Constantinople | Trafficking in Women (1924-1926)

Mavi Boncuk |

Trafficking in Women (1924-1926)
The Paul Kinsie [1] Reports for the League of Nations

This book provides a transcription of the reports written by undercover agent Paul Kinsie for the League of Nations Special Body of Experts on Traffic in Women and Children in the mid-1920s. Between 1924 and 1926, a team travelled to more than a hundred cities in Europe, the Americas and the Mediterranean area to interview individuals involved in the regulation, repression, medical control, organization and practice of the sex trade. American undercover agents were included on the team to infiltrate the so-called 'underworld' and obtain 'facts' about the traffic. Among these, Kinsie was the most prolific. He visited more than forty cities and produced hundreds of reports in which his contacts with prostitutes, brothel owners, madams, pimps and procurers are described in detail. For a proper contextualization of the reports, scholars from around the world were asked to provide short introductions to the situation with regard to prostitution in each city that was visited. The book offers a unique source of information which is of great ethnographic value for people interested in the history of human trafficking and prostitution.

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[1] Paul Kinsie, 86, Ex‐Investigator For Unit Fighting Spread of V.D.
SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES NOV. 1, 1979

Paul Michael Kinsie, a retired staff investigator for the American Social Health Association, a voluntary group that fights the spread of venereal disease, died yesterday at his Manhattan residence. He was 86 years old.

Mr. Kinsie was associated with the group from 1914 to 1973. He was also coauthor with Charles Winnick of a book about the evils of prostitution, “The Lively Commerce,” published in 1971.

He was a native of New York City and attended the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Kinsie is survived by his wife, the former Hannah Kraff.

Trafficking in Women (1924-1926)
TRAFFICKING
IN WOMEN
1924-1926
THE PAUL KINSIE REPORTS
FOR THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
VOL. II

From Kinsie’s Code Book 

Disorderly-House Keepers | Constantinople

Dina Sarina alias Sarina Glaser, Sherbet Hane Sokak (Stree) Constantinople
Kate Cellaghia, Abanoz Sokak ‘’
Hanna, Sherbet Hane Sokak ‘’
Jeannette Bardach, Ada Sokak ‘’
Feige die Amerikanerien, #10 Beyzade Sokak
Yankel Perlman alias Yankel der Reuter (The Red)

Prostitutes | Constantinople

Lilly (Russian prostitute, Hanna’s house) 
Reba Constantinople
Rachel Ludwig, #19 Zurafa Sokak 
Rosa 
Rachel Ludwig, #19 Zurafa Sokak 
Gustave Mahler, #1 Sherbet Sokak ‘’
Lillie (Former inmate of Kate Cellaghia’z) ‘’
Nechume): Israel Katz ‘woman | Constantinople & Alexandria
Amalia 
Rosa 
Charlotte ‘
Zoa Nokole ‘’
Micula Anastassia ‘’
Anna, Dergish Sokak ‘’
Sonia Zaluczna | Constantinople & Czernowitch
Nechama Tuchelman Constantinople
Roza Sohn ‘’
Matteo’s woman ‘’
Kate Cellaghia (Formely Abanoz Sokak) ‘’
Nody (Pitts Bar, or Shamrook Bar, 12 Rue Molière

Miscellaneous | Constantinople

Hanna’s House of Prostitution, on second Street of
Galata district, directly opposite old Galata Dispensary Constantinople
Khedivial Mail Line ‘’
Cafe, #12 rue? (First street parallel with rue Bayrand,
back of Tocatlion Hotel) ‘’
Pastry Shop, #2 rue Petit Champ ‘’
Trokatlion Hotel ‘’
Pera Palace Hotel ‘’
Grand Rue Pera ‘’
Berlin Hotel ‘’
Majestic Hotel ‘’
Brazil Hotel ‘’
Tunis Hotel ‘’
National Hotel ‘’
Rio Hotel ‘’
Atlantic Hotel ‘’
Trocadero ‘’
Rose Noire ‘’
Bijou ‘’
Zum Amstel ‘’
Weiner Pirsel ‘’
White Rose ‘’
Dutch American ‘’
Champ Elysee ‘’
Maximo ‘’
Italian Degustatori ‘’
Mortche Glaser alias Mortche Big (Husband of Dina Sarina,
Mischeelin (Deceased; a disorderly-house keeper & trafficker) ‘’
Gurdji Ali ‘’
Karolina, Czernowitch ‘’
Elias Krachtel ‘’
Mendel Bondon alias Mendel Gonef (Thief), Maison de Rendezvous, Pera ‘’
Velvel Lutwig, a “Dummy” for Hassan Bey, Pera ‘’
Kotchos Cafe, Kemer Alti
Cafe de Gustation, Grand rue de Pera ‘’
Servicin Maritime Ruman (Romanian Government Mail Line) ‘’
Mme Bellina, Restaurant, Kemer Alti, Galata ‘’
Mme Amalia , Yeni Tsharschi ‘’
House of Angelo Ricci ‘’
Dervish Sokak ‘’
 “Bob”, an Englishman, Bombay ‘’
19 Zurafa Sokak (Malvina Bouskoli) ‘’
House owned jointly by Hassan Bey and Hanna Sherbet Hana Sokak ‘’

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In the same year the Jewish white slaver Hermann Bahr of Galicia was arrested when he was travelling with a transport of 25 girls to Constantinople. Bahr, who is a resident there, exported more than a hundred girls each year to Constantinople, where they were auctioned off publicly in Galata for 400 to 1500 Marks, according to beauty. At first, the girls were hired as cashiers or chambermaids at a large salary and kept in the dark as much as possible about their fate. When they then discovered the truth, return was impossible. Bahr had numerous male and female agents and a completely outfitted office. His firm name read: Bahr, Exports to the Orient.

Into the house of a well-to-do merchant in Zatmar (Hungary), a respectable-looking gentleman who called himself Oskar Klein, and passed himself off as a patron of the arts, got himself installed. He [132] very soon discovered that one of the daughters of the merchant, a talented opera singer, was a rising star in the theatrical firmament. He wanted to smooth the way to glory for the future great singer and, thanks to his influential connections, arrange for an engagement for her in Munich. With that, her fortune would be as good as made. The parents were beside themselves with joy. The father delivered the daughter to his friend and handed over to him 2000 Gulden besides. Herr Klein now travelled to Constantinople with the girl and five other novices of the arts, supposedly to establish a German theater, but in reality to sell the girls. At the last moment the girls fortunately succeeded in escaping.

SOURCE: 

The Jew as Criminal by J. Keller and Hanns Andersen a translation by R. Belser of Der Jude als Verbrecher  von J. Keller und Hanns Andersen | Nibelungen-Verlag, Berlin und Leipzig, 1937