The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-06-02
DICKERHOFF CONVICTED.
Jury at Des Moines Finds Him
Guilty of Enticing Lamont Girls
Into House of iii Fame.

The trial of John Dickerhoff, who with
his wife was indicted at Des Moinesl on
the charge Of enticing Myrtle and Anna
Iolniilh, two Lamont girls into a house
Of i'll fame, was concluded last Thurs
day and the jury returned verdict of
guilty" He was to have been SEN
fenced on Tuesday but his attorney has
f,led motion for a new trial alleging
error in the courts instructions and the
time for sentence has been continued
until the motion is ruled on. Their
seems but slight chances for Dickerhoff
to escape the penitentiary, and it is
said that Mrs. Dickerhoff will not stand
trial but will plead guilty and accept
her sentence at the same time her hus-
band is sentenced.
From the Register and Leaders ac-
count of the trial we take the following
extracts:
'srhe jury is made up of men who have
[advanced we'll in years. Old men with
silvery boards are to determine the
character of the two lone girls who
have engaged the sympathy of every
one in their struggle to maintain their
Virtue.
The morning session was given over
to the opening statements Of the at
torneys, during which Walter McHenry
directed a rebuke at the curiosity seek
ers in the room and cautioned the jury
against prejudice in favor of the girls
before both sides of the case should be
heard. Anna Tolman, one of the COM
planning witnesses, told her story of
how she visited Des Moines for the first
time.
Myrtle Tolman was called to the stand
late in the afternoon. She is an ex-
tremely handsome young woman, and a
mass OF wavy black hair surmounted by
chic spring creation in millinery gave
her an appearance much in contrast to
the bespattered surroundings. A white
waist and a black skirt completed
her neat attire. She took the stand
with dignity and answered all questions
lquietly and forcibly. She stated that
her home was in Lamont, from whence
she had written to Dickerhoff in quest of
a position. Several letters were exhib-
tied and identified by her as being tho
ones she had written and which had
been returned to her home by Dicker-
hoff.
"We went to the Dickerhoff house.,
she said, Immediately after arriving
here. After supper we We're invited by
Mr.. and Mrs. Dickerhoff to attend the
theater. We accepted the invitation
and went. After the performance was
over we returned to the house on Court
avenue. Together with my sister / sat
in the front room for a short time.
Several young men entered the house
ut the same time and went to rear
room. While we were sitting in the
front part of the house, Mrs. Dicker-
!, ,hof called me to the rear room, saying
that she wish to speak to me. went
to her and was asked if did not wish to
entertain gentleman.
II replied certainly not,' and return
ed to where was. then called my
sister. at the same telling Mr.. Dicker-
hoff that we were going out and would
return in short time. l was afraid if
exhibited any fear or said that
would not return, he would refuse to let
me go. My sister and left the house.
A young lady from Lamont testified to
the pure character Of the girls and the
generous impulses of the audience were
with the girl who now testified in her
own behalf against the man and woman
who according to her belief, had at
tempted her ruin
FOUND GUILTY
! The jury was out less than an hour
yesterday, finding Dickerhoff guilty.
His punishment may be from three to
ten years in the penitentiary. He will
be sentenced Tuesday. Mrs. Dickerhoff
will be tried at once.