Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-02
INTERESTING CASE
ON TRIAL IN THE CIRCUIT COURT YES
TERDAY.
IL. Csc d the STAT. =. RJtsit McElroJ add WIFE,
TIE Smith Jury Still Out-Ihe STAY ia
tie Bridge Case.

The Court room of Part Two OF the
Circuit Court. Judge PAUL, was well
filled Yesterday afternoon, To listen to
the testimony in the case OF the State v.
Robert McElroy. and Belle McElroy,
his wife, who were indicted three times
by the late grand jury. for keeping a
house of i'll fame at the north end OF
Water street few doors below the cor
ner of Eleventh street. The defendants
place has quite a shady reputation, be-
Ing VIGOROUSLY the resort Of both sexes
for improper purposes. and the grand
Jury had little trouble in finding the I'M
dictmcntS, which were the outgrowth OF
a raid made on the house by ConsiableS
Love. Lauchlin and one or two other
other officers, on a warrant sworn out
DO a girl named lIumeS. who acted at
the instance Of Melissa McGlumphrcy.
The officers. as was detailed in their tes-
timony Yesterday, found colored man
named Dixon ana woman named Jack
son In bed together, and they put the
whole party under arrest.
When the case was called yesterday,
the defense rendered - plea of covethrc
which was allowed 10 bee filed. an eNcep-
tion being taken by the State. The
following jury was then selected:
Charles Sounderman, Joseph Iueiel.
Chris Nicrhellcr. Richard James, John
DruSchell. VIM. Carney. ST.. George =.
Feeney. Godfrey Price. Frank Porter,
Pat. Gilligan, II l.. Hogc and William
Ellingham.
The ease was presented by the attorn-
cys. in the course of which il was de-
yclopcd that the indictment chosen by
the Prosecuting Attorney alleged that
the house was used for improper pur-
poses ON the eleventh of March and at
divers times subsequent To that date,
but said nothing about the place prior
to that date. and this fact was seized
upon By the defense as being a vital
point.
The first witness was then called in
the person of Constable LauGhlin, who
detailed the circumstances Of the raid.
He said the reputation of the house was
bad.
The second witness was girl who
went by the name of Pearl Davis,
but whose name was Flanagan. and her
home MoundSyilc. She was married.
This witness said she had been 90 the
house many times before and after the
date named, bat had originally been AN
inmate of Sadie Tracy'S honsc. The
defense attempting 10 show that the
house was run as hotel. having res
tarant attached for the serving OF
meals, and that the proprietorS could
not be expected To know the character
of inmates. The witness said She saw
no difference between the house and
Sadie Tracy's place. as there was al
least one girl boarding there for im-
moral purposes. Both the parties I'M
dicted had received money from her for
the use of rooms, and they well knew
what they were required for.
Constable Love was the most witness.
and detailed thc raid on the house. The
rooms were like statc-room>. with the
partitions not running To- the ceiling,
and Lau,hlin had stood ON chair and
looked over the partition and saw the
rolorcd couple in bed.
The next witness was q good-lookiug |
and wcll-droSscd woman named Kate /
RYAN. who said she had stayed in
the house. for improper purposes. and /
that The business She followed was well |
known TO the defendants.
The case was then adjourned over nm !
il this morning. Dovcncr. Arnctt and |
Boycc were for the defense.
The Jury IN the case of the state y.