This story comes from 1912. Surprised? Don’t be. In fact, American women have been kidnapped and sold to other countries since the writing of the Constitution. It happens in other countries and it happens here. I guess the most shocking thing about this story is that it happened in 1912 — and people dream of those days as being family oriented, god-fearing days. They weren’t.
Dealt In Girls
Seattle, Sept. 12. — The source of the fortune accumulated by Arthur Ward, “prominent” business man and church member of this city, has been uncovered by the federal authorities.
Ward was in the business of supplying American girls to the houses of ill fame of Yokohama, Japan and Hong Kong, China. He paid for the luring of the girls and then sent them to their destination in charge of his wife, Bernice.
Ward has been arrested and has made a full confession. His wife will be re-arrested.
Mrs. Ward and two other women were arrested recently as they left a steamer at San Francisco on their return from the Orient. The evidence against them was not strong enough to hold them and they were released.
Source: The Day Book (Chicago, Illinois newspaper). September 12, 1912.
