The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-10


man, in the employ of George Sims,
charge of rape, preferred by his little
stepdaughter. Maud. aged 10.
If the allegations of the little ones
complaint are true-and there seems to
be strong grounds for believing her
statements-PoweI is nothing short of
bestial brute, and in this connection
it may be said that his statements
concerning the alleged assault do not
sound like those of an innocent man.
The complaint alleges that on last
Wednesday evening at their home
Powell outraged the girl. OF course
the usual legal terms are employed in
setting out the statements.
According 10 the story of the Little
one, the offense was committed while
her mother was away from the house.
She AYERS that he told her if she ever
told any one of the occurrence he
would kill her. She, however, related
the same to her mother, who told her
she was telling what was not true. The
girl then went to her 16-year-old sister,
who is working for a Mrs. Ashley near
the artificial ice factory, and related
the circumstances.
THE ELDER GIRL, TOO.
What was her surprise when May,
the eldest, stated that Powell had also
ravished her some time ago and had
repeated the offense several times
since. May said he had also told her
he would kill her if she ever owned
up to any one. The two girls told
their story to Mrs. Ashley and the
good woman advised that they lay the
matter before the police. Officer Sian
non lives close by and he was COM
municated with and he took the girls
to the office Of the county attorney,
where they made a statement. 1t was
too late TO issue the warrant and the
matter was deferred until yesterday
morning, when one was issued by Jus
tice Wenger, and Powell was arrested
by Deputy Sheriff Gulbrandsen.
The little girl was afraid to go home,
saying she was fearful Of her mother
and father both. so she remained all
night at the house of a friend. She
complains of intense suffering and
passed a very restless night. Fever was
manifest most of the time and she was
very nervous and hysterical.
The story told by the little one, while
not fit for publication as TO detail, is
one which awakens sympathy for her
and hatred for him. If what she says
is correct in its generality she has been
most terribly abused. She told re-
porter yesterday that she informed her
uOlLtI Ol Tie t-i NiAS 49, -
ing following and insisted she wa; in
great pain and distress, but the woman
would not believe her. She then went
to her sister and related the circIm-
stance as stated.
THE MOTHER INDIFFERENT.
May. the eldest, tells a tale which
would lead one to the belief that her
mother does not care for either of her
offspring She AYERS she told her
mother some months ago that Powell
had assaulted her. but her mother SAID
it wasn't so; that she May had been
guilty of criminal conduct with one of
the men where she worked. May says
that her mother caught Powell with
her at one time, and the only fuss she
made over it was TO threaten her with
a whipping if she ever went 10 ms
room again.
Powell was arrested about o'clock
and was taken before Justice Wenger
who fixed his bonds at $1,000. He had
the sheriff drive him around the city
for some time in an effort to get bonds,
but none could be found, and he was
confined in jail.
SAYS HE IS INNOCENT.
He was seen before his Incarceration
by Herald reporter. Powell declared
he is innocent and would prove himself
so today Why, the little girl was
a pet he said. and we made a great
deal of her l never did what she ac-
cuSes me of.
she declares you did, however" re-
piled The Herald man, land further
states the time. Was your wife home
last Wednesday evening"?
We'll, l don't remember now. My
wife is away a great deal of the time.
This girl, however, runs out nights
when we do not want her to. She was
away from home last night, and we
hunted for her until 2 O'clock and
couldn't find her
You do not know where she WASP
mo; she was out somewhere"
For Powelrs benefit it may be stated
the girl was in bed at the home of a
friend.
well" continued the reporter "she
says it was on Wednesday night you
outraged her"
I never did," replied Powell. al
though with less energy than a man
innocent of a crime would have used.
Il admit that 1 was lying on the bed
with her and put my arm around her
as l have often done but as for doing
any worse, l didn't. My wife wouldn't
stand it. She has a temper of her own
and would not stand such conduct"
Mr.. Powell" said The Herald man.
this is not all May says you out
peated the offense since several times.
She says you have told her you would
kill her if she ever told on you and
that in addition to this, your wife has
seen enough of your actions to con-
vince her that you had been guilty of
immoral conduct What have you to
say to that?''
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
. For a minute, Powell had nothing to
say. 1t was evidently a surprise TO him
to learn the girls had been comparing
notes. When further informed that
the girls had been complaining to the
neighbors of his conduct for some time,
he was further astonished and main
tanned silence of several minutes,
which was broken by the assertion that
he was innocent and would clear him
self. He denied ever having made any
threats against the girls, said he loved
them and all that sort of thing, but he
will have a chance to prove his conduct
in court today.
In the meantime the county physician
will today make an examinat lion of
the little girl for the purpose of as
pertaining her condition, and upon
what is said in this connection will de-
pend in a measure the fate of the ac-
cused.
The girls say they are afraid of their
stepfather and do not like to meet
him. but being assured of protection,
declare they will go on the stand and