More Than You Wanted To Know
Here’s an article that I came across while researching my Bratton connection.
Apartment Owner is Freed of Charge
Neighbors Tell of Men and Woman in Scant Attire in Dr. Bratton’s Building
Dr. Edwin E. Bratton, who was arrested in the charge of owning a disorderly house, on South Fortieth street was discharged yesterday at a hearing held before Magistrate Dugan. The magistrate warned Dr. Bratton to look more carefully into the character of his tenants in the future.
The action was brought by members of the Housing Committee of the University of Pennsylvania who said that Penn students frequent the apartment house. At the hearing neighbors testified that they had seen men and women in costumes that had Aphrodite backed off the board, smoking and drinking in some of the rooms. Dr. Bratton in his own defense said he owns three large apartment houses and has more than 200 tenants. He said that he had ejected all tenants against whom valid complaints were made. The warrant for Dr. Bratton’s arrest was sworn by District Detectives Baker and McDowell at the request of George Nitzsche, chairman of the Housing Committee of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Bratton, who is a Sunday School superintendent, is from Detroit and was graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School. He discontinued practicing several years ago. Several months ago, his wife brought suit for divorce alleging that she was unable to stand his “cave man tactics.”
Source: 1921-05-13. Philadelphia Inquirer
Sometimes you just have to smile at the way things were written years ago - though Dr. Bratton was cleared of the charge against him, it was clear that the writer wanted it to be known that there was still something rather unseemly about the man, or there would have been no need to mention his “cave man tactics” complained of by his wife. I haven’t actually identified Edwin yet, but I’m sure he will fit in somewhere in the family tree somewhere.