The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-21
WOMAN SENTENCED
TO EIGHTEEN YEARS
Mrs. Dora Topham Is Given
Long Term in State
Prison.
APPEAL IS TO BE TAKEN
Defendant Will Remain at
Liberty Pending Final
Outcome of Case.
APPEAL IS TO BE TAKEN

In Judge II. G.. LoofbouroWs division
Of the Third district court yesterday
afternoon Mrs. Dora Topham (BeHc
Iondop) was sentenced TO eighteen years
in the state prison, upon conviction On
the charge of pnndering. The specific
charge against the woman was that she
induced Dogney Cray. aged 16 years, to
enter the stockade for immoral purposes
The sentence OF the court was pro
nounccd after the denial of motions Tor
change of venue. IN arrest OF ,uos
ment, continuance until atter the eisc
ton, and a. new trial, interposed by the
defense
Notice OF appeal was Immediately fled
by Mrs. Tophams attorneys and COPY
served upon District Attorney IL W
Leather%ood.
a crowd OF spectators nlled the court
room before court convened. NUMBER
Of the club women who Who, a1.emden a. ne cne
inside the bar of the court. Wheu the
case was called, Judge Thomas Marion
eaux OF the firm OF Powers d Marion,
eaux of counsel for the defense, movco
the court Tor change OF venue he
presented an affidavit hN Mrs. Tophan
in which she said that she believed mat
she would not receive fair and Impartial
treatment by the court owing TO poljtl-
cal reasons She averred that as Judge
Loofbourow and District Attorney Leath-
crwood were closely affiliated politlTauy
and that the latter was the Republican
csndidatc for the office of mayor OF tho
city. she fe1red that she would not bI
granted a new trial, because new rr'a!
might injure Mr. Leather"oon chahocs
for election
Serious Charge Made.
The motion for a change Of venue was
denied whereupon a continuance untn
after the election was asked Tor On the
grounds that politics then could hase
no bearing on the matter Ihis' too'
In his argument upon the motion Tor
a new trial. Judge MarioneauX referred
TO all affidavit fied by -. A. Rogers,
the state. through District Attorney
Leathcrwood nominee for mayor on the
so-caIled Good Government tlcEet, was
charged with endeavorlnS TO lnuuence
the lury which convicted Mrs, Topham
by inviting club women of the city TO
attend the trial. Mrs. Gould B. Blsbely,
n prominent club woman OF the city, was
placed on the stand and testified that
before the case had been submitted to
the Jury she had conversation Win
the district attorney In tins conVer-
sation. Mrs. BlaEcly testified that as she
passed from the courtroom on one OF the
days OF tho trial she expressed TO MT
Leatherwood the desire that she might
be present TO hear the closing argu-
men,s.
District Attorney Leatherwood at that
tInc. Mrs BIakcly stated. told her that
he appreciated the attendance OF the
women and hoped that she would he
able 10 be there at the close OF 'he
case.
The defense also made an effort TO in
trodure testimony relative 10 the re-
marks made by District Attorney Leath-
eyWood Al q meeting OF women at the
Commercial club subsequent TO the trial
to the effect that the attendance OF club
women of the city aided tho state In It's
conviction OF the Topham woman. How
eyer, the court held this testimony TO be
only hearsay and therefore not relevant
10 the Issues OF the case. The defense,
therefore. was not permitted TO intro
ing the objection OF the district attcr-
ney.
The defense had subpoenad five promi-
nent club women OF the city TO testify
relative 20 MIR. Ieatherwood' s remarks at
the meeting. These women had refuse"
to sign affidavