The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-14

LAFAYETTE. Feb. 12-Special.--
brief kilograms sent out last night as a
special regarding the ease III which
Caleb Parrish. a burly colorcd man, is
charged with outraging little Mabel Cot
trell. aged twelve years, will hardly pre-
pare the public for the terrible evidences
OF depravity as they were developed this
morning I'm the police court.
Parrish was arraigned and pleaded not
guilty.
The first witness was the Cottrcl child,
who told her story & little hesitatingly..
due, perhaps, to the large crowd OF men
that had swarmed into the court room.
According TO her story. the relations be-
tween herself and Parrish began on the
9Th of January, 1892 over thirteen
months ago. This had been kept up
at times ever since. She had been paid
% cents once. and on one or two other
occasions. but this was all the money
she had received She testified thai on
one occasion she had gone TO Parrish's
room with two sisters named Ward, and
that he had misbehaved with each OF
them, one after the other. She said the
conduct was witnessed by each of them,
as there was but one room.
Myrtle Ward. who said she was four
teen. testified that she had been out
ragged by Parrish several months ago,
and had gone 10 his place on several
occasions, but always accompanied by
her sister, who was two years older.
Ida Ward testified that while she was
at work at the bath rooms. where the
defendant was employed, she had been
overcome by him and had yielded on
one occasion only. He had often so
licited her to consent since that time,
but she had steadily refused. She had
gone to his room With her sister more
than once. but she could not say that
any improper act had been accomplished
while she was there. On One occasion
Parrish had pulled a mattress out on
the floor and she had seen her sister
and Parrish lying thereon, but this was
all. From these girls it was learned
that other girls of about their own &ge
were in the habit Of visiting Parrish's
roon but they We're not able TO state
what occurred between them Tic tes-
tin1ony was regarded rs being remark
ably direct. as the girls were not aware
that the others would appear until they
met in the police court.
Parrish. trembling like an aspen leaf.
was the picture of despair. He said re-
peatedly that the girl came To his room
over his protest; that he tried to keep
II O'Clock one night and refused to 60
away. wanting TO remain all night. and
he let her do so because it raining.
He denied that he had ever tempered
with one of the girls or attempted to do
said IL was all put-up job to get him
into trouble. All the time his eyes kept
wandering to the surgng mass of hu-
manity that surrounded the ratings Of
the police court, and every time he did
so he seemed to grow a little whittier
Stephen Thompson. who worked with
Parrish, was the most important witness
for the state for he said that Parrish
often bOasted 10 him. though apparently
in jOcular way, that he was having fine
times; that number of little girls came
TO his rooms. and he often spoke Of two
sisters. one aged fourteen and another
sixteen, who came there. Thompson I'M
derstoOd Parrish to mean that he was
maintaining improper relations with the
children.
Mayor Mckinley. after the evidence
was in, fixed Parrish's bond at s. O00 but
as he gazed over the angry-looking
crowd sFe negroes courage seemed to
fail him, and he called the mayor aside
10 say that nc wanted TO plead guilty
and have it over with. The papers were
then made out. and the prisoner. guard
ed by a squad OF police with drawn
clubs, was rushed NJ stairs into the cir
cut court room The crowd had pre-
ceced him largely. yet those VINO re-
manned in the hallway below. asehe made
ms appearance. called loudly and angrily
Tor ropes After ne had heen safely
landed in the court room Parrish seemed
TO reconsider his resolution 10 plead
guilty and he pleaded not guilty. Judge
Langdon fixed his bond at $4,000 and
guarded by the police force and the
sheriff. the prisoner was once moro bur-
ried down stairs and back to Jail. The
evidence was regarded by all who heard
IT as being conclusive.
To the reporter Parrish said he was
not guilty; that ne had not done anv-
lining wrong; that the girls had never
been harmed by him. and no couId not
see why they should tell such stories
them. ''' IA
Parrish draws a pension. He SAYS he
Is forty-fiVe years old. and that his yrifa
and child reside at Toledo. where they
nave been over year. There is I'M
doubtedly a very strong feeling againet
the prisoner. and there was a fecIina, of
relief among the authorities al frst
when he declared his intention of plead
ing guilty, and go at once to prison
When. however. he stated that M. was
not guilty. but that ne only made that
plea or admission because ne feared he
would be killed. and that by so doing he
would be taken out OF danger. the Of
fcers all advised him not To make such
A plea. and ne took their advice
Nothing that has occurred here for
Years. u ever. mas stirred uD such n feel
ing None Of the parents of the little
girls who testified against Parrish aD-
peared in court
Later-Soon after Parrish was taken
20 jail he decided to plead guilty and
was again taken before Judge Langdon.
who sentenced him TO twenty years i'm
prisonment IN the prison north at >
. clock this afternoon. Sheriff GOddis
started to the penitentiary with Parrish.
There was a large crowd at the depot
but no attempt at violence.