Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-11
EXTREME PENALTY IMPOSED
Judge Mills Sentences William Lucas for
ASSEMBLING Bessie Gladmon.
Eleven Months and Twenty-Five
Days in Jail-The Courts COM
ments on the Crime.

Judge Mills today sentenced William
Lucas, the assanant of little Bessie Glad
mon, to Jail for II months and 30 days.
1 he particulars Of the crime Were publish
ed in The Star of yesterday, and confirmed
by witnesses on the stand today.
The trial began about IL o'clock, and was
attended by as many persons as could gain
admittance to the court room.
The charge was simple assault as a
stances, be proven.
Mrs Laura Gladmon mother of the lit
tie girl, stated that Monday afternoon she
saw her daughter, Bessie, go to the door
OF Lucas house in response to a call from
Luz as. The door was open, and Lucas vas
SlttlnS on the Sill. Lucas, she said induced
the little girl to sit alongside of him.
Among other allegations made by the wit
ness was that Lucas placed one of his
hahdS over the child's mouth and placed
her on the floor. Then he raised the child,s
clothing and exposed her FORM
AT this juncture, Mrs. Gladmon said, she
ran to the fence separating Lucas house
from her own, and, as she said, called him
a dirty brute.
Il meant no HARM" was Lucas renlv
and Mrs. Glddmon told him she did not he.
lieve him.
The Father Informed.
My husband was away from home a,
the time the witness continued. land
when he returned l told him about what
Lucas had done"
MI William Gladmon, father of the lit.
tie girl, testified that upon being informed
of Lucas conduct by his wife he went IN
the nome of the accused, where he met
him and promptly knocked him down. using
ms INST. What he did after that has been
already published in The Star, Lucas es-
i Gaping into his own house
GIa1y
was placed on the stand but she was SO
nervous and excited that she was unable
to testify further than to confirm what her
mother said.
Lucas Defends Himself.
Lucas testified in his own behalf, assert
ing that he did not do as was charged. and
alleged that he simply patted the little
girl on one of her limbs. and claimed that
lac thought too much Of the child to do her
any injury.
Referring to the punishment of Lucas
by Mr.. Gladmon. Judge Mills said:
Il do not believe a jury could be found
VINO would convict the father of this little
girl If he had punished Lucas much more
severely than he did.
Il believe it to be my duty to the little
children and the parents of this community
TO protect them, and I shall punish every
person convicted of assaulting children to
the fullest extent in my power
The charge against Lucas is one of
simple assault, and no other could have
been made by the government, as the time
OF day IL was committed precludes the pos
sibility of an attempt at rape. But it was
gross ard indecent assault. and a grea .er
outrage because of rie age of The Victim
II there is class of assault that is worse
than another 1t is the habit Of some aged
men to take improper liberties with little
girls.
Not only is the assault crime of itself.
but its commission Is apt to demoraliyk. tho
mind of the unfortunate victim and per
haps contaminate the minds of many chill
dren in the neighborhocd"
Judge Mills then imposed the sentence. as
above stated.