The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-06-24

At the court OF Common Pleas, which closed
its session in this town yesterday, the following
convictions for criminal offences took place.
JOIN Wether6y for larceny at Brunswick,
from store: he plead guilty, and was sentenced
to 30 days solitary imprisonment and one years
hard labour in the common Jail Of the county.
Edmund Chandler Deleno, Of this town, for
an assault and battery upon bis wife, plea
guilty: sentence, so days solitary imprisonment,
and sureties for good behaviour in the sum Of
S20o for two years.
HIM. SteUens, larceny at Falmouth spIea
guilty, sentence, 10 days solitary Imprisonment
aud months hard labour in the common Jail.
John Ecans and Polly Euans, for keeping
disorderly house and house of i'll fame. On the
plea of not guilty, a long investigation was had,
by which it appeared that Evans and bis wife
had for several years past kept house where
persons of both sexes had been in the habit OF
resorting FIVE nights in the week for the purpos-
es of dancing and prostitution. The charges in
the indictment were clearly supported and the
Jury returned verdict Of guilty against both
the respondents
Evans was sentenced to pay fine of 5000
and find sureties for keeping the peace two
years, his wife was fined S., and ordered to find
sureties for two wears.
James Dennison and Sarah Dennison, charged
with similar offence to the last the husband
was discharged as having no concern with the
transactions of his wife the wife was found
guilty, and sentenced topay fine of sloo and
find sureties to keep the peace for two years.
In both the preceding cases, several girls who
had been accustomed to frequent these houses.
were examined, and their testimony IN folded
scenes of the most corrupt and hateful charae-
ter. 1t seems that the wives presided over the
establishments, with despotic power, while the
husbands acted as kind Of police officers 70
prevent serious disturbances.
The situation ofthe girls who were once under
the authority ofthese lady abbesses was almost
remediless corruptin morals and ruined in char
acter' they were obliged to conform to the dc
tates Of their uDprinciplcd mistresses, TO sacra-
fee body and soul to their interest. or be turn
ed off helpless and hopeless, diseased and DOOR.
10 become the tenants of the alms-house or n,
house OF correction. SO enslaved were thev
under this system, that even the computations
vistings of conscience, were to be restrained with
painful secrecy from their remorseless mana.
gers. In this way they lived or rather suffered
life. until they had become broken down nv IN
toxication and disease, and could no lonoer
contribute to the profit Of the estahlisbrsn. !.
then they were cast off the most wrefches md
miserable of beings. Itappeared ia evidence
that the girls were charged dollar and oya-
ter per week for their rooms, and were ohI;o,s5
to visit the dance room every night except Sat-
urday and Sunday, and we're often obliged 70 hire
clothes of their keepers to enable them r. -
pear there decently.
The respondents were ABLY defended bv Me.s..
fessenden and Deboh and Che Chief Justice
with feelings which did great honor 20 bishe,rt
charged the jury in firm and impressive man.
ner; fully exposing the character and tendenct
OF such places Of resort.
shrs. benson, was subsequently, convicted
on another indictment for an aggravated assault
and battery On Loyisa Lowell, one Of her boar.
GERS and sentenced to pay fine of 600 and find
securities to keep the peace for three years.
ihese trials produced considerable exc;,.
'nent N town, and strong desire that ,,c,
SINKS OF corruption should be fully exposed to
ne kIow!edge and dsteststion of the pubFe