Hide Article Text (OCR)
AND SIX ARRESTS MADE44 -4 4 4 4 4 4**❖❖*44* *♦❖❖4 4 4 444444V444*44❖4*4**444*44*4*The first indictments returned by the grand jury are directed against the e|ght proprietors of houses of ill fame of Colorado City.Six capiases were served last night; four women, Laura Bell, Nellie White, Laura Guilee and Sadie Stewart, gave cash bonds in the sum of $500 each.The other two women, Emma Wilson, colored, and Marguerite Epps,4*4*4❖*4**are confined in the county jail, charged with conducting houses of ill4*fame.4*tEvidence before the grand jury is to the effect that the houses have been run under the protection of the authorities of Colorado City, who have collected monthly fines from each house.Undersheriff Grimes and five deputy, sheriffs made the arrests.The arrests were entirely unexpected; at the house of Marguerite Epps an unsuccessful attempt to escape was made.Other and sensational developments in regard to the morality of the county, it is rumored, will follow.44444444444444444444444444444444444evi-jurytrueThewerecasesaool-upon her life.^sfiarrest in anyThe first day's session of the grand jury called by the district judges to investigate city and county affairs, resulted in eight indictments directed against proprietors of houses of ill fame in Colorado City. Six arrests were made simultaneously at 9:30 o'clock last night. The sheriff's offices will serve the other two capiases this morning.Those arrested are;Laura Bell.Nellie White. *Laura Guilee.Emma Wilson, colored.Marguerite Epps.Sadie Stuart.The arrests were the result of denee brought before the grand by citizens of Colorado City and bills were found in each case, keeping of houses of this nature is expressly against the statutes of the state and evidence went to show that the women paid each month into the city treasury of Colorado City amounts of $25 in each case for the landlady and $10 each for the other women inmates. This custom which is entered upon the city books as fines, it was alleged before the jury, has continued for years. The arrests were taken as an indication that the grand jury will thoroughly investigate this violation of the statutes and it was rumored around the court house that the action of last night is the precursor of more arrests in Colorado City. The women claim they have been guaranteed protection by the Colorado City officials and further testimony in regard to the officials and their relation with this source of revenue will continue before the grand jury.About the Officials.Last night no one connected with the district attorney’s office would state if indictments are contemplated against the Colorado City officials. The women, after the arrests, notified their attorneys and will contend that they have paid the monthly fines believing that it was a legal procedure. They claim they have evidence to show they were guaranteed protection.The capiases were served only on the proprietors of the various houses most of which are on Washington avenue. Colorado City. In the case of three of the women, Laura Bell, Nellie White and Laura Guilee, cash bonds furnished. The bond in all six was placed at $500 each.Woman Took Morphine.Emma Wilson, the keeper of ored house, and Marguerite Epps could not furnish bond and are in the county jail. Both oil these women took the arrest bitterly and a large quantity of morphine was taken from Marguerite Epps who, aording to the deputy sheriffs,^was-M^ing it in large quantities on trie r?ufe*frOrn Colorado City tothe sheriff’s*,,vvPlpce. The woman appeared tp;. b|3ry despondent and it was feared snillfcpuld make an attemptin one case was the anticipated. That was at the house {^Marguerite Epps, where an effort was--made to turn out the lights and escape. Deputy sheriffs at the front and rear doors were too quick, however, for the three women inmates.The capiases were issued shortly after the grand jury had examined the last witneefe late yesterday afternoon. Indictments had been found in eight cases. At 8:30 o’clock the sheriff’s force left in one of the largest omnibuses operated by the transfer company. Undersheriff O. P. Grimes, who is acting aberiff'in the absence of Sheriff Gilbert at St. Louis, was accompanied by Deputy Sheriffs George Dayton. John L. Nelson, the jailer; Dr. H. L. Richardson, whb is also a deputy sheriff, and Deputy Sheriffs Shemwell arid Shel. lenberger.Lights Turned* Ocut.Fearing that the word of the contemplated arrests would speed rapidly along Washington avenue and possibly defeat the plans of the officers, it was decided that one deputy sheriff should serve the capias handed him at the house designated .in the document, and that the arrests should be made simultaneously. The officers, however, were recognized by a man who saw them assemble at the corner of Washington avenue nearest the row of residences, and before the deputies could reach the bouses assigned them, the informant ran to the house kept by Marguerite Epps and warned the inmates. As Deputy Sheriff Richardson approached,the lights suddenly went out with the exception of one or two which gave evidence that the women were still within. As the deputy sheriff reached the front door another deputy ran to the rear and before the women could leave, Marguerite Epps was arrested.An Interference.At Laura Bell’s, James Lacey, who had been called in by the landlady, resisted the serving of the capias, holding that such action was beyond the authority of Deputy Sheriff Shemwell. He was convinced, however, and in a few moments Mrs. Bell had arranged the cash bond required of $500. This was .also the case at the houses of Nellie White and Laura Guilee, and these wpmen were not required to accompany the officers to the city.The return wgs made shortly after 10 o'clock and at 10:45 the sheriff’s office was reached. A quantity of morphine had been tgken from Marguerite Epps, blit she was in such a condition that she could scarcely be called rational, and railed at the officers and insisted on throwing wide open the door leading out on Kiowa street, exclaiming she was strangling. She was in such a condition that the officer believed shewould have taken a dangerous quantityhad the drug not been confiscated.A Dope Fiend.