The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-08

Slab and Rida Hazen Returns to Her
Colorado Springs Home a Ruined and
Disgraced Girl as Result of Brutal
Divers Debauch-The Beast Takes His
Crimes Coollv as Though They were
Everyday Events-He Set the Pace that
Killed.
Denver, Colo, Oct. mot often in
the history of its existence has the city
jail sheltered so depraved and morally
culpable a human being as Charles
Lewis, deep-water diver from North
ampton, Eng, who spent the greater
part of yesterday in the bull-pen, pend
ing his transportation to Colorado
Springs, where he is wanted for GRIMM
ally assaulting Rida Hazen, 17-year-
old girl of that town. Besides the ruin
Of the girl, Lewis is indirectly response
bic for the death Of a 17-year-old Den
yer boy. The alcohol-soaked corpse of
Frank Fern, who lately resided with
his mother and sister at 1869 South IRE
mont street mutely accuses the besotted
Lewis of murder, for it was the diver
who. supplied the lad with the price of
the bad whisky that caused his death
at 1895 o'clock yesterday forenoon on a
cot at the county hospital
Young Fern left home Friday morn
ing to look for work, but was diverted
from his purpose by Lewis, who made
his acquaintance two years ago at Can
on City. Money and whisky in plenty
was furnished by the Englishman, and
the ill-met pair began a debauch that
E|roa II hi a n n
Charles Lewis to a prison cell. Both
were found drunk on the street yester-
day morning the younger having reach
ed condition of alcohol coma from
which he never awakened alive. At
the conclusion of an inquest on Ferns
body the companion of mis- fatal carouse
may be formally charged with felcnious
homicide. Until then he viii remain
in the custody of Sheriff Bowers Of FL
Paso county on the minor charge.
Lewis is A years old, and belongs to
the lowest social and ethical stratum
of humanity. In his youth he had the
training of a British wharf rat, and
from this state he graduated into di-
yer. His last abiding place in Eng
land was Northampton. Why he left
there he declines to tell. In this coun-
try finding no call for people Of his pre-
carious occupation, he has followed the
business of carpet beating for a living.
Up to Thursday evening last his resi-
dence was in Colorado Springs, where
he boarded at the house Of Rida Ha-
lens mother, No. 8 North Wessex ave-
nue.. Mrs. HaZen is divorced from her
husband, and with her daughter and
domestic servant named Cora Johnson,
who is not yet IS years old, she has been
earning a living by keeping boarders.
Rida Hazen and the johnson girl have
+,7r- Al IL
zen by receiving the attentions of TOO
many male admirers. Miss Rida's adj
mirer is Newell Hazel, a young fellow
about IS years old, who lives in Den
yer and works in bicycle store. For
three months past he has been accus-
toned to visiting Colorado Springs
nearly every Sunday and calling on Ri
da, much against the win of her moth
er, who chiefly objected to him because
he is afflicted with st. Vitus' dance.
Over a month ago Mrs. Hazen forbade
Hazel from coming to her house, and
when he defied the injunction a week
later she had him removed by the local
officers Of the peace. But love found
way for the wiIlfuI Rida Hazen to meet
her physically shaky beau again. Love
was assisted in the project by Cora
Johnson and her admirer.
Close to u o'clock last Tuesday night
take place from the North Wessex ave-
nue. boarding house, and it failed only
because Mrs. HaZen happened to be a
light sleeper. She was awakened by
footsteps on the stairs and got out of
bed in time to intercept her daughter
and Newell Hazel on their way to some
neighboring Gretna Green. Hazel was
bearing IN his arms a bundle contain
ing his sweetheart's trosseau and jew
elry. but he dropped it and fled inglo-
riOusly at sight of the woman he want
ed to make his mother-in-law After
that close watch was kept upon the
love-smitten Miss Rida. but it did not
suffice 10 prevent her from fitting at
1ast. She got away with the assistance
of Charles Lewis the diver.
Lewis says that on Thursday after
noon Miss Hazen told him that Hazel
was 10 meet her at the Union hotel in
Denver on Friday morning, and then
they We're 70 be married. She was afraid
TO go alone on the train, however, and
besides she had no money. so she want
ed to know if he would pay her fare to
Denver and safeguard her in the guise
OF her father until she met young Hazel
In this appeal of the unsophisticated
girl the aged roue saw his own oppor-
tunity and grasped 1t. From a local
bank he drew out $50. his savings. and
that evening after supper he bought two
tickets on the Santa Fe road for Denver
At 7:05 O'Clock, just before the train
pulled out, Rida HaZea stole from her
home and ran to the depot, where she
found Lewis waiting for her. The train
was we'll on its journey before Mrs
Hazen missed her boarcier and daughter
She notified Marshal Dana, who search
ed the whole neighborheed in vain for
the man and girl. On Friday he tele-
phoned Chief of Detectives Harrington
requesting that they be looked out for
here
Meanwhile Lewis and Rida Hazen
had arrived safely at their destination
They did not ride 20 the Union depot.
but at the divers. suggestion slipped
off their car when the train slowed up
at South Denver. From there they
boarded an electric car into the center
of the city. but instead of taking his
young charge TO look for her sweet
heart. Lewis spoke for himself. john
and induced the girl to occupy 4 room
With him in the Charpiot hotel. 1910
Larimer street. They registered as
father and daughter. and yesterday
Lewis seemed 10 take pride in how clev-
sTiiy he talked the employees Of the
place into letting himself and the girl
,leep in the same apartment
When morning came the diver rid
himself OF his victim a speedily as pos
nble. and about noon Sergeant futile
lound her weeping, hungry and be-
sildered at Fifteenth and ArapahOe
Ttreets. She was looking for her father
she at first said, but at length she told
The truth about her nliSSGventure and
was given into the care of Dean Peck.
Who sent her back 10 her anguished
mother that same evening.
Having abandoned ruined Rida Haz-
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