The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-10-26
RAPE CASE WAS srussoRNLY
FOUGHT IN THE SUPERIOR
COURT TODAY.
Eta Ogden, cIaspins Baby in Arms,
Principal Witness Of Day-Ms.ny
Spectators There.

Pretty l6-year-old Eta Ogden or
Prescott, who swears that Neil Har-
ris, young real estate agent of that
place. accomplished her ruin by force
near Prescott on the afternoon Of
January last, and offers a cooling
little baby girl, less than a month
old as evidence of her betrayers' per-
fidy, was the center of attraction in
the superior court this morning
when she was placed on the stand by
Prosecuting Attorney Wilson as the
is charged with rape.
When the case was called to trial
200 curious spectators occupied seats
in the court room and necks were
craned forward, that not a word of
the testimony be lost. Miss Ogden.
accompanied by her father and MOTH
er, and bearing in her arms sweet
little bundle of humanity which she
caressingly held and coddled, en-
tered the court room few minutes
before the case was called. AS Har-
ris was led in by Sheriff Painter he
passed by the Ogdens with downcast
eyes and took a seat near his attor-
ney, Oscar Cain. The Ogdens sat
behind the railing and divided their
attention between the baby and the
testimony offered by the state and
defense. Miss Ogden is mere slip
of a girl, who testified that she was
only 16 years of age last July.
Told Story Between sobs.
She was the first witness placed on
the stand by the state and during the
trying ordeal attempted to force back
the tears, but with little effect. Her
story was in the main the same as
ing. She said she first became ac-
quainted with Harris last Christmas.
She said that Harris called upon her
at her home for several weeks, and on
three occasions she had accompanied
him to church. On January S, the day
the alleged crime occurred, Miss Og-
den said that Harris came to her home
to bid her goodbye, as he was to
leave that evening for his old home
in North Carolina.
At mis- invitation, she said she took
a walk with him about town. Harris
suggested that they take a walk down
the railroad track, but she refused.
Harris,s she said, insisted, and after as
surfing her that he would treat her
as a lady she consented, and they
walked across the bridge which spans
the Touchet below Prescott. This IS
| the place at which Miss Ogden said
Harris had accomplished her ruin.
During this part Of the story Miss Og-
den could not repel the tears. Attor-
ney Wilson spared her as much as
possible, and she smiled at him CRATE
fully through the tears.
After accomplishing his purpose
threatening way had dared 11er to tell
her parents. Afterward they walked
up town, Harris going to the depot
and she to her home.
Attorney Cain tried hard to break
down the girls testimony as to the ex-
act spot where the crime was COM
mitted, and the questions came with
brutal force. she bore up under the
ordeal, however, and stuck to her
original story.
Following Miss Ogden, Mr.. and Mrs.
Ogden, parents of Miss Eta, were
placed on the stand and testified to
their daughters condition and when
they first noticed it. DR.. c. L. Stubs,
who waited On Miss Ogden at the
time the baby was born, September %,
gave unimportant testimony. Attor-
ney Wilson then announced that the
states case was closed.
Harris Poor Witness.
Harris was put on the stand by the
defense and made a poor witness.
The burden of his testimony was that
Miss Ogden had forced her attentions
upon him and it made him rather
tired. He corroborated Miss Ogden's
story as to the events On January S,
with the exception Of the walk down
| the railroad track, which he denied in
toto. He also denied that he had
ever been intimate with the girl or
had ever tried to get the case COM
| promised by marrying her. On the
| whole he made poor witness.
| H. L. Hines, merchant at Pres
colt, and Harris employer at the
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