend Shearer claims that the fifty-three houses of ill fame which exist on Annabella and McFarlane Streets could be closed within twenty-four hours. Is that charge true?”
Chief McRae grimaced and rubbed his hand on his jaw. “Well, I don’t know what is meant by that. If it means the district could be closed within twenty-four hours if they would sell out, it might
be so. I don’t know who would buy them. They might be closed out by arrangement, but I doubt it very much.”
“But if it means that you, the chief of police with your force could close them out in that brief space of time, could that be done?”
The lawyer’s tone had escalated, and the police chief finally ran out of patience at what he saw as an insinuation that he was not capable of doing his job. “It is a physical impossibility!” The popular chief railed. “The women plead not guilty, and all the police can do is to submit the evidence to the court. The women are penalized if the evidence is accepted. I know of no law which permits me to dynamite, cremate, or eject immoral women!”
The crowd erupted into laughter and spontaneous cheers in support of the shouting police chief. The entertainment was everything the spectators had wanted it to be.
The commissioner called for a recess and announced that the testimony would continue the next day. The throngs rushed for the door, and Rupert beamed at Doddsworth.
“They went right by the question of property ownership. I might get out of this after all.”
“It’s looking good, Rupert.” Doddsworth shook his client’s hand.
The inquiry continued with onlookers packed to the chamber walls. Rupert was never called to testify. When it was over, the newspapers had a field day, printing the testimony from the prostitutes who were made to tell stories in great detail of how they had come to be prostitutes, how many visitors they received, and how much money they made. They also explained on the witness stand their understanding that if they followed certain rules such as keeping the music low and staying out of downtown, that they would be left alone to conduct their business. With the newspaper stories on the brothel district, ever-increasing crowds took up sightseeing in the red light district, leaving the prostitutes to cope with thick Sunday crowds of citizens looking to catch a glimpse of a fallen woman on Annabella and McFarlane Streets. The women didn’t mind so much, for it also brought an increase of business.
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