The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-10-02
CONTRACTOR
IN SCANDAL
w. w. Parker, Leading
Hammond Citizen Fined
for Alleged MASKING.
CLAIMS A MISTAKE
Spends Night IN Chicago Police
station-GirIs Father Talks
Over Phone.

w. w. Parker a Hammond contractor,
was nned 800 by Justice Prindivllle
at the Harrison street police station in
Chicago today on the technical charge
Of mashing. The complainant was
i4-year-old girl named Mary Culver
who lives with her parents in Funton
street and Is employed in the establish
ment Of Montgomery Ward on the lake
front
Mr. Parker went to Chicago yester-
day afternoon assumabiy on business.
His failure to return to Hammond last
night caused considerable anxiety to
his family. Early this morning his
folks received telephons message
from him. Informing them that he hal
been involved in a little trouble which
might easily be adjusted. He said it
came up through mistake and asked
incidentally that his son-in-law be sent
to the city TO see him.
The fact Of the matter was. that Mr..
Parker was detained at the Harrison
street police station on the charge be-
fore stated.
Mrs. Parker was confident that Mr.
Parker would be able to give an ac-
count OF his whereabouts and when he
returned the tangible would be
Strengthened out. She was indignant at
the gossip mongers, as she put it, and
accused them OF trying to break up her
home.
interviewed over Phone.
over the long distance telephone Mr.
Culver, the fa,aer Of the girl whom
Mr.. Parker was accused Of aecosting
said II was not at home last night
when this thing happened as / am en-
ployed as a night operator but my
wife told me this morning that our
daughter Mary came home last night
shortly before o'clock and told her
how an elderly man had followed her
in State street, near VanBuren She
was on her way to the Bryant & STRAIT
ton business college. When the elderly
man reached her side he addressed her
in familiar way. She tried to set
away from him by hurrying all the
more but the stranger was persistent.
She then ran to tell a policeman and
when she reached him she pointed out
the man who was subsequently arrest
ed. I have only my daughters state
ment as repeated to me by my wife, but
it must be true as the man whom she
accused of accosting her was fined 500
by Justice Prindiville this morning"
The story was generally circulated
on the Hammond streets this morning
and has aroused sympathy for the fam
lily Of AIR. Parker. 1t is hoped that the
circumstances will be explained on
the return Of Mr.. Parker. 1t is argued
that the girl pointed out the wrong
man TO the policeman but before the
judge the girl was positive Of the iden-
tification and through her persisteney
she secured the conviction Of Mr..
Parker.
Masking is a serious business in Chi
cago At the present time and even cir
cumstantial evidence is sufficient 10
convict.
The trouble IN which Mr. Parker fnds
himself now. recalls the case that is
now pending in the circuit court in
which Mr.. Parker is accused of aHenat-
ing the affections Of the wife Of c. c
Coons. Coons alleges in his bin that
Parker took his wife TO Chicago on
several occasions and that he gave her
jewelry and wearing apparel.