Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-06
Council Bluffs

tiUn may be one for decision by the SUI
preme court. However. I do not feel that
court would be warranted In setting
aside a statute so broad in its provisions
With the oyerrulng OF the motion TO
transfer the case to the law docket the
state at once introduced its first witness,
Myra Stevenson, whose resort on West
Broadway was recently raided by the
police and against whom the district court
grand jury az this term returned two indict-
ments The witness. who swore to one
OF the affidavits filed by the state in the
action against Major Richmond. admitted
that she considered the accused officer re-
sponsible for the indictments returned
against her.
Monthly. Fines Paid.
Her uirect examination, which occupied
the entire forenoon session, related solely to
the monthly fines which she paid. both
for herself and the women in her several
establishments She testified to conducting
houses Of nltame at different times at 3O7
West broadway, 2l7 West Broadway, 523
South Main street. Cos West Broadway and
3l2Is West Broadway Receipts were Offered
in evidence showing she had paid a monthly
fine OF S12 for herself as madame" and
S6 a month for each Of the women in her
houses. She testified that she had sold
liquor and that she had kept money slot
machines in her places. The witness testi-
fled to paying similar fines to chiefs Of
police previous to Major Richmond becom-
ing head of the police department
Reduction of the bond.
The defense then Introduced as evidence
the court records showing that on March
g. the day the witness signed the affidavit
against Major Richmond, Attorney General
Byers appeared before Judge Wheeler in
district court and Judge Wheeler, ION the
recommendation of the attorney general"
reduced the bond under the indictment
charging the Stevenson woman with main
tanning house of illfame from $500 to $3.50
and that under the indictment charging the
unlawful sale of liquor from $500 to $3.50.
Mrs. Jessie Miller who until recently con-
Quoted a resort at 6l3 West Broadway, testi-
fled to paying the regular schedule OF
fines" continuously since 1888 and to sew
eral chiefs Of police prior to Major Rich
mond assuming the office.
Some amusement was afforded when At.
torney General Byers asked the witness
How old are you Mrs. Miller?"
THAT is leading question" replied the
witness and the bailff had to rap for
order.
the attorney general and once more the
baliff had to rap.
! In answer to a question from Mr.. Byers
J what she expected in return for the pay.
ment of the monthly fines, the witness said
she supposed she was to receive "protec,
| ton" in the conduct of her business.
Rev. John William Jones, rector Of st
Paurs Episcopal church, who on his firs
arrival in Council Bluffs took a decidedly
prominent part in the movement to reform
the morals of the community, testified tC
calling upon Major Richmond and that tn,
latter had explained to him the system o
monthly fines imposed upon the women o
the town as part of the method the cit,
had in regulating the social evil.
Rev. James M. Williams pastor of Broad
way Methodist church, and one of the lead
Ing members of the Ministerial association
told Of several conferences he had he'll
with the chief relative to the social evi
! and other matters pertaining to the mora
welfare of the community. Rev. Mr.. VIII
lams had no hesitation in saying that tn
moral atmosphere Of the city had beel
greatly improved under the. administrator
! of Major Richmond and that at presen
and for some time past It was vastly bette
| than it had been in the years past.
Attorney d. E. Stuart testified to tn
manner in which the saloons of the cit,
had in the past been conducted in violation
of the law, but that for a year or NOR
they had been adherlng strictly to the pro
visions of the mulct law.
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