, 1860-04-17
THE LIZZIE ENGLEs CONSPIRACY
CASE,


Our readers are familiar with the main fea-
lures Of the case in the Recorders Court,
wherein the two young men, JOHN D. Smith aud
Charles q. Schwab, aud the colored woman
known as Mother Allen, stand convicted Of an
attempt to reduce to prostitution the young
girl Lizzie Eng1es. :.
But the Gaze has deeper depths, and the later
Developments, especially those Of yesterday If.
teruoon in the Recorders Court, were Of .rch
character as to show that in this conviction
something below the surface has been reached
aud, though shocking to our humanity, and dis.
graceful to the civilization aud government Of
our city, it is well that these hideous evils b.
dragged to light, foz The thorough refor1a and
purgatior demanded
The cage had before presented features some
what startling, when police officer came for
ward to aid the woman Allen, became response
bic !cr her appearance, and took little heed that
she should NOT escape out Of the S.ate.
There was connected with the case against
these parties, OF, rather, there grew out of the
Engles case another, in which Hstrict Attorney
Haven made the girl Ellen Frances Herbert, al
SO prosecuting witness against Smith and the
woman Allen. This latter witness could not be
found at the trial, or until yesterday, when she
together with Smith-and tan woman Allen, was
brought into court, and informally gase her
evidence on oats before Recorder Wilson.
We will not shock cur renders by presenting
her evidence entire, but there are points that IS
public journalists we may not omit. Her state
meuts covered the whole whole period Of her
residence in this city. Early in February last
she went to The intelligence otic, Of Sarah
Marx, oc6 South Clark street. By her she was
directed, rrged, and finally induced to accept
service under the colored woman Allen. 4 day
or two after. Mrs. Allen induced her to drink 3
glass Of wine. She lost all consciousness, and
knew nothing further until she awoke the next
morning and found she had shared the couch
with the defendant, John D, Smith. Outraged
and betrayed, she fed the house, and went to
tie pro2uress Marx aud upbraided her for her
infamy. Her narrative Of her adventures since
that tins was detailed in full to the court, and
was Of the most startling nature. She has beea
surrounded By parties whose interest it has
been, and whose determination was openly
t arowed to keep her from appearing in this case.
AID to the disgrace Of our city police be it said
that here, and second time in this case, one Of
its members appears all too plainly connected
with Ibis infamy.
The girl Herbert swears that she vas visited
by N. II. Gillespie, Of the Chicago Police, tina!
he made base proposals to ler, resorted to
threats, md on her persistent refusal, carried
out the same By causing har to be put in the
lookup over night, and sent 10 the Chicago
1,rideuen on his OWL evidence, as an inmate Of
house Of i'll fame Will not this properly de-
serve the early attention Of the " Bocrd Of Com
plaiats"
We are best pleased when our columns are
kept entirely free from revelations of this ma
tare. but silence GU points like these is not our
duty nor disposition. Onr authorities owe it to
themselves that the effect Of this shocking ex-
position be Immediately salutary. I.e, The in
ycstigation be carried to its farshest verge anc
its deepest depth, and let the sil!ainies plotted
by the PROGRESSES Of HE intelligence olic= ami
the brothcl, aided BY members of ihe police, It
thoroughly exposed and punished. The girl
Herbert is yet in custody, and the end is rot
Jet. The police roll should be shortened By
two names peudiug the result Of the inrestisa-
ton.