Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-08-09
SERIOUS CRIME CHARGED.
If Proven the Accused is a Brute De-
serving Swift and Heavy
Punishment.

4 Punishment
For "a few months past a ma
some S5 or 40 years old name,
James Stonemau has been wOrkinj
around the city aud keeping house
his companions in housekeeping be
ing two girls, one IL years old anC
one about six. They have recently
/ lived in the old house belonging tC
James Bachelor on the place form
erly owned by Mrs. Taylor, where
she kept her greenhouse.
They have lived rather myste
riousIy and the neighbors have beer
suspecting that all was not right
among them. 1t became known
that the largest girl, who is rather
large and forward for her age, was
very cruel to the little child, who is
IA sweet, innocent thing, sometimes
beating and abusing her shamefully.
This led to investigation, the matter
being brought to the ears Of Marshal
Ross and that shrewd officer soon
satisfied himself that there was
something terribly rotten in the
combination.
One of the points first discovered
was that Stoneman was no kin to
the girls, whose name is Oswalt, and
it seemed at least very curious that
he would be thus supporting two
children of no relationship to him.
1t was found, after diligent inquiry
that they came here from Freeport,
Illinois but rs it was impossible,
without arouslng suspicion, to ask
direct questions and rs they did not
miugle with other persons or talk
very much, it took some time 10 get
at conclusive facts.
This morning Marshal Ross went
to the house and had a long talk
with the oldest girl, Belle, who ad-
mitted criminal relation with Stone
man and told a story which throws
an air of mystery around the case
aud suggests another probable crime
back in Illinois. She says her
father drank a good deal and that
he and Stoneman used to have some
trouble. That one evening last
spring she was sent away from
home to the house Of a friend and
that night her mother was taken
sick and died next day. After her
burial her father went away from
home, leaving them and then Stone
man came out here with the two
girls. The criminal relationship
commenced in Illinois.
Mr.. Ross took the two girls from
the house aud placed them in charge
of Mrs. l.. b. McElroy and Mrs.
John Mimic, who will care for them
until some legal steps can be taken
to put them under proper protection.
He then lodged information before
Esquire Goodell, charging Stoue-
man with the crime of rape, that be-
ing the charge applicable under
our statutes. A warrant was is
sued and the accused arrested as he
returned to dinner. He was
taken before the justice this after
noon, and arraigned, hut his eX-
animation was postponed until Mon
day morning, and he is now in the
county Jail.
\ JOURNAL representative inter-
viewed him since his incarceration
and found him a little nervous, but
stoutly denying the charge. He
says he lived with the Oswalt
family four years and when the
mother of the girls died, they want
ed to come to Oregon with him and
their father consented to their
coming, so he brought them.
Stoneman Is 40 years old, small in
stature, light complexion and sandy
mustache. He has been working
in the upholstery department of \.
b. Buren's furniture store.
The early hour of the JOURNALS
going to press prevents more com
plete diagnosis Of the ease to-day,
but these are the facts rs far as the
information before the public now
reveals them.