Evening journal., 1904-07-05
PECULIAR CASE
IN CITY COURT
Girls Arrested for Peddling
Without License Charged
With Another Ofense
SOLO IRON HOLDERS FOR 4 LIVING


Three Well-knOwn Women Who
Feared Defendants Would be Lead
into an Idle and Immoral Life.
one Of the most peculiar cases that has
come 10 the attention of the police au-
thorities for some time past developed
in CITY Court this morning. Though the
arrests in the case were made one day last
week nothing of an unusual nature was
brought out until today.
The defendants in the case are two
young girls. aged a and IL years. Their !
names appear on the police docket as
Daisy and Lilhe Dillon.
The charge upon which the girls were
arrested was peddlug without license. |
They were making a living by selling iron
holders and for fear they were in danger /
of falling into the habit of vice they were
arrested on the complaint of Mrs Eliza
beth c. Marks, who is connected with
the Delaware Industrial School for Giris,
Police Matron Ellen G. Wcgan and Mrs.
sara A. Hudson
When the defendants were arraigned
for trial this morning. Assistant city So
iicitoi Baldwin Springer asked that the
charge 0N peddling without a license
against ,he girls be changed to a charge
OF found in circumstances of manifest
danger OF falling into habits of vice or
iMmorality. This charge was based on
Section 9. Chapter $50, Vol. 20, Laws Of
Delaware. which reads as follows.
"A parent or guardian of any girl be-
tween the ages Of twelve and twenty-one
years. or the municipal officers or any
three respectable e inhabitants of any city
OF town where she may be found. may
complain IN writing to tho judge of the
municipal court. or to any justice Of the
peace ia the country, alleging that she is
leading an idle and vicious life, or has
been found in circumstances of manifest
danger of falling into habits OF vice -
Immortality and request that she may ne
committed to the guardianship of The
Delaware Industrial School
Mrs Marks testified that upon investi-
eating the case she learned that the two
defendants lived with another older sister
and their father and mother in one room
at No 2l9 West Second street. She con-
sidered the surroundings Of the defend
ants home life were calculated to hurt
them morally She said the father Of the
children had told her that he could not
control them, and believing them 10 be
in danger Of being drawn finto life Of
immortality she took this action to save
them.
Police Matron Wogan testified that the
surroun lings in which tho girls lived
were dreadful She would not say the de-
PENDANTS were leading an idle and vicious
life but thought that II something were
not done ia would only be a question of
time when they would be.
Mrs. Sarah Dillon. the mother Of the
children, in emphatic terms denied the
statement made by Mrs. Marks, that the
formers husband had said he could not
control the girls.
'Their father never said it," said Mrs.
Dillon and pointing at her youngest
daughter son. inued: "That baby is the
best child that ever lived. They are moi
bad children. They lead a good life and
are good girls"
When Mrs Marks had finished giving
her evidence Judge Cochran asked her Il
she did no. consideg the case one Of ne
glect upon the part the parents of th'
children She admitted that there was
some neglect.
IT think" said the court "thst the cas'
is one for Mr.. stouts society. (meaninl
the Society of Prevention OF Cruelty Il
Children to look into. and I will hol'
the case under advisement until ADonda.
morning next"
The girls were held in $50 BAH each un
IN that time. but as their parents ar
strangers in Wilmington the girls vii
evidently be sent back 20 the Industria
school where they have been confines
since their arrest to await decision il
the case,
he mother of the children approache
reporter for The Evening Journal afte
court and with tears in her eyes deplore
the fate Of her children in being sent {
the Industrial School. She had made
demand for their release and it was the
that bail was fixed.
A man who Is an authority on such case
said the The Evening Journa. reporte
that ne could not see how the defendant
could be committed to the Industrii
School. No evidence was submitted tha
they were leading a vicious life and a
tho institution is only for bad girls I car
not see where the state has a case, D
said. The virtue of these girls is even aS
mitted by the complainants IN the cas-
and st would be a shame to commit thei
TO the school.