Volume 15 , Issue 30

Diggs-Caminetti White Slave Cases Start in San Francisco Court (5 August 1913)

In The Tacoma Times, Tacoma, Washington, Tuesday, August 5, 1913, we find the mention of the "Diggs-Caminetti" white Slave Cases starting in San Francisco court.

Marsha WArrington, Sacramento, California girl who eloped with Maury I. Diggs, former state architect, who deserted his wife and child, was facing prosecution on a charge of white slavery. Diggs defense would attack the reputation of Miss Warrington, and tenderloin characters of San Francisco and Sacramento had been summoned to testify during the trial.

San Francisco, Cal., Aug. 5 1913 -- The Diggs-Caminetti white slave case, which created a sensational scandal in national politics, came up for trial here in Federal Judge Van Pleet's court.

Matt I. Sullivan and Theodore Roche, special prosecutors, would conduct the case. This is the case that resulted in the resignation of John L. McNab, who claimed that interference by Attorney General McReynolds prevented him prosecuting rich and powerful defendants.

The Diggs-Caminetti case in particular. The appointment of Thos. Hayden, who later resigned, as a special prosecutor, brought down another shower of criticism on McReynolds, because Hayden was said to be a personal friend of Caminetti.

Maury I. Diggs, former state architect, was the scion of a wealthy Sacramento, California, family. Diggs senior at one time was state senator. Drew Caminetti was the son of Anthony Caminetti, commissioner of immigration. Both were married, with families. Caminetti had two children and Diggs had one child.

They eloped to Reno, Nevada, January 15, 1913, with two high school girls, Marsha Warrington and Lola Norris. After eluding the police for a week they were finally captured while living together in a cottage under assumed names. Until the Reno escapade both firlgs had borne good reputations.

Marsha Warrington was the daughter of the WEstern Pacific ticket agent of Sacramento, Cal., and Lola Norris was the only daughter of a retired business man, also of the state capital.

Six indictments were returned against Caminetti and Diggs -- four against Caminetti and two against Diggs. They were charged with white slavery, conspiracy to violate the white slave traffic act and with transporting women for immoral purposes.

Diggs and Caminetti were recently arraigned before Federal Judge Morrow on the violation of the Mann act indictment. They had already pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charge and would go to trial on that indictment August, 1913.

Diggs had subpoenas issued for 10 habitués of the beach and barbary Coast resorts to testify as to the character of Marsha WArrington, whom he was accused of transporting to Reno for immoral purposes. A few days before he caused the summoning of witnesses in Sacramento, all habitués of the night life, for the same purpose.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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