The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-05-11
A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Ono Of Missouia's Well Known Citissss
Arrested For = Grave Misdsmesser.
Special Dispatch TO the Standard.
MIssorLA. May i0.-When the STAND.
ARD Is received in Missou!a tomorrow
morning. the city will he shaken to lite
very foundation by the disclosure Of one
Of the most sensational cases In It's his
tory and, IL true. one Of tho most hoinous
crimes known tn the criminal code. that
Of rape. charged against a man who 10 .
father of o family Of six children, i've of
them girls. some of them just budding
into womanhocd; . man old enough tn
have known better: one who has passed
the meridian Of life and, up to the present
time. an honored citizen.
Yesterday afternoon warrant was Is
sued from Judge Loaan's court for the ar.
rest of J. s. Booth. charged with criminal
assault on Elsie Mayne. aged Il years. In
October last. The complaint 10 made b.
Charles Mengcs. stcpfather OF the girl.
Booth was arrested and released on SoO
bonds.
A reporter Of the STANDARD. as soon ~
he learned Of tho facts. at once began an
investigation. Elsie Maync was located
nj the home Of J. =. Kennedy. in South
Mi.soula. Mr.. Kennedy was absent and
Mrs. Kennedy and the little girl. Elsie,
were In the garden cuitivating flowers.
But she seemed to divine the mission and
Mt once came forward. The matter waa
handled as dclicately % possible. and she
told what she knew about the caso. In
substance Mrs. Kennedy said:
..Elsie lives at Nine Mile and abe had
met Booth at that place while he was on .
hunting trip. She came to Missoula last
October. and. with her grandmother.
visited the Booth residence. On one oe
these occasions she remained over night
with the family. Booth enticcd hse
to the stable under the promise Of catching
her pigeon and attempted an ASSAULT
upon her. but was prevented by tho
screams Of tho child. The matter was
quieted down aud settled satisfactorily,
as far as the little girl was concerued.
The second and successful attempt vac
made In the evening In the sleeping apart.
ment OF Elsie"
She was asked why tho charges had not
been preferred before this. She said that
they had decided to drop the matter on
account OF Booths family. but he was
| persistent In his attentions to the girl
| and whenever no saw her on the strest
| would attempt to make engagements with
| her and, on one occasion. Was seen prowl-
| ing around tho house in tho night, In the
absence Of Mrs. Kennedy. SO they bad
decided to bring the matter to the at
| tcntion OF tho courts. Mr.. Booth
could not be found tonight, but u b
learned from reliable sources that he
claims tho whole thing is u case Of black.
mail from beginning to end. and that the
charges wcro preferred through spite
alone. brought about by suit against the
plaintiff over money matter.
Elsie Maync appears To be about IA years
old and does not look very bright. in fact,
IL rather q simple-minded country sirl.
Joc $. Booth 10 At present baili6
in Judge woody's court. and over
10 years old. The statute In Mon.
| IS and also holds the assailant guilty Of
rape IL the party assailed is mentally In.
| capable of self protection. 1t 10 to b
| hoped. for the sake Of his family. that Mr..
Booth will be able to give q satisfactory
| exclamation, when the case comcs uk.