The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-08-04
County Court.
II. Il. GILBERT, Ja,ige.

IL. L. ull'bLhi, ""'D''
The proceedings in this court this weei
have been very interesting as well as iinpor
tant to the moral interests OF this comniunl
", the action OF Judge Gilbert having hac
The excellent effect Of closing one OF the
most disre putable holes in the county, ana q
long standing disgrace particularly 10 the
CITY OF Ottawa. The Crock House" west Of
the city has long been notorious ana mas
done business almost with impunlty Doth III
the matter OF selling liquor without license
and in prostitution. It's lights at night
blazed as glaringly AS the 'loudest' mouse
in the Infamous "Leyee" Of Chicago, and on
every Sunday and holiday night the place
vas filled 10 Overlooking with loose women
and Young men of the city and surrounding
country and frequently the western part OIL
the city was much disturbed by young Eel
lows about town returning from their "hur-
rahsn there. On Monday Dan O'kane was
brought before Judge Gilbert on an lndict-
rncnt for Illegal liquor selling aud fined Ton
tour counts 800 and sentenced TO 60 days
imprisonment in the county jail. Ills part.
ner, Phllipa Block, went through the same
scorching on n similar indictment. At the
same time O'Kanc plead guilty to an lndlct-
lnent Of keeping Il house of III fame, sen
teuCe was suspended, but may be entered Al
any time. On yesterday the lines were paid,
and Dan informed His Honor that his place
mas Dbtn tlIHtu anu Hls NbhJNh othb "'A) g
also, that he intends removing his effects to
his farm, where he will devote his energies
TO the production OF food rather than erin.
iuala So long as he does this the plea OF
guilty standing against him will probably be
Ieit standing without sentence, rs surely OF
good conduct, nor will he suffer imprson
luent. Something Of the kind might be
necessary. for the temptation to return 10
old habits might be strong from pecuniary
81 Of, 3 luu a III ed a
Dams profits from this dlsreputable business
have been over 5000 tsince he began opera
ting the place Anyway the community viii
give Judge Gilbert vote OF thanks for hay
ing closed the place, and shown that so far
as he is concerned the business will not be
tolerated.
~ In the cases of Kelly, Deyine, Askns,
lsaacson aud Ryan, OF Streator, charged with
Illegal liquor selling, defendants filed ailida
Wits asking for a change Of venue. An eX-
animation OF the adavits showed they had
gone on the principal Of "YOu scratch my
back and II scratch yours, having snapped
signatures. The Judge held the allidayits in.
sufficient and overruled the motion. trial
resulted in verdict Of guilty. motion for
new trial has been entered; but defendants
anticipate an appeal to the Appellate Court
on error in everything motion for change OF
venue
The record in addition has been as fol
lows:
100 People v. Lawson, malicious mis-
chief, continued.
l3j. People v. Thos. Glenn, Illegal liquor
selling, default, sci. ia. to September.
100 People v. Ed Haley alias James Will
liams, carrying concealed weapons, guilty,
lined 300 and committed.
2l6 John kangley " Robert Cannon,
conf iudg. V. Oft. for $500 50.
2l7. In the matter Of the petition of the
City of Ottawa for special assessment,
Messrs. A. Lockwood, Robert Wilson and
ieorge Beatty were appointed commissions
ers.
l35. People v. Milligan, mol. pros. This
lie the last OF the "Marseiles riot" cases.