Evening journal., 1889-09-19
LAST EDITION
THE ABDUCTION CASE.

The Municipal Court room was crowd
ed this morning with people to listen to
the trial of Charles G. Goodwin, charged
with violating the law in regard to crimi-
nal intimacy with female children under
Is years of age Inside the railing were seat
ed City Solicitor Turner. J. Frank Biggs.
ESQ, and j. l.. Kindleheart, Esq, OF
Philadelphia. counsel for the prisoner.
Willard Hall Porter, Esq, counsel for
the girl and George 4. Brown, Esq,
counsel for the s. p. c. A. The prisoner
was seated in the dock shortly after the
opening Of court.
William Legg, proprietor of the Della
ware house, was the first witness called.
Mr. Legg stated that Goodwin with the
girl had put up at his hotel three times,
viz September 2, B to 5, and a. de
asked Goodwin one evening II Alice WIS
his child. He replied that she was Good
win, he said, was man who mad
very little TO say to any one about the
place His suspicious became aroused At
what he had heard and he notified the
authorities. On Sunday morning Mayor
Harrington and Sergeant Stewart came
to his hotel, aud after a conversation the
mayor ordered his arrest.
Chief Swiggett was the next witness.
The chief testified that he had received
information that this man and a little
girl were occupying the same room at the
Delaware House. On Sunday morning.
between z and s o'clock he saw the two
from the City Hall pavement at the
south window of a room on the third
floor OF the hotel 1t struck him from
their positions that Goodwin was lacing
the girls shoe for her.
Robert Gales, the clerk of the Della
ware House, was next called. He stated
that on September 2 near noon, the
couple came to the hotel. Goodwin stated
that he was feeling unwell, aud would like
to have a room On seeing the girl Mr..
Wales asked il he wanted two rooms. He
replied that he did not. He then asked
him if he would have room with two
beds in it He said one bed in a room was
enough. and on Goodwin Informing him
that the girl was his daughter he thought
no more about it and showed them to
room No. IA, front room on the third
floor. He saw no improper &C
tions between them. He said
Goodwin registered Charles c. Good
win" and that he (the clerk added and
child" On September Goodwin and
the girl came back. but did not stay all
night They bad team in front of the
hotel and Goodwin told him he was going
to Beaver Valley. They left and did not
return again until September IA, last Sat
urday. At one time when the clerk saw the
girl alone she told him that she was not
Goodwin's daughter. They stayed all
night on September IA and occupied the
same room together. On Sunday morn
ing they were arrested.
John g. Hindle was then called but
did not put in appearance. Mr.. Turner
stated that Mr.. Hindle had left the city,
and left card at the Delaware House
with his address, Newark, N. j.. upon it,
He told Mr.. Turner when they wanted
him to telegraph for him and he would
come. They had telegraphed but Mr.
Hindle had not put In an appearance.
Mr.. Hindle ia the man who it is claimed
heard a disconnected conversation be
tween the two, while in al
adjoining room, which was i'm
proper. This conversation was not
related by any of the witnesses DR..
Josephine M. r. White, a lady physician
was called.
Mr.. Turner said, Mrs White"
Doctor, interrupted the physician.
well, doctor, do you know Alice
Smith,"
She replied that she knew her as ont
of her patients In answer to the ques
tions asked her she made the following
statement in substance: She had mad,
two examinations of the child One nigh
before last at the police station anC
another at her Office this morning. TIT
girl, she said, was undevelOped. In fact
only as much ss most children are at s o
years of age. She knew that the CIR
had never had sexual intercourse will
any one and was still a virgin.
The city solicitor was again awkward
enough to make the terrible blunder o
calling the lady Mrs. White. but sh
brought him around with, 'Dr. White
if you pleased" The next witness calleS
was the girl, Alice Smith. She told tina
she would be 10 years of Rg
next Nav. She lived at No
1921 cambridge street, and Goodwin
had boarded with her mother. She like,
him very much and when she knew thu
arrangements for going away on a vaca
ton she was very glad. She had grea
deal of confidence in Goodwin. He ha
said or done nothing improper while h
was with her.
Her mother was then called Mrs
Smith stated that she had known GoDd
win for a long time and had great dea
of confidence in him. She was perfect
satisfied for him to take her daughter o
this vacation.
Frank Riggs. Esq, then asked that til
case be dismissed, as the state had pro
duced no evidence sufficient to sustai
the charge. He stated that there wer
several prominent Philadelphia gentl,
men in the room who could testify to tn
good character Of Mr.. Goodwin Mi
Turner said that he was willing to hav
the case dismissed
Judge Ball then addressed the prisoner
81 He severely reprimanded him for his in
prudent conduct He had thrown
shadow on the little girls life. He hs
done her an injury it would take Ion
while to repair. He then dismissed tn
case
Peter Spicer, colored. charged with al
ssult and battery upon Eli Baynard, wa
discharged upon the payment of tn
costs, $685., as the plaintiff did no
appear against him. At last evening
session of court George Ashley, charge
with taking team belonging to A. I
N Farmer Of Elkton, Md, out for driS
u without his permission, was held in $5I
II bail for court.
The Harrington Sun editorially ss,
"that CHARLES T. Goodwin, who was a
rested in Wilmington on Monday f,
alleged immoral intimacy with little
{ year Alice Smith, is innocent, an
should make 1t warm for the instigatoi
of his arrest"
The Grand ,Turv at the Hail