The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-21
wHITECHAPEL WOMEN WIN.
Lou Graham Acquitted for Lack OF sur
ffcient Evidence.

Lou Graham Acquitted for Lack OF sur
fcient Evidence.
Judge Rivers held session of the police
court last night for the hearing OF the
cases of the dissolute women. The case OF
Lou Graham was called. j. i. Ronoid, u.
G. Gilman and s. III. Piles appeared for the
defense. Some time was spent in selectihg
jury, which as finally constituted con-
sisted Of the following named men: y. r.
Budlong, w. NJ. Howe, W. w. Easter, l.
S. Holt, +. G. Moulton and j. N. Hooper.
Assistant City Attorney Morris read the
complaint and made a brief statement OF
the case the city proposed to make to the
jury. Then City Attorney Lyon called
Police Officer Long as the nrst witness for
the city. Officer Long testified that he did
not know what the reputation OF the
house situated at the southwest corner OF
Washington and South Fourth streets
was; did not know whether there was
sign on the house or not; has been an OFF,
Ger OH lower Washington street some
time. He arrested defendants. He
went to the house, asked for the land
lady, she came out and he told her and
several more women found in the house
that they must go to police headquarters.
Lieutenant Templeton testified that he
did not know where defendant resides;
knew that the name Lou Graham was
on the door on the Washington street side
of the building at the corner of Washing
ton and South Fourth streets; did not
know whether other signs were on the
building or not; that the general reputa-
ton of the house is that it is a house of i'll
fame; that the reputation of the inmates of
the house is that they are women of DISCO
lutte character, and that those who fire.
quent the house have the reputation of
being lewd.
,oI hot l. Eva do
PENDANT, and had seen her at the corner Of
Washington and South Fourth streets be-
fore the ire, but did not know the general
reputation of the building.
Captain Pier testified that he never heard
any one III the neighborhood give the
building in question the reputation of be-
ing a house Of ill-fame; did not know who
lived in the building.
Officer John Corbett testified that he did
not know what the general reputation of
the house referred to was.
City Attorney Lyon asked to have a GER
titled copy of Lou Graham's deed to the
property on which the house is situated
introduced in evidence. Attorney Ronald
objected, but the objection was overruled.
and the copy of the deed was placed in
evidence The city here rested its case,
and Mr.. Ronald announced that the de-
Tense was willing to submit the case OH
the testimony already III.
MI. dlifudN IuOSeu LOT u uiSInlSSdi on
the ground that no competent evidence
had been introduced. The motion was
overruled.
Mr.. Morris opened the case for the pros
ecution and was followed by Mr.. Gilman
for the defense. Mr.. Gilman arraigned the
newspapers for condemning the attorneys
for the defense. He said that the vilest
criminals are not only entitled
to counsel. but that attorneys
are compelled to defend them,
when called upon; then why not fallen
woman? Mr.. Ronald followed his assoc
ciate, quoting from various authorities to
show that general reputation is not COM
petent testimony. where uncorrohorated,
to prove that house is a house of ill-fame.
That facts must be proved in addition
thereto before such testimony is compe-
tent.
City Attorney Lyon quoted authority to
show that general reputation was suf-
fcient evidence to establish the fact, even
though nothing else was proven.
Judge Rivers charged the jury to decide
the case on the evidence before it, and on
that alone.
The jury retired, and inside of three
minutes returned with verdict of mot
guilty" Court adjourned at 1890 O'Clock.