Evening journal., 1889-11-23
IRMA CLUBNEN GUILTY.
M'ALEER, OWENS AND VANDE-
GRlFT FINED AND IMPRISONED.

There Was RIO Mistake About City So
liciter Turner's Second Indictment.
mcAleer Pleads Guilty.
The Irma Club case was decided last
five hours duration John McAleer,
Lewis E. Owens, and Horace Vandegrift
had been charged with "being concerned
in interest in disorderly house" on q
previous occasion. but the Indictment
was faulty and they were dismissed.
They were Immediately rearrested and
held for trial last evening on the charge
of keeping a disorderly house" City
Solicitor Henry Clay Turner said there
would be no mistake In this Indictment
aud there was not.
Special Officer Smith called City Court
at 7.05 o'clock last evening. The room
was packed and the conglomeration Of
many conditions Of men made the atmos
phere sickening before the trial was over.
It was determined to finish the case If 1t
took all night.
Clerk Of Court Hyland read the indict-
ment, in which Frank Sines, Richard
Christy, William J. Worth, John McAleer,
Horace Vandegrift, Lewis A. Owens,
Daniel II. Collins, Jr., Harry Lodge,
Harry Wahl, Samuel T. Warfeld and
Walter J. Murphy, all late Of the city Of
Wilmington, Wilmington hundred, New
Castle county, state Of Delaware,
were charged with having kept disor
derly house at No. 416 Market street,
contrary to the peace and dignity Of the
state. Frank Hines, William j. Worth
and Richard Christy were not present, as
they skipped from town, efter the raid,
and capiases were issued for them, re-
turnable December /. Each Of the other
prisoners pleaded mot guilty" City
Solicitor Turner asked that the charges
against Wahl, Warfeld, Lodge and Collins
| be nolle prossed, as he intended to use them
as witnesses. The charges were with
drawn.
Just as the first witness was being
called William T. Lyman, Esq arose
and said IN behalf Of his client, John Nc.
Aleer that he would withdraw the plea
Of not guilty and insert plea Of guilty
and ask the mercy Of the court.
The trial then proceeded.
John Gam was called by the defence to
prove an alibi for Owens. He testified
that he kept the saloon No. 405 King
street, and that Owens was there from
until II o'clock on Saturday evening,
November o. He had not known Owens
by name, but knew him to speak to. On
that night sold more than half barrel
Of beer.
The state opened by calling Caleb S.
| johnson, owner of the building, No. 4l6
Market street, to the stand. He produced
the lease Of the room on the second floor
of No. 416 Market street. The young
men told him they wanted room TO meet
in and have library, etc Never heard
anything against the club, until Mr.
/ Swiggett spoke to him. Then he went
to the room and found several kegs there.
He had the room closed. This was few
days before the raid The lease is now
/ void.
| Phoebe Lenderman was then called.
She told her story, SUBSTANTIALLY as she
/ told it in court on Wednesday morning.
She and Carrie Mcmahon met Christy
and McAleer and went to the club room
on Saturday night, November 8. Van
degrift, Owens and Lodge were there
during the evening The girls left Sun.
day morning at o'clock, and on Sunday
evening returned with Christy and
| Worth. They left about midnight with
| Worth and Christy.
Carrie Mcmahon corroborated the pre-
vious witness's testimony.
The same witnesses who had testified
at the former trial gave similar testimony,
concerning the reputation Of the house,
aud the details of the raid Mr. Porter
said that be would admit that Vandegrift
and Owens were members of the club.
Harry Lodge and Samuel I. Warield
/ testified for the state and their evidence
agreed in part with that of the girls.
Warfeld had on his brazen air while tes
| tifying. He said he met Vandegrift on
| Saturday night at Fourth and Market
streets, at g. 30 o'clock and they went
home togather.
Mr.. Turner Withdrew the charge
against Walter ]. Murphy. He then
called Clara Wilson, proprietress of the
house at No. 2l3 West Third street, tc
prove the reputation of Blanche Moore,
who had been seen going into the Irms
Club door way. Clara was not feeling
well and parried Mr.. Turner's questions,
but she said enough to prove Blanche
Moore's reputation SO far as the court
desired.
The defence opened by placing Chief OF
Police Swiggett on the stand and found
out from him that Sergeant Tucker had
reported that women were going into the
Irma Club room before the raid. Officer
Zirby testified that he did not know
there was such club as the Irma Club,
although he had been on that beat since
July. 1885, Officer Galloway testified in
like manner. The defence then called
witnesses to connect the testimony con
cerning disorder in the Irms Club room
by Officers Upkike and Burleigh, with AZ
affair in another building.
William ii. Owens, brother of the de-
fendant, testified that his brother came
home on the Saturday night at II. Il
o'clock, and on Sunday night, at $50
He was reading Oliver Twist and stayed
up late he liked Oliver Twist. Thomas
Holland testified to seeing the two girls
at Fifth and Market street, on Sunday
night, at 10 80 o'clock and had told nj
one. This surprised Mr.. Turner very mucl
that Mr.. Porter could so read man il
crowd, as to know just what the maj
knew. Thurston Lowe gave similar cyl
dence.
} Thomas Ennis testified that he sell
} scrubs, in other words, 'plugs," il
) other words, broken down horses. II
} saw the two girls at Third and Tatnal
streets at 10 o'clock Saturday evening
: He afterwards said it was Sunday night
: Cross. examined by Mr.. Turner. the wit
ness became confused as he followed tn
} party up and down the streets, etc, etc
} George Clarkin and William Kan
: gave evidence in the attemp
} to prove Owens's alibi on Satarda
q night. Frank Foulz and William T
S Vendegrift testified in proof of Wand,
!. grift's alibi Herbert Day testified tha
I L ~ t.1a ~