Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-28
TIE IRMA yIcE SURPASSED.

city court this morning. II seems thet
the city officials have been quietly OF
work during the last two or three days
and have now succeeded in unesrthing
what can be described as nothing else
than network Of social evil. Eviden o
this morning clearly showed that the
present is only the commencement, only
the key, to n string of revelations the
elmo to which the authorities hold firmly
in hand and which duplicates q number
OF citizens who have now no possible way
OF evRding prosecution.
The authorities state that these prose.
cutions are going to be pushed thor
oughly for all they are worth.
The first movement this morning was
when the name OF Mrs. Mary McOomb was
called. young colored woman walked
into the dock. She is married and lives in
little frame house on Cade street be-
tween Twelfth and Thirteenth. The
clerk arraigned the prisoner upon
charge the intent OF which was that she
is procuresH, keeps house OF ill-fame,
and that she is guilty of harboring for
criminal purposes young females under
the oge of Is years. Mrs. MoOomb
pleaded not guilty.
The police matron then entered from
the private doorway escorting pretty
little blonde In short dresses. She is q
white girl and gave the name of Lucy
rrettyman and the address Seventh street
between Lombard and Poplar. The
child stared with open-eyed wonder
OF the audience az Clerk Hyland
administered the oath. AS the city
solicitor commenced his questions the
unfortunate girl sesmed suddenly
TO realize her position. Covering
her face with her hands, her
head dropped upon the rail and she
bnrst into an uncomfortable fit Of crying.
The child was soothed by the matron and
then gave her age as IA years. She was
10 on May 25th. A story WAS then re-
lated directly duplicating the woman
McComb on the charge rs stated. Abe
witness told how on Saturday night last
sho accompanied by Kate Cole, q married
woman named Margaret Shilling, both
white, and Harry Sherwood and another
man whose name Is Mt present not pub
lishsd, on account of police needs. ALI
the people are white and were at the
McCombs house part of Saturday even
| ing rad during tho night. Other
names were given in Lucy Prettym ans
testimony but the needs of the prosecution
required their present suppression. The
complete story of the debRuch, more
shocking In it's bestial indiscriminacy was
unhesitstinRly told. The story in some
of its details was infinitely more shocking
than that of the Ifma disgrace. Not y
single phase of the disgusting testimony
will bear publication. Direct incrimina.
ton of certain parties was obtained. The
witness 10 t the house at 8 O'Clock the
following morning. She was discovered
OF the resort by her aunt.
CathArine Cole, another young girl
similsr to Lucy Patterson, in showing ex
ternal evidences OF responsibility, wa
next brought down stairs into court. Sht
acknowledged being at the resort on rat
urday night, and fully corroboratei hai
companions story. The Cole girl Ia /
years old and lives with her father ant
mother, at Twelfth and Lombard streets
She identified Sherwood. Both witnesses
admitted that at certain time in tn
evening Mrs. MoOomb requested them t,
leave her house. Catherine Cole gave ad
ditionsl names of frequenters of the DAD
street house. They are all young whit
men, some Of them Of good standing il
town.
Margaret schilling, young msrriet
woman of New Castle, was the next wit
ness. The same story was rotold. A
this stage Of the proceedings the evidenc
piven even at those points absolutel
necessary for the legal requirements 0
! the prosecution, were SO revolving that
halt was made.
City Solicitor Turner then said to tn
court; I'm view of these and other fact,
! would ask that Harry Sherwood b
! placed in the dock"
Court-"Walk in the dock, Sherwood.
: Mr.. Turuer-'I would ask that thes
people be held in adequate sums unde
the act of General Assembly passed lai
year. Ths penalty is 81, 900 tins, seve
years. imprisonment or both.'
Judge Sherwood, the offenC
under which You stand is covered by th
! statute relating to females under 10 yeRi
Of age"
Sherwood-s'May / mako statement?
: Ths oourt-"For your own protectio
in this very serious charge would aGvis
not to do SO at present"
Four women, including three OF IL
: witnesses, suddenly broke out crying
Their wGiling rosounded around Ii
court. ANY effort to restrain them Wi
useless and the proceedings were stoppe
J for moment. The unfortunate She
!. wood, however, could not stand the r
. strsint. 1t was only too apparent that
. was under extreme mental su1ering.
II am innocent" be burat out. This
the first time | was ever with the girls.
went over there under the influence
9 liquor"
! Judge Bali then ordered the case col
:. tinued following the city SOLICITORS r
: quest. Each OF the prisoners was osdert
!; held in the sum of 5000 bail, and Il
= witnesses in s 900 for the hearing Sa
!, urGay morning next.
> The loud crying recommended as Il
!, procession of women and prisone
passed out of the court to their cells.
: was pitiful and affecting spectacle
= has ever bsen witnessed in the city coui
! Mayor Harrington was present throug
ont the whole OF the trial. Ee did n
say anything, but was ever watchful to
= no point in the prosecution failed in
!" support of the arraignment.
y New indictments will be ready and a
= ditional prisoners Oh Saturday moruin
- Jubt as the prisoners were leaving Il
court Sergeant Stewart brought in q
= other man whom he had Just arrested f
= implication in the pending case. TIL
y, ~ was Edward, known Familiarity as "Dltt,
McGsrrlty living on PeAnh street belle
Head. Tho judge ordered tbs prison
and all future captures under this ca
to be each held in 81, 600 bond for Satu
IA days hearing.
u The most painful point of the She
h. wood case is that the prisoner is q you
n. married man with three small childre
/, and has pleasant, happy home at n
a 1916 Spruce street. He ia in poigna