“I have conje.prepared if I am to go to jail,** she tsalu* “I am a dope fiend and it is cruel that you should robme of it/’Emma Wilson aobbqd during the time she was in the sheriff’s office and after the telephone had been called intorequisition pitf efforts made to obtain bpnd without .success, she burst into a flood of tears, a carriage was called and shortly after 11 o’clock the two women were taken to -the county jail.J £11 the women arrested, stated they could not understand why the actionhad been taken.within tne lastw a s had H ndagainst them. It week that several paid the fines demanded of them stated the practice had continued so long that they believed the authorities were proceeding in a legal manner, and trusted in their professions that it was equivalent to protection. They stated that City Marshal George Bird sail and other city officials usually collected the fines in person.Officials Cautious.As Judge Cunningham particularlycautioned not only the grand jurors but all connected with them and with the court to divulge nothing in regard to matters being investigated, none of the court officers nor the district attorney’s force would talk upon the significance of the arrests last evening or what other action would follow, beyond the statement that it represented the first day’s work of the grand jury, and matters along the same line will continue to be investigated. It is known that gambling and the eonnelt; -tion of the city officials of Colorado City with the alleged violations of the statutes is now being investigated by the body holding sessions in division one of the district court.The bonds are returnable May 20 in the district court. The deputy sheriffs have the persons named in the other two indictments under surveillance and they will be arrested during the course of today. The charge on the bonks of the county jail against Emma Wilson and Marguerite Epps is that of condticting a house of ill fame. This is the charge against all the women.therthorglthycasrefirsugrthmalofatTtallbebeto:igitrihi?cO la t w 1juihaIw Iknerignanot 1thlt;ormfm a ses wo noorpainpdelenlt;aShe;dmJUDGE CUNNINGHAMCHARGES THE JURY.The grand jury began its session yesterday. When court convened in the morning Judge Cunningham, presiding in the district court, read his charge.At 11:40 o'clock, after the reading of the charge, the court ordered that the oath be administered to Wallace Peck, bailiff, who was ordered to clear the court room. The judges have placed j an division T at the disposal of the grand: hoi jury and Bailiff Peck guards the only entrance. The instructions are that only officers of the court, members of the jury, the prosecuting attorneys and j witnesses he allowed ingress. The i grand jury began examining witnesses at 2:30 nV|olt;.*k in the afternoon and by 6 o’clock several witnesses were | examined.Judge Cunningham, in his. charge, urged upon the grand jurors the importance of absolute secrecy in the conduct of all the proceedings: he instructed them that they must not divulgeto anyone v\hai takes place in the jury room, or the name of any witness or person under investigation. The statutes provide that the county treasurer’s office must be investigated by the grand jury.Special Committee.A special committee, consisting of B.F. Clark. E. Evans Carrington and E.A. Sundcrlin. was appointed bv the court to assist the grand jury, in the investigation of the treasurer's office, and other matters. As. Judge Cunningham said in the charge: “This committee will also examine the official bonds of the clerk of the district court and such of his deputies as may have given bonds, and their official relations, and make report and recommendations to you concerning the same.’’ The court also directs the jury that it shall examine buildings as to fire escapes, etc. The vote of nine members of the grand jury is necessary before a true bill can he rendered in any instance: less than this number will defeat the bill.The Jurors.The membership of the grand jury is as follows:John W. Campbell, mining, Colorado Springs, foreman.George A. Cockburn, broker, Colorado Springs.W. N. Hemenway. railroad fireman, ('olorado City.J. S. Stewart, railroad employe, ('dorado City.Perry Babcock, ranchman, Surbet.William J. Star:noi *■*, market gardener. Colorado Springs.Ernest J. Jesse, ranchman. Monument.F. Burke, barber.anlt;the■•reaevivmawthesueyottrutheanlt;corVeretestowitofoncepdidaloiItad r wit senat 1cur tru-bill mu eve it i: ace ancThomasSprings.C. A. Springs.lt; ’oloi adoYwhineycial for] 1 or couencerii sanYtimCrane, merchant.. toColorado | shoaityof tact.TfoilSlt;thecousaiccouM. Klemtnedson, carpenter, Colorado Springs.A. H. Anderson, feed corral. Colorado Springs.A. (». Sessford. ('dorado Springs.The length of time required by the grand jury in its deliberations is conjectural. The court has impressed upon the body the necessity for a thor- j sunough investigation in both city and I givlt; county affairs and at the same time I law urged upon them every expedition.The charge of Judge Cunningham asdelivered to the grand jury follows:The Court’s Charge.Gentlemen of the Grand Jury:You have been summoned here pursuant to the provisions of the law to act a? grand jurors. At the outset I desire to impress upon your minds the importance of absolute secrecy in the conduct of all your proceedings. This essential requirement of the law is incorporated in the oath which you have taken. Without a strict observance of your oath in this particular, you cannot properly discharge your duties.You must not divulge to any on#what has taken place in your Jury room,either by disclosing the name of any witness who may appear before you. or the subject matter of his testimony, orS«of ithiswhiimpsueper:offiveandty.ditiS'convestresthefunporthe name of any person who has been I andor is being investigated, whether a true bill has or has not been found in any particular case. And this is important that every true bill shall be kept a secret so that the accused may be apprehended before ho flees from the jurisdiction of the court; and it is equally important that the public shall not know of the investigation of an individual in any case where a true bill is not found because of the injury that might result to him from having been investigated by a grand jury. It is as much your duty to protect the innocent as to punish the guilty, and not only to protect the innocent from an unjust prosecution but. to protect them fromhar froj or : totJ har the[ silvcou tior cur sue hav in trei any or ipori
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Weekly Gazette
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Thu, Apr 30, 1903
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Pikes P.
CO, USA 07 Nov 2022
Other Publications Near Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs Gazette
Colorado Springs Independent
Colorado Springs Weekly Gazette
Ranchland Farm News
Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph
