Evening journal., 1889-11-27
ENTICED TO HER RUIN.
LUCY PRETTYMAN, A 14-YEAR
OLD GIRL, THE VICTIM.

morning, but before it was conclud ed q
case rivaling in its particulars that of
the Irma Club orgies, was given pre-
liminary hearing.
Mary McComb, a buxom colored woman,
was charged with keeping house of i'll
fame or prostitution or assignation house
and harboring white female under the
age of consent, 10 years. Mary denied
that she kept such house. She lives
with her husband ON Cade street which is
between Heald and Forrest streets, and
parallel with Twelfth street beyond
Eleventh street bridge.
Lucy Prettyman, white, was the first
witness. Matron White walked with her
to the witness stand. The girl was col
lected and calm when she was sworn, but
directly she broke dow and cried pity
fully She was dressed in dark clothes
and cheap dark bonnet. She wore
brilliant earrings Her appearance was
not prepossessing When she had sub
dued her sobs she told her story in a
straight forward manner.
She testified that sne lives on Seventh
street, between Lombard and Poplar, with
her widowed mother. She will be IA
years Of age next May % She first met
Mary McComb three weeks ago, being in
troduced by Katie Cole. On Saturday
night, November %. Lucy left her home
at Z o'clock and met Maggie Shilling, a
married woman of New Castle, and
Katie Cole, at Mary McComb's The
three girls went into town and returned
to McCombs at IL o'clock with Harry
Sherwood and another young man. Katie
Cole and witness went into town again
and bought oysters at Ainscow's restaur-
ant. These were taken to the house and
eaten.
While the two girls were away Maggie
Shilling and the men had gone upstairs.
When Lucy and Katie returned, and the
oysters had been eaten, all went to the
bed rooms. Sherwood's companion had
criminal relations with Lucy Prettman,
the witness. At o'clock in the morning
Mary McOomb went up stairs and told
witness that the boys had gone home
The prisoner asked the witness some
questions and she involved herself some
what. The girls mother sat with her on
the stand.
Katie Cole was then called In appear.
ance she is a street walker or ''ehippie. F"
She wore dark Jersey and calico over
skirt and had her hair banged She tes-
titled that she lives at Twelfth and Lom-
bard streets with her parents, and is II
years old On last Saturday night she
went to Mary McComb's house and met
Maggie Shilling; they met Lucy Pretty
man as they left the house. Katie left
the other two and went with young
man back to the house, where they
stayed until 9.35 o'clock. Martin es-
corted her up town and went home.
Then witness met Harry Sherwood.
on the street, but at that time he did not
go with her. The three girls then went
up town together and on the return met
Sherwood and the young man who was
implicated with Lucy. ALI went TO Nc
Combs. The second young man gave
Lucy and Katie some money and they got
some oysters at Ainscow's. They re-
turned again to the house and Mrs. Nc
Comb helped eat the oysters. The wit
ness then heard noise upstairs and went
up to see what was the matter. She
found that Sherwood and his companion,
and the Shilling and Prettyman girls had
been in one bed and the Stats broke.
Mary McComb helped fix up the bed and
one couple slept on the floor. Mary told
them they better leave the house, but
made up the bed for them nevertheless.
Margaret Shilling was the next witness.
She is the Oldest of the three. She testi-
fed that she lives in New Castle. She is
married. On Saturday night she met
Lucy and Katie. and after walking
around town they met the two young
men. Lucy and the witness walked with
the young man whose name is withheld
while Katie walked with Sherwood. They
went to MsComb's Sherwood had crimi-
nal intercourse with witness In re-
sponse to the prisoners s questions, witness
testified that the McComb woman had told
them TO leave the house and that
the Prettymsn girl had been with other
men at other times.
The three girls stayed in the court
room room after giving their evidence.
They recognized Harry Sherwood, who
was in court, as one of the young men
who met them.
Harry e. Sherwood is of medium
height and has full features. He is an
engineer on the p, w. & B. railroad, and
a married man. He has good position.
After the girls testimony was heard he
was placed in the dock. Being allowed
| the privilege he stated that Saturday
night was the first time he had
seen the girls, that he had nc
| criminal relation with the youngest girl.
| Judge Ball stated that he would have
an opportunity Of proving his innocence
and held him and Mary McComb in SO, 00L
bail for appearance on Saturday morning
at o'clock, The three girls were held in
/ 81, 900 Bail as witnesses.
The section that covers this case was
passed at the last session Of the Legisla-
| ture and is as follows:
| 'sChapter 6S6 Of offenses against moral
| ity. An act for the better protection Of
l female children. Be it enacted by tht
Senate and House of Representatives Of
the General Assembly of the State Of
Delaware:
''Section 1. Whoever takes, receives
employs, harbors or uses, or causes o.
procures to be taken, received, employed
harbored or used, female under the age
of fifteen years for the purpose of sexua
intercourse; or whoever being proprietor
or proprietress of any house Of prostitu
tion, reputed house of prostitution, o.
assignation, house of i'll. fame or assigna
tion, harbors or employs any female il
any such house, under the age Of fifteer
years, under any pretext whatever, shal
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor anc
upon conviction thereof in the Court OIL
| General Sessions of the Peace and Jai
Delivery of this State shall be fined not
more than one Thousand dollars, or i'm
prisoned for term of not more thar
seven years, or both, at the discretion Of
| the court.
The McComb case is not the last Of the
matter Other persons have committed
/ crime and Lucy Prettyman has been the
victim. After City Court this morning,
| Edward alias "Ditty" McGarrity was ar.