Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-17
A KINDERGARTEN BROTHa,
Depraved Youths at the Half
Way House.
Billings's Trial for Keeping an As
signati0n House.
Shocking Statements About Youthful
Immorality-WhAt the Evidence
Disclosed = The Jury's
Hesitation.

In JuotlCo 6C8utOub COuIt ycbtorO8y,
in the presence of large and very
mixed crowd, Thomas B. Billings was
placed on trial for keeping q house oi
assignation. This is q notorious case,
and is direct consequence Of the recent
scandslous discovery that there are
; places in this city and it's neighborhood
in which the villainous proprietors allow
and encourage young boys and girls to
indulge in bacchanalian revels and inn
moral practices. In many other places
on this continent such an exposure
would have resulted Immediately in the
formation Of vigilance committee,
which would have put sudden and
violent end to such nefarious condition
of things.
Az gentleman said yesterday, "It is
bad enough to have to tolerate assigna-
ton houses which are frequented by
women old enough to know what they
are doing, but when il comes down to
kindergarten brothels it il high time to
call halt
Thomas B. Billings is the man who
ran the place known as the Hallway
house, and owned by the notorious
Mother Brown. The road house is
located about half way between Downey
avenue and South Pasadena, on the
Mission road. It has been running un-
moleetedly for four years.
About two weeks ago Mrs. Percival, !,
the mother OF Edna Percival, who has
since been sent TO Whittier, sent to
Humane Officer Wright at the police
station asking that official to look after
Edna. Mr.. Wright promptly complied,
and easily aecertained that Edna was
an incorrigible. The girl is only 15 years
OF age, aud was one Of ''crowd" con-
sietinR of other children of about her
own age. .Ef lts
Officer Wright could easily have made
out case against Edna without intro
ducing any of the evidence which has
since attracted so much attention, but
he had decided to make an attempt to
put an end. to the Hallway house and
its methods. Accordingly he conducted
the case before Judge Smith in person,
and brought out all the disgusting de-
tails. He proved that the group to
which Edna Percival belonged consisted
of May McCroy, alias May Cole, aged ID;
Maud Stone, aged 13; Morris Hill, aged
15; Adolph Green, aged IS, and Billy"
McDermott, man between rs and 80.
It was shown in Judge Smiths court
that on certain night, McDermott,
Green and Hill, with the girls Percival,
McCroy and Stone, had gone to the
Hallway house, and had there had beer
and wine. Eventually McDer mott per-
suaded the McCroy girl to 60 upstairs
with him, and there he had illicit rela-
tions with her. McDermott acknowl-
edged the truth Of this charge before
Judge Smith, and Morris Hill also testi-
fed In the Percival trial that he and
Edna had gone upstairs to the bedroom
and there had seen McDermott and
May. The girls themselves have never
denied the truth of the charge. Adolph
Green ran away from the city as soon az
tho Percival case came on.
At yesterdays trial in Justice STAN
toms court, the first witness was Morris
Hill, who, strangely enough, had sud-
denly lost his memory. He declared
that he did not remember anything he
had ssid to Judge Smith, District At
torney McLachlan or Humane Officer
Wright. He attributed his lapsus mem
orim to . bad attack of catarrh. The
few statements he made in answer to
questions. were conflicting and value
less. 1t was apparent that the boy had
been intimidated, and was afraid of
some one in the court room.
McDermott was the second witness,
and acknowledged on the stand that he
had gone to the room with May McCroy,
and described what had followed. II +
Mary McCroy herself corroboreted the
testimony of McDermott. The district
attorney did not insist upon bringing
out details, out OF consideration for the
girls feelings.
Edna Percival was placed on the
stand, and testified that after McDer-
mott and May had gone upstairs, Hill
and herself followed. Hill was q little
ahead of Edna, and when the girl
reached the door of the bedroom, Nc
Dermott and May were just preparing to
come out. Hill, however, had said at
tho time that he had seen the two un-
der indeecribable circumstances.
Billings testified in his own behalf.
He denied any knowledge of the bed
room incident, and swore that he had
sold the party onthe memorable evening
nothing but soda water. 4
The case went to the jury at about 8
O'Clock. Several we'll known citizens
were in the court room at the time, and
one of them, carefully observing the
jurymen as they fled out, remarked
calmly: "That jury will disagree. I
have some acquaintances in this city
myself. It will stand about nine to
three, and will hang there"
At quarter after 5 the jury sent word
to Justice Stanton that they could not
agree. They were brought into the
court room.
"Haye you agreed on verdict 70
asked the court. ,s ai "
"No," replied one Of the jurors,
"there are ten stubborn men on this
jury, and ! don't think they are liable
to yield.''
Eyes" exclaimed another Juror, be-
fore he could be stopped, "there are ten
for conviction and two for acquittal."
"Take the jury back ~ remarked the
court. y
A notorious pugilist, who was among
the audience, turned TO the HERALD re-
porter, and said with q wink: II tell
you, mo boy, there are two thorough.
breds on that jury, and they'll stick il
out, too. Seer"
The names OF the jurymen are az fol.
lows: w. w. Sheldon, w. r. Clement
M. Norton, /. N. White, E. NJ. Morri.
son, +. d. Neil, s. +. Adams, t. q. Sar.
now, E. T. Craig, I. 8. 6tottler, R. G.
Beadnn and F. Harbet.
Shortly after 8 o'clock supper was sent
in to the jury, but the feed had nc
effect on the ballot.
The two s'thoroughb hbreds'' still ''stood
out" and during the whole evening