The St. Louis Republic., 1902-02-05
PRETTY DEFENDANT
COULD NOT Be FOUND
Dispositions in Mary Bates Price
Vagrancy Case Begun Before
Special Commissioner.

Miss Mary Bates Price. the pretty l6-year-
old girl whose case is now pending in the
Court of Criminal Correction. the charge
against her being vagrancy, could not be
found in St. Louis yesterday
At the home Of her grandmother Mrs
Leroy and her aunt. Mrs. Albert J. Myers,
at No. 1863 Warren street, it was stated
that Miss Price had spent the day there
last Sunday. but went to visit a friend,
whose whereabouts they didn't know: and
had not returned.
Henry X. Watson. the attorney who IS
defending the girl. stated that she could
be found at No. 3119 Pine street. Inquiry
was made at that address, the reply being
that Miss Price had never been there,
though she was known to one of the young
lady roomers.
Miss Price was not present at the taking
of dispositions at o'clock before a special
Commissioner appointed in her behalf
Mrs. Jennie Price. the sick mother of the
glrl. who Is patient at the Bethesda
Home for Incrrables. No. 3G49 Vista ave-
nue.. says that she doesn't know where the
daughter Is. but presumes she is visiting
friend until the case is settled
When questioned yesterday about her con-
nection with the prosecution. the mother
No. no; did not order Mary's arrest 1
old want her sent somewhere and taken
care care Of but not that way-not put away
with all this scandal"
Yesterday the taking of dispositions began
before Judge Pollard in j. B. Dempsey S
office office houser building. James G. McCon..
Police kiely, Judge WisiZenus and Otto Co.
ionlus. real estate agent and John q.
mlesn. nassds % LAWYER, We're examined as wit
IN the case were present.
:, Mr.. McConkey testified that Judge Wis
nHzenus. noai. Mrs. Berry and her niece. and
and discussed the case two days before the
arrest; He admitted telephoning to Chief
or Police kiely in reference to il, but saws
he left it in the discretion of The Chief
whether an arrest should be made,
Chief of Police Kiely. when asked who
gave the order, said it came from MIR Nc
tohonkey th OF the Mayors office: ne accepted
the message. at least. as suggestion, If
not a positive command. TO effect the ar
rest under the vagrancy statute He simply
made the complaint in the usual form, al
Ieslng ldleness, without home or visible
means of support.
Otto Colonius. real estate agent said that
ne was handling some property belonging
to Mrs. Jennie Price, mother Of the de,
fendant, and that the family We're supposed
10 be in comfortable circumstances. He
knew Mary Bates Price.
what Is your opinion OF the Young
lady,? Attorney Watson asked
She Is inclined to be bit bad" the
wit Wleness esS. . answered And when asked to de-
front porch at Il o'clock at night with
young men,"
Mr.. Colonius admitted that Miss Price
was always neatly dressed, and didn't look
IKE a VaSrant. Policeman Mcneil. who
made the arrest. had testified to the same
1aGt at the previous trial. but was not re
called. The officer had also said that Miss
Bates. when at No. 351S LndelI avenue. was
In very respectable neighborhood.
The hearing of dispositions will be re-
sumed to-day
~ Mary Bates Price was arrested January
z at a boarding-house No 351S I,ndeiI
avenue, charged with vagrancy, and fined
~ by Judge Wislizenus. in the Dayton
Street Police Court 'N''
Dlslnterested persons appealed In her hn-
half and took the case to Judge Clark's