Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-08
AN UNFoRTuNATE AFFA1R.-The rumors

AN UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR. The rumors
of scandalous nature which were afloat |
in the town last Saturday. eliminated Mon
day, in the arrest of II prominent business
man of Morris, Mr.. j. NJ Moore, on
charge of IAN assault with intent to com.
NIT rape upon the person of Mrs. Ellen
Zimmerman" The parties were brought
before Justice Baldwin, but an adjourn
ment was taken till Tuesday AT the open
ing of the court, at II a. m, q large audi
ence was 10 attendance, the case causing
considerable interest, as both parties were
well known in this vicinity TIE prosecu-
trix, Mrs. Zimerman, took the stand and
testified in substance as follows: She went
to Mr. Moore's store ON New Years even
ing, for tie purpose of purchasing wall
paper, aad while in the store room, where
the paper was kept, the clerk, as she claims
at Mr. Moore's direction, left and locked
the door This alarmed her, and she de-
manded his reasons TO: such actions; In
reply, Mr.. Moore made indecent proposals
and endeavored to accomplish his purpose
by force. This portion of her evidence
was fatty denied by Mr.. Moore, who claims
to have made no advances whatever. At
ter this, and while the principals in the
case were in the store, the evidence of Mrs.
Zimmerman is as follows: After leaving
the room, he went to the front door, I'M
locked, opened it and looked out to see if
any one was near. No one was in the store
at the time. He would not let me go out,
but held me back; he held me all the time
! was in the front store, while he tied up
some candy which he wanted me to take,
and while he was tying up the paper l
bought, was much excited. Mr.. A. De-
Kay's testimony fatty con tradicts this. He
testified to being in the store while the
parcels were being tied; saw Mrs z. there;
saw her face; saw her take the parcels and
leave. He did not discover anything in
her appearance to lead him to think there
!, was any thing wrong. AS TO the locking OF
, the door, the clerk testified he did not hear
Mr.. Moore tell him to do so; he locked it,
, but was in the habit of doing so on holidays
; when there was Ro one in the front store
The defense denied the charges and assert
ed it was case of black mail, and In sup
port of the claim, testimony was intro
duccd showing that Mrs. Zimmerman called
f at the store the next day and demanded pay
for the insult. The amount of contradic
tory evidence in the case, leaves a large
80 4, q
r of some of the parties, but with that We
Y have nothing to do; yet, the facts 60 te
y show an attempt 10 make the most of it, OF
$ the part of the prosecutrix. The defendan
e was discharged, there not being evidence
. sufficient to constitute the offence charged
e We regret exceedingly this occurrence
as it is an injury to all concerned, and al
= though there was no crime committed We
y had been. Mr.. Moore has always while il
= this village, behaved himself and attended
strictly to his own affairs. He has Away
attended to his business in manner tina
= is highly commendable, and the effect o
this attention is apparent in the large trad
which he has by his own exertions built up
> 1t seems too bad that all unfortunate affai
, of this kind should now occur, as it will b
;. made much of to his disadvantage by hi
enemies. However we can say that ther
is much in the evidence which demand
u that the defendant be given the benefit 0
" all doubts, we have no right to consider
man guilty until he is so proven, and tn
u fact of Mir. Moore's discharge, shows hin
u innocent at the alleged crime.
y An affair of this description is unfortU
nate for a community as well lis for tn
} principals, as it furnishes food for the scar
: dial mongers, and is too choice morsel
- be let pass without being made the most OF
y Whatever Mrs. Zimmermans wrongs ma
3 have been, we think in view of the facts
: great mistake was made in dragging til
affair into the public courts, not becaus
~ We do uot think guilty parties should b
= punished, but because of the effects sue
scrapes always have in awakening susp
. cioE and doubt,