The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-02-22
Captured in Seattle Last
Thursday by Sheriff
r. A. Grant.
Given Preliminary Hearing Sat-
urday and Held to Superior
Court.-Bonds $4,000.
Will be First Tried for the Crime Of
Rape-Other Charges Pending
How He Evaded Arrest.

DR.. J. Edwin Hughes, who has figured
in public print for several months in q
very undesirable manner, and who has
evaded arrest on warrants which have
been in the hands Of the officers for
some time, was captured last Thursday
evening at the door of his Office in
Seattle by Sheriff Grant, who was &C.
companied by two city detectives. The
warrant on which his arrest was made
specified adultery as the crime, and
named Mrs. T. Hatch as correspondent.
A number of other crimes are alleged,
however, and II one of them can be
proven, the doctor will not be apt to
practice his profession for some ::time to
come. He was landed in the Yakima
county Jail last Friday evening.
Hughes was arraigned before Justice
Taggard Saturday afternoon on an infor-
nation charging him with rape, the
alleged victim being the little daughter
Of Mrs. Hatch, now only Is years old,
and to whom Hughes claims to have
been married some months ago. The
information charges:
"That on or about the 7th day OF
August, A. D. 1904, in the county Of
Yakima, and in the state Of Washing.
ton, one J. E.'Hughes, then and there
being, did csrnally know one Rosa M.
Hatch, and then and there unlawiully
have sexual intercourse with the said
Rosa M. Hatch, the said Rosa NJ. Hatch
then and there being female child I'm.
der the age Of Is years, to.wit, the age
Of IA years.
Rosa Hatch, or % it is claimed her
name is. Mrs. Hughes, was first called
to the stand Saturday. She gave her
present age ~ Is years. An objection
to her being allowed to testify was made
by Judge Scott Of Seattle, counsel for
the defendant. on the ground that she
was the lawful wife Of Hughes. Mr..
Parker denied that this was true, and
stated that he would prove this conten-
ton later on. However, he said, II
it were fact, under the statute she
could be considered legally qualified
witness. It would be the contention Of
the state that the crime of rape had
been committed against the little girl,
and that the marriage was fraudulent
and void. The court ruled that the
witness could legally testify, and the
trial proceeded.
In answer to questions, the witness
stated she had known the defendant
between one and a half and two years,
meeting him first in Almira, this state.
She resided in this city at l0l South
Seventh street last August; the defend
ant came to this city about the 5th OF
that month, and remained several days
At the same place. The first offense
against her in this city was committed
on the 7th Of August. On cross exam
ination she said that the defendant COM
PEELED her to submit to him by the force
of his will power, and that he repeated
the offense on numerous occasions.
Mrs. Hatch, the mother OF the girl,
testified that the latter was Is years old
on the 18th of August last. She stated
that the defendant had told her on more
than one occasion that he had violated
the chastity Of her daughter, giving as
reason that he did it "to keep the girl
straight, and to keep her from going
wrong"
The attorneys then argued the ques-
ton of bail, Mr.. Parker demanding that
it be placed at 10000; Mr.. Scott con-
tended that this was excessive and pro-
hibitive. and demanded nominal bail.
Mr.. Parker-stated that the crime with
which Hughes was charged was one in
which there should be no provision for
bail. at would have been far BETTER"
he said, ''if the defendant had murdered
the little girl than that he rob her OF
the flower Of her womanhood and de-
banch her as he has done," and he
again requested that the bail be placed
at 10000. Justice Taggard decided,
however, that $4,000 was sufficient, and
in this sum the defendant was held to
the Superior court.
After the hearing, the pent-up feelings
Of indignation and wrath in the bosom
OF the father Of the child and the hus-