Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-23
CALL ED MORAL PERvERT
Woman He is Alleged to Have
Annoyed Did Not Appear
to Testify.
New York, Nov. 23.-Caruso was
found guilty and fined $40.

New York, Nov. 23.-After one of
the Rmost bitter arraignments ever
| heard in a court in this city, Enrico
| Caruso. the famous Italian tenor, who
is charged with annoying a woman in
the monkey house, Central park. today.
was placed in the hands of Magistrate
Baker of the Yorkville police court for
| final determination. 1t was expected
at that time the decision would be an
nounced within few hours.
The counsel for Caruso, in closing
his argument which consumed nearly
an hour. declared Caruso was the vic
tim of a police conspiracy and appeal
ed to the court not to blast a great
career upon such flimsy evidence as
has been produced against the singer.
Called Sexual Pervert.
Speaking for the prosecution Deputy
Police Commissioner Mathot charac-
terized Caruso as a man destitute of
moral sense Mathot said he was not
in court in the interest of the police
department nor to defend Policeman
behalf of the women, our wives and
daughters. to ask you if these panders |
and sexual perverts shall be permitted !
to use our public highways and parks |
for the prosecution of their beastial !
performances.
90 Room II FILLED.
New York, Nov 23-Every seat in
the Yorkville police court was occu-
pied today when the court opened for |
hearing of the charge of annoying wo-
men in Central park against CarusO, |
the operatic singer. Hannah Graham,
the complaining witness, was not pres
ent Deputy Police Commissioner Ma !
thot stated she had left the jurisdiction
of the court and could not be present I
today. Caruso's counsel intimated that
there was no such woman as Graham
unless she was a confederate of Police
Officer Cain, who arrested Caruso.
CarusO on stand.
Caruso was called to the stand and
questioned by Mathot.
do you recall being at a reception
in a house on Fifth avenue in the vi
cinity of Thirty-sixth street Sunday af-i
ternoon preceding Thanksgiving last
year. and that as you We're leaving, and
a guest invited you 70 step into her
auto and conduct you to your hotel, and
while on the way being charged by the
lady with having attempted to take
certain liberties with her?"
''As the automibile was opposite the
Union League club, did it not stop, and
did you not leave the automobile be-
obo
with attempting to take liberties with
her, and was not a mounted policeman
at the door of the cab, and did he not
fail to arrest you only on refusal of the
TO make complaint"
Objections Sustained.
Judge Dittenhoefer objected to the :
questions, and the court sustained him. !
When the brief cross examination of
Caruso was concluded Dittenhoefer in
formed the court that he had no more :
witnesses to produce. Dittenhoefer in Z
he opening argument for the defense.
declared that it was apparent the case 6
against Caruso was entirely a police
made case The whole case depended
lpon the word of Hannah Graham, and I
hey had failed to produce her in court 4
o give that word.
Commissioner Mathot in his argu- ;
nent declared Caruso was a moral per- :,
yert who should be kept out of decent
society Mathot said the reason why .
hannah Graham had not appeared in :
,ourt was she feared to face the crowd
If peiverts such as commonly attend
uch hearings and such a crowd as wasl
Asn present. The spectators Kissed
dathot at this remark r.
Magistrate Baker reserved the de-
.ision.