The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-17
WEEKS ACQUITTED
OF SERIOUS CHARGE
Former Local Young Man Is
In Trouble at Logans-
port.
CRIME AGAINST A GIRL.
ALLEGED HE HAD LOCKED HER
IN HIS HOME, BUT GIRLS OWN
STORY SHOWED THAT HE HAD
NOT DONE THIS.

Claude Weeks, young man who
made his start on the downward path
h this city, has escaped from serious
trouble at Logansport. He was charg
I'D with crime against a fifteen year
Did girl but escaped upon The testi
nony of the girl 1t seems that wher
over Weeks and his parents remove
the young man brings trouble upon
Them. His first home was in Frank
tort and just previous to the remOv-
81 Of his fathers family to this city
he ran off and married a young girl
Weeks was a good appearing young
man and secured employment at the
Hoosier store in this city. He devel,
bped a tendency to steal and was &C
eused Of the theft of a number Of arti
lies from the store. The matter was
reported to the police and Weeks
made a strong plea for clemenCy of
The courts.
Story Of Local Career.
It was the first Offense of Weeks
Ind the court was indulgent. The
prOprietOrs of the store were not dis
posed to prosecute as the stolen prop
erty was restored to them. The faith
pr of Weeks appeared in tears and
asked the Judge TO be lenient The
senior Weeks and his son visited the
local newspaper offices and the fat
er wept and plead earnestly for his
BON. He asked that the matter be
kept from publication as it would
ruin the boys chances for life" The
press reporters showed their willing
bess to give the youth another trial
It developed soon that their conf
Hence had been misplaced. Weeks
Rid not seek further employment but
ldled his time away about the pool
looms Of the city. With three boys
bons of prOminet men of the city, he
bet out on hike" to Connersville
When south of Cambridge City it de
Eeloped that Weeks was without mon
by and his younger companions gave
him the Shake" He drifted back to
the city and r/urned to the domicile
pr his father
The following dispatch from Logans-
port relates to his latest escaDade:
1t did not take Judge AL H Smith
very long to decide Thursday after
boon that Claude Weeks, arraigned
bn complaint of Florence Martin, fiji
teen years old, charged with assault,
with intent to commit a felony, was
Innocent Of the crime alleged in the
affidavit. The girls own testimony
was all that was necessary TO acuuit
Weeks. Instead of the girl having
been kept in the Weeks home a pris-
pner, she remained there on her own
free will. She testified to the fact
that Weeks left her there alone: that
doors were bOlted on the inside: that
windows could have been raised, and
that there was woman living up.
stairs, She had freely drank. swept
the house and washed the dishes SO
that Weeks wife, when she came
home, would find everything as she
bad left them. She had freely drank
beer with Weeks and another man
Monday and Tuesday and did not
leave until Tuesday afternoon, when
Mrs. Belle Smell came to the house
breathless and excited. stating that
the girls father and mother had ar
rived in town and with the aid of the
police, were searching for her. Then
the girl and Mrs. Smell hastily depart
ed, only to run into the arms of a po.
liceman soon after.
While the court freely recognized
that Weeks had done wrong: had
~ronged his young wife and baby; it
held that he was not guilty of the
crime alleged. The girls testimony
Showed this. Weeks, before he left
the court room, took the pledge
promising not to drink for a year
When the courts decision was told to
the prisoners father and the wronged
wife, who We're in the court room, the
old man broke down and wept for Joy
He then fastened to the telegraph Of
flee and sent a telegram to the aged
mother, who was lying PROSTATE at
the family home in Marion.