The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-20
FEDERAL COURT ACTION
MANY TRANsGREssORs GET A TASTE
OF UNCLE SANS JUSTICE.
Stories Of Illicit Distilling, MatrimO-
NAL Frauds and Other WrOngdOfng
Cases Yet Remaining.
Stories of illicit distilling using the mails

SlOTieS OI llilClt ulStlllluS, uSlIS TIC mans
for fraudulent purposes, violations of the
revenue laws and sending obscene letters
through the mail were briefly told before
Judge Anderson, of the United States Dis
trict Court late yesterday afternoon after
the prisoners indicted by the last federal
grand jury had been arraigned. Those
who pleaded guilty and were charged with
minor offenses and most of those out on
bond were brought before the court for
sentence.
Nearly fifty prisoners were either brought
into the courtroom from the jail or came
to this city to prevent their bonds being
forfeited. In the crowd were old men and
old women who had violated some of Uncle
Sans strict laws, smooth counterfeiters,
young boys who had sent obscene letters
through the mail and a stylishly-dressed
woman who had used the mail for mat
rSnai l. fraud There S was aouea of
before court adjourned at o'clock.
PROMISED TO BE GOOD.
A little lad named Oscar Smith, of Madi-
son, charged with sending an obscene let
ter through the mail to another boy at the
Plainfield Reform School wept bitterly as
he listened to the stern lecture given him
byAJudge Anderson. Young Smith said he
was only fifteen years of age and pleaded
guilty to the charge. Owing to his age and
previous good character he was released on
suspended sentence after telling the court
that he would go home with his father and
be very good boy.
Sarah Justice and John w. Baker faced
the court on the charge of violating the
pension laws. The woman Is fifty-seven
years old and the man, who is her brother,
but a few years younger. They swore to
a pension affidavit for their sister claim
ing she had never been divorced from her
husband. who was in the war The sister .,
was granted pension and the author1-
ties learned that the woman had been di-
vorced from her husband before he died.
Mrs. Justice and Mr.. Baker claimed they
did not know what the affidavit they
signed contained and believed it said that
their sister had never been married again.
Mrs Justice said her only income was IS a
Anderson fined each $50 and costs.
James F. House, white, aged forty five,
residing on little farm in Crawford coun-
o Rhass E sl'K little de s Mss raded
few months ago by revenue officers and
he was indicted by the grand jury. House
has seven children and his appearance
showed that he is poor man. 1t was his
first offense and as he has borne a good
reputation Judge Anderson left him off
with 500 fine and thirty days jail SEN
tence and suspended the jail sentence.
A PECULIAR CASE.
Vic OI the ulOSt peCulldr cases tIldt Ids
ever come under the notice of Judge An
derson was that of Horace LaRue, a col
ored young man from Columbus. He was
indicted for sending obscene letter
through the mail to a colored girl whom
he later married. Judge Anderson remarked
that is was a remarkable case in view of
the contents of the letter, but assessed a
fine of SIS and costs against LaRue.
You could hardly expect that young
man to have high sense of morals" said
Judge Anderson, when he heard the story
of Leo Meyer, aged seventeen. of Decatur.
who was charged with sending an OBJ
scene letter through the mail. Meyer told
the court that he had worked as a bar
tender in his fathers saloon since he was
fifteen years of age and was still en-
ployed at such work. He was fined $25 and
costs.
II did give away two drinks to two old
soldiers. but that is as far as / violated
the law" said Jacob Kise, an old man of
Sydney. who was indicted for selling liquor
without a license. He afterwaH changed
his plea of not guilty and entered a plea
Of guilty, receiving fine of $40 and costs.
Thomas Albright, of Shoals. was given
a $1cO fine for violation of the revenue laws
in selling tobacco without a license. Wash
ington Miles, Of jamestown, Ind, was fined
$40 and costs for selling liquor without a
license. Israel Elkins pleaded guilty to a
violation of the revenue laws and was fined
50 and costs.
OBSCENE LETTERS
John H. Russell, of Rockford. was given
SIS fine and costs for sending obscene let
tiers through the mails. George Harston
and another colored man named Shields
were each fined $40 for violation of the
postal laws. J. d. Padgett, of Vincennes,
sent obscene literature through the mail and
paid a $40 fine and costs.
Only few other cases were disposed Of
Those who entered pleas of not guilty will
be tried within a few days. Most promi-
nent among the prisoners returned to Jail
was May o. Robb, alias Olive Gray, a sty-
lish appearing woman, arrested at Sum-
mittville some time ago charged with using
the mails for a matrimonial scheme to de-
| fraud. She did not hesitate to agree to
marry a man if he would send her transport
| tation to go TO him and few dollars to
pay her expenses route. Many men, ii
| is said, were duped before she was appre-
| hended. She entered a plea of not guilty.
Among other important cases yet to be
| disposed of are Jesse NJ. Williams, of In
| dianapolis, violation of oleomargarine law;
| Isaac o. Williams, forging a postal money
| order; Robert T.. Warren, Kankakee, ILL.,,
violation of postal laws: Henry Lemkin, of
| Evansville. violation of postal laws; Hen
| ~ Foster, of Alexandria, counterfeitng
| George Councilman, of Cicero. sending OBJ
| scene matter through the mail.