The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19
Says She Is . Hard Working, hoaest.
Industrious Woman.
CALLED CHARACTER WITNESSES
Some Of Them Did Not Create Very
Favorable Impression While ON the
Stand..Trying to Prove That the
Little Girls We're Wayward..Ver.
dict in the Shiek Case.

ing In the case In court were at her
house for no other purpose than to take
care of her little boy and girl while she
was away from home. This was the
story she told and what her witnesses
told yesterday after the common
wealth's case closed, and after the de-
fense rested the commonwealth put
witnesses to rebut the vidence Of the
sons who gave Mrs. Conway a good
character do not bear a good reputa-
tion themselves. The case will go to
the jury today before noon probably.
Mrs. Philip Riley, Of Maple street.
South Side, whose husband is one Of the
men who is alleged was guilty of un-
lawful conduct with the girls, was the
first witness called yesterday and her
testimony was very unfavorable to the
defendant Mrs. Riley went at an early
hour one morning last November to
Mrs. Conway's place on Price street to
get her husband. She saw Gwennie
Thomas and Mamie Finley leave the
house. and they appeared to have been
there all night.
MAGGIE CONNORs' STORY.
Maggie Connors, another Of the girls,
was put on trial. She is about fourteen
years old and when Mrs. Conway lived
on Price street the girl secured work at
the rate Of fifty cents a week minding
the children, but she was there only two
days when Mrs. Conway sent her out
for beer for the entertainment of Harry
Miller, Edward Phillips and Michael
Murphy. The defendant was very often
in the habit Of receiving male visitors,
who remained until the next day. The
witness swore that Mrs. Conway forced
her to occupy the same room with John.
son, the ashman, one night
Mrs. James Phillips testified that she
Is the mother Of Edward Phillips, WHO
is mentioned as one Of the frequenters
of the defendants place. Mrs. Phillips
said that her son was in the habit of
absenting himself from home and she
learned that he was with Mrs. Conway.
Going to the latter's house one morning
she found her son and the defendant in
the same room.
Mrs. Annie Thomas, mother of Gwen
ME, swore that last Monday evening she
.. y,
TOOle. and young man and was offered
$50 to settle the case. The witness put
them off by telling them that she could
not settle 1t II she tried, that Mrs. Dug
gan had the matter in hand. At this
stage the commonwealth rested.
ASKED TO NAME THE COUNT.
Mr.. Kelley, for the defense, then asked
that the commonwealth specify upon
which count conviction would be ask
ed for. Mrs. Conway Is indicted upon
nine different counts, that Is enticing
different persons at different times.
| She could not be tried for more than
one offense at one time. District At
torney Jones specified thar the convic-
ton of the defendant would be asked
on one count. enticing Gwennie Thom-
as and Mamie Finley. Ex-Judge STAN
ton made the opening address for the
defense He said 1t would be proven
that the girls were nothing better than
street walkers.
| Mrs. Conway was put on the stand in
| her own behalf. Her maiden name is
Holmes and she lived in Providence un-
til II years of age, when she married a
young man named Patrick Conway who
lived few years with her and then de-
serted her. She entered a total denial
Of having enticed the girls into her
house, and affected to be the victim of
malicious prosecution on the part of
ex-Chief Of Police w. T. Simpson and
Mrs. Duggan. She swore that the girls
were depraved before they came to her
house and that she harbored them out
Of charity because their parents let
them run wild and neglected them.
REPUTATION OF THE GIRLS.
Edward Stark, night watchman al
the Oxford, and patrolman James Saul
were called to prove that the girls were
wayward. The defense failed to prove
anything by these witnesses. Several
women were called who claimed to have
known Mrs. Conway for a long time
and each one Of them swore that she
was a hard-working, honest woman
mindful Of her family. District Attor.
ney Jones asked one of the character
witnesses where she lived.
mo. II Lackawanna avenue" was
her answer
|
he.
II don't see how that's any Of your
business" she replied.
Further questioning brought out the
fact that she has two husbands livine
and that, to use her own words, she doe.
not know nor does not care where the,
are at present.
Another woman named Johnson sale
that Mrs. Conway's reputation fol
chastity and morality is unquestioned
Mr.. Jones asked her how many time!
she had been raided by the police fo
keeping 'nigger" dive. This was tn,
average kind Of witness sworn in be
half of the defendant.
Ex-Chief Simpson, Thomas v. Lewi
and Officer Steve Dyer testified in re
buttal that Mrs. Conway's reputation
has been bad. Other witnesses will b.
called to prove the same fact today.
HOLLOW FOUND GUILTY.
In the case Of Esther Shiek, of Dun
} more, against Charles Hollow, a yer
dict Of guilty as to immoral conduc
; was returned, but the defendant wa
acquitted of being the father Of he
child.
} The case Of the Prudential Life Insur
} ance company against Peter Engle. o.
the charge Of embezzlement, was o.
trial before Judge Archibald.
------>D----
, Identified the Wheel.
: William Moran, the baggage express
man, bought a bicycle three weeks ag
, from Frank Madigan, of Scranton