Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-14
PowELsoN ACQUITTED.
The Notorious Character Goes Ere
fram One Charge,

The Notorious Character Goes Free
fr"m One Charge.
The case against Frank Powelson oc.
cupied the attention of Justice Seamans'
court yesterday afternoon. Powelson is
charged with a misdemeanor in sling
ing rock through one of the windows
ot the notorious house of ill.repute, at
3l2 Alameda street. kept by Helen
Lewis, and known as the resort formerly
kept by Cora Phillips The case was
tried before jury, and Hon. j. Marion
Brooks appeared for the defendant,
Powelenn
The woman, Helen Lewis, testified
that she was the keeper OF the resort,
but her testimony was not very clear as
to the time the alleged rock boomerang
throwing took place. The witness,
Grace Pomeroy, very reluctantly raised
her veil when ordered to do go by the
court. 1t revealed black eye, which
Powelson is also charged with having
presented to her. She did not know
much about the rock throwing. but
seemed bent on testifying Ia The alleged
battery case, which was hot before the
court.
An inmate who We her name as
Blake testified that tne rock hit the
window and not the house, and that che
was looking out of the window at the
time. Asked if Blake was her true
name, she stated that il was, but finally
added that she had husband. She re-
fused to give his name. when judge Sea-
mans ordered the refractory witness to
answer the question, but Mr.. Brooks
told her to leave the witness stand.
The case being submitted, Mr.. Brooks
said substantially: This is the most
peculiar case have ever heard of in all
my practice. People who keep a low
assignation house, themselves violators
of the law, coming into court of JUS
yiolators of the law, and asking for the
This woman. Helen Lewis. pays 5000
month for house for immoral purposes
and admits here in this court
that she is violator OF the
law of the land and of
the moral law, the only tie
that cements and binds society together.
Officers of the law here testify to the
bad character Of this house, knowing
that such place is unlawful; yet they
are content with arresting this boy and
closing their eyes as to the house of
crime and its social criminals-a plague
| spot and disgrace to our fair city.
They demand that this boy be pros
ecuted. This man, Hanning, who
owns the house, for which he receives
5000 month, is the only one who has
been injured. viii you, gentlemen,
convict man on such testimony as the
woman Blake? Why were not the vic.
lators of the law arrested-the prosti-
tutes and those who own the houses
rented for that purpose? They are all
equally guilty. If you let such women
testify how many people will be con-
victed whom they may have malice
against?
One woman testifes that the rock
was thrown; that it hit the window,
not the house; vet the window is part
of the house. The woman Blake, who
is ashamed to tell her true name, made
that statement. The officers did not go
to the house and ascertain the amount
of damage, as they should have done.
They were not content with this, but
had him arrested on another charge
The red numbers, 312 Alameda street,
have ruined hundreds OF boys in this
city.
The jury should not be carried away
with the idea of guilt of the young man
because he visited the, house to see one
of these painted harlots. They have
ruined hundreds of young men in our
city. These social outcasts come into
this court of justice and say, "We have
the protection of the police; we haunt
our silks and satirs in the face OF res
pectability, corrupt the youth of the
land and drink champagne at their ex-
pense and are protected by the con-
stabulary of the city. THE young man
should be acquitted.
The jury brought in verdict OF not
guilty.
The charge OF battery will be tried on
the 23d inst. Bail was fixed at 800.