Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-04
A More Serious Charge Preferred
Against Him.
HIS BAIL Is FIXED AT 81, ,0OO-HR ASSERTS THAT HI
Is INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME

u NNOCkNT OF ANY CRIME
Dr.. Gideon E. Blackburn, OF Shreveport, La. who
was arrested yesterday afternoon by Detectives
Carter and Mahon on q warrant charytng him
with alleged indecent assaults on Annie saul and
Annie ColeoacI, as stated In yesterday STAR, was
released on collateral late in the afternoon de-
poslt OF $50 and 500 worth of jewelry being made
for his appearance. The doctor has family liy.
ing In shreveport He came to this city In Decem-
Der last and has had an oflce at No. 1O2l l1th
street. He Is about forty-flv years old has bald
head. and heavy blonde moustache The young
women named, live on street. between 25tn and
Z0I1 streets northwest On the 18th OF February
advertisement:
WANTED-TwENTY-FI GIRLS OF GOOD
w form, between fifteen and twenty years Of age.
" Soip P t1estneai troupe Address Lock Box 74l.
These two young women, 1t appears, were stage
SIruck, and they answered the advertisement
Tnis was during the latter part OF February.
This morning. in the Police Court, Mr. c. Mau-
rice Smith, counsel for the defendant, called the
case 70 the attention OF Judge Smell. He said that
MS client was charged with two aggravated as
saults on young ladies, 1t is claimed in the per-
formance OF his professional duties. He would be
able TO show that the statements OF the doctor
The DOCTOR Is from Shreveport La, where he was
a phy sician OF high standing. He came here last
December and has limited acquaintance. Repre-
sentative Blanchard Will vouch for his good repu-
tatlon at nome. Before hearing the case II might
become necessary to send to Louisiana for wit
nesseS. and the serious character OF the charge
makes the defense a matter Of great Importance
TO the defendant. He would therefore, ask for a
continuance for two weeks, and said that his client
was unable to give real estate security, but could
Mr.. Sheppard said that he had no objection to
tne continuance, but he certainly objected TO the
amount OF Da1l. The Government, he said, never
had, nor does It ever pect to have a more appa-
rent case OF Indecent assault than 1t has against
Dr. Blackburn. Indeed, the testimony was OF such
ha 10 haA fraa tod NO opf IN
oe sworn out charging the defendant with assault
and battery with intent TO commit rape, but they
had begged so hard that he had left IL simple as
sault.
The judge suggested that counsel see the dis
tr1ct-attorney and arrange the matter OF bail
the saa sns was fact that
ruary and that the case has Just been brought to
the attention Of the court. That fact, he thought
MI. Sheppard said that the family physicians OF
the young women would be able to explain the
cause OF the delay.
Mr.. Sheppard soon afterwards called the case to
tne attention OF the court. He said that after
rehearlng OF the testimony in the district attor.
neys once he had directed warrant to be sworn
out against the doctor charging him with assault
with intent to rape Miss Saul which had been
$1,000.
THE PRISONER IN CUSTODY OF THE MARSHAL
The court nxed the bail at the amount asked by
the prosecuting attorney, and the defendant was
placed In custody OF the marshal
DIR. BLACKBURN SAYS HE Is INNOCENT.
DR.. Blackburn stated this afternoon that he had
nothing to say regarding the charges against him,
except that he was innocent, and he hoped that
the public would withhold their judgment until
the case Is heard. He said that he was not a the
atrtcal agent but that he had consented do this
part OF the work for Mr.. swallow, whom he had met
on TWO or three occasions. Mr.. Swallow, he said
represented to him that he was going to organize
atheatrical troupe to travel North In the summer
and South in the winter. He supposed that IT was
70 be second-rate show, to travel in small towns
and pretty girls were wanted. He had about
twenty young ladies to answer the advertisement.
Dr. Blackburn is a homeopathist.
WHO Is SWALLOW?
The police do not know who the man Swallow is
There is a man named William H. Swallow, who is
well known confidence man, and who has been
sentenced to prison for working his scheme. He
u about sixty years old, and was once arrested in
this city for the Virginia authorities. He is also
known as VIM. NJ. Law and Col VIM. J. Ford. His
picture is No. $50 In the rogues gallery.