Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-07
A COLORED WOMAN.
She Emits an Enuvia Anything But
Sweet.

She Emits an Enluvia Anything Blu
Sweet.
Two Drummers. the Chief of Police ANT
A Newspaper Reporter Dance
To Her Music.
Abe Levy and B. Bloch were arrestet
yesterday morniug by Marshal Jolly on
warrant issued by Justice Nichols chargin
them with having committed an outrag
upon the person OF Mrs. Hattie johnson,
colored nurse, employed at the Windso
Hotel. The defendants were taken befor
Justice Nichols and entered a plea of no
guilty. Their examination was set for
o'clock last evening, and they were releases
on bail in the sum of $500 each.
The defendants are commercial drum
mers, and the plaintiff alleges that OF
Thursday night about IL o'clock they me-
her g she was leaving the room in tn
Windsor occupied by Mrs. Steiner, a sicl
lady whom plaintiff was nursing; that they
made a base proposal to her, which she in,
dignantly spurned; that they thereupon
seized and dragged her into a room, where
they stified her cries by holding a pillow
over her face and outraged her person;
that when she was released she went and
swore out a warrant for their arrest. The
defendants say the complaint is a tissue OF
falsehoods-that they met the woman In
Mrs. Steiner's room and joked and chatted
with her, but that they never attempted to
commit the crime with which they are
charged.
Yesterday morning the woman went to
Alderman Richards and told him a story
concerning Chief OF Police Ledford which
caused that officers temporary-and sub
sequently permanent-suspensiOn from
duty. She stated that the Chief had at
tempted to induce her to withdraw her
charges against tho ~dofondanto, promising
to give her $~5OO-$1OO Of which she was
to return to him in payment for his servi-
ces in the matter-if she would either leave
the town herself or permit the defend
ants to leave it unmolested. Mr.. Richards,
assisted by Mr.. Grix, investigated the
wOman's statement, and secured evidence
which justified them IN ordering an official
investigation OF the Chiefs conduct.
THE xAM1NArloN
of Levy and Bloch was called at Z o'clock
last evening before Justice Nichols. The
courtroom was crowded, but the audience
was disa ppointed. Owing to the unavoid-
able absence OF material testimony, hear
ing OF the case was continued till 10 O'Clock
this morning.
III DECAPITATED.
At 8 O'Clock last evening the City Coun-
Gil met in special session. Present-Mayor
Frank and all the Aldermen except Owsley.
Mayor Frank stated the object Of the
meeting to be an investigation OF certain
charges entered against Chief of Police
LedfOrd, and on motion the Council went
into q Committee OF the Whole to make
the investigation, Alderman erik in the
Chair.
Alderman Richards stated the case. He
said that he was waited upon yesterday
morning by q colored woman who made
certain charges against Chief Ledford, and
he consulted with Alderman Grix in regard
to the matter. The woman charged the
Chief with having offered her money to
compromise a charge made by her against
two men who had outraged her, and when
she Indignantly refused the money the
Chief abused her. She took the Aldermen
to the Windsor Hotel and introduced
them to a white lady, and from the cor
roboration OF her story made by the white
lady they it thought best to suspend Chief
Ledford from duty until the charges against
him could be investigated. Mr.. Richards
desired it to be distinctlyfunderstood that
the charges against Chief Lediord were not
made by Mr.. erik and himself.
Alderman LOeber was at a loss to under
stand how a court OF inquiry could be held
without q prosecution-a statement OF
changes.
Alderman Forbis briefly explained the
case. The Court was organized for the
purse of deciding whether Chief Ledford's
suspension should be removed or declared
permanent. The Aommittee..then got down
to business.
George W. Cornart was the first witness
called. He arrived in the city Tuesday
and put up at the Windsor. He knew
Messrs. Levi and Bloch, and while going
down to breakfast Wednesday morning
met Mr.. Bloch, who introduced him to a
sick lady named 'Irene." A colored
woman was in the room, and she scufied
with Messrs. Levi and Bloch. On Thurs
day evening went to the room occupied by
the two gentlemen and smoked O cigar.
Afterward met them in a saloon attached
to the hotel, and babe them good night,
they going up stairs and witness down the
street. About an hour later he returned
to the hotel and met one of the gentlemen,
who said that "the wench was going to
have them arrested for rape" Both gen.
tlemen declared their innocence of the &C.
cusation, and they accompanied witness |
down the street. He met the colored I
woman and Chief Ledford coming up the
street. and witness approached the woman
to square her, She would not listen to |
his offers to compromise. and the Chief |
told witness to attend to his own business.
Witness then returned to the hotel and as
sisted the officers in their search |
for the men, but the officers |
were unable to find them. Witness |
then told Chief Ledford that he would like |
to nave the matter settled, and the Chief
offered to see the oma The Chief after
ward returned and said the woman would
not settle the case at any price. Witness
then consulted Mr.. Bloch and told him that
it would cost at least $500 to make the
woman withdraw the charge, and both
gentlemen promised to subscribe $3.50
each, hush money. Then witness said the
newspapers must be squared" and gave
Ledford $40 to muzzle The MINER. Led
returned and said the money was not
big enough, and witness went and saw a
reporter OF The MINER, who demanded
$50. Witness went IL got an order on
Sands & Boyce for $50, but the reporter
refused to accept anything but the money.
Witness then pledged his word and honor
as a gentleman to pay $50 cash yesterday,
and the offer was accepted. He then re-
turned to Ledford, who promised to shut
the woman's mouth for $500 cash. Then
Ledford went to see the woman, and re.
turned and said she had raised her price to
5000. [Laughter.] Ledford then offered
to take the accused gentlemen out of town
Tor $500, and see that the case was thrown
out OF court when called for trial. Witness
lidn't like the proposition, and went to
bed. About 5 a. m, witness was awakened
Ledford, who said that the woman had
agreed to settle the matter for $500, and
after some desultory consultation the Off
'er went away. Ii
Mrs. Hattie Johnston then took the
stand. She stated that on Friday morn
ng Ledford told her that the gentlemen {
whom she had complained against had
offered to give her $500 and himself 500
+ she would withdraw the charge, and she
the offer, as she had ''been badly
Ledford said, "Don't be q id {
ool,'' but she wouldn't accept his terms. .
He then said that if she would accept $500 :
md secrete horself in his (Ledford'e) parlor I
he could secure a carriage to take her
20 Silver Bow, he would make 500. She
gain refused, and he again abused her. D.,
City Marshal Jolly testified that at 6 g
o'clock yesterday morning Chief Ledford ]
him a warrant for the arrest of Messrs. e
1evy and Bloch, and he arrested the men i
n the warrant. He was offered $3.50 by
tr. Bloch to effect a settlement, but told
hem he could not do so. Witness didn't
H. -.--lS1 - L.