An article on the front page (shown above) of the April 16, 1953 Journal noted, "Lashing out at Lorain county law enforcement officials, E. A. Braun, member of the three-man board of trustees of Black River Township, today called for an "all out war upon prostitution activities on Surf Avenue.
""We're facing organized crime," said Braun, a former Lorain mayor. "The only way to fight a thing of this nature is with an organized law enforcement group and Black River Township hasn't received proper protection," he continued."
Sheriff Carl R. Finegan defended the efforts of his department. In the article, he notes, "We've been working on this matter with the FBI for several months.
"We've been checking the area two and three times each night for the past several months, and we've failed to come up with anything in the way of evidence.
"It's part of a big ring operating between Pittsburgh and Detroit, that's why the FBI is working with us," he added.
In fairness to the Sheriff, statements by the Black River Township Board of Trustees (in the continuation of the front page article, shown below) seem to indicate that they'd been aware of the problems on Surf Avenue for a while – but didn't do anything about it.
That's quite a series. It's interesting that no reporter was by-lined. Whoever he or she was, the writer clearly thought the sheriff and township trustee were full of beans.
ReplyDeleteLittle bit of Pottersville out on the fringe of Bedford Falls.
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