Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-02
Probable Disagreement in the Til
ford Case.
The WOMEN WHO TESTIFIED
Jury Has Been Out for Several
Hours.
D w 10 N R A I D S

ire from the raid on March 10 came up in
the Police Court this morning before Judge
Miller. The first case resulted in convic-
tor and the imposition of a fine and Jail
sentence, the second in an acquittal, so
that particular interest attached to the
case today, and the court room was filled
with spectators.
The defendant was a woman known as
Lottie Tilford, who was charged with keep
ing a disreputable house at 2l2 18th street,
between B and c streets. She is fairly
good-looking woman, about forty years of
age and in court this morning she was
quietly but handsomely dressed in black
silk. with elbow sleeves and long. black
gloves She wore stylish black ha, with
tall, black cock feathers. She followed the
evidence in the case with the closest atten-
| ton, sitting beside her counsel and fire.
quently comforting with him as to the
questions he should put to the witnesses on
cross-examination.
Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny put on
the stand as the first witness for the govern
ment, Sergt. Moore Of the first precinct. a
| member of the party that made the now ia
| nous raid, which has resulted in such con-
sternation among the denizens of the Di-
| vision.
Sergt. Moore told of the raid that night
and of what he saw at the Tilford house
| The police were more successful in Sc
| curing evidence against this house than
they were in the Ferguson case, for in
| room on the second floor just back of Miss
| Tilfords room they found one of tine IN
mates. girl who goes by the name of
Ida Wells. with male visitor. The SER
| geant testified that he stood outside in
| the nail and waited until they had partially
| clothed themselves. After the door was
| opened he saw the man pay the woman
| some money before he went out
| When the raiding party was leaving the
| house the door bell rang. and a man and
woman came in together. The man
was naturally very much embarrassed
| when he saw the policemen in the house
I The woman. the sergeant said, had the
| reputation of being common street walk
| er. OF the inmates of the house he only
| knew one, the Wells woman and her repu-
| taiion. he said, Was that of woman of
| evil life. The house. he could safely and
| truthfully say. was house of prostitution.
This was not hesrsay evidence, but was
| based on his observation of the house ard
| what he saw there the night of the raid.
| What He Saw.
| Policeman Williams of the first precinct,
wbo is on the Division beat. gave additional
| evidence to what they in the house
| and what occurred there the night of the
| raid. They found lot of bottled beer on
! ice. as well some wine and whisky. Will
| liams also told of another visit that he
| II AIDE to the house when he was looking
| for girl who had left home and was sup
posed 10 have entered some house in the
| Division. He was ordered by mis- superior
| officer to visit all the houses of prostitu-
ton, and. among others, went to the Til
| ford place. as to the best of his knowledge
| and belief hers was that sort of house
! In describing the raid on the night of
| March Ii. Williams said that when they
| were standing in the hail. and the man
| and woman came i'll. one of them asked
| Precinct Detective Sutton. who was i'm
citizens clothes. if they could get a room
there. Sutton told them that he was not in
met han
| Women Witne.ses.
Carrie Wilson, young and very decided
blonde with complexion that was a fine
piece of enameling work and an up-to date
| spring costume. was next placed upon the
| stand as a witness for the government.
She was an irmate of the Tilford house
and was caught in the drag net on the
| night of the laid.
On the stand this morning she said that
she was twenty years of age and had lived
| at the Tilford house for about a year. Like
all the other girls who have been up as
| witnesses in these cases, Carrie said that
| she had a gentleman friend who gave her
more than enough money to support her
in luxury and idleness. She paid Miss Til
| ford SIS week for a room and board In
like the others. Carrie was finally induced
| to admit that she had other gentlemen
friends who occasionally called upon her
| and gave her money
And why do these nice, kind gentlemen
| give you money! asked Mr.. Mullowny.
| hearts?"
That question l decline to answer
| Why"
Because 1t would tend to incrminate
me-"
At this smoker ran round the court
| used so often lately.
The next witness to go upon the stand
| was another woman. not young as Carrie
Wilson nor as stylish She gave the name
| nf ack tnn had ri
who paid her board for her, but limited his
| contributions to that. The remainder of
her income, she sad came from home.
| who sends it to you?" she was asked
MY grandfather replied Miss Jackson
in tone that was intended to carry convic-
| ton with it.
Now. Miss Jackson" asked the district
| attorney. were you ever in house of ILL
fame before YOU went to live with Miss
| Tilford?'
| mo, sir"
where you were living when you were ar
| restad?"
81 decline to answer
and why," asked Mr.. Mullowny, in a
| weary and bored sort of way
Because it would tend to incrimnate
me"
''Step down, Miss Jackson"
| Ida Wells take the stand''
1t seemed though these witnesses were
on a descending scale for the third woman
could have served as a guide post to the
! other two to show them where they might
expect to end. In years gone by she was
known one of the most attractive girls
on Capitol Hill, and her friends thought her
future bright one. Today she is
known to the police along the avenue as
one of the worst "boozers'' in the city.
They have had no easy thing during the
last few days 10 keep her sober enough to
| appear In court today.
When Ida took the stand this morning
she plainly showed the effects of her re-
cent life. She was nervous and shaky.
Her face was bloated, and so red that if
she had "rouged' before she came out to-
day it would have looked as though she
had powdered.
Ida testified that when the raid was
made she was in the back room on the
third story with man whom she had met
at Edels restaurant, and who suggested
that they should go out together. She did
not live at the Tilford house. but Just went
there to take room. She was very tired,
she said, and wanted to rest a while, and
that was her sole reason for going there
that night.
In naive sort of way Ida said that she
was a dressmaker by profession but had
not been working very hard at it lately.
She slso had friend who gave her money
regularly.
MAIZE" Harrison. the last of the inmates
of ho house was also 0uaStiopod lint Mr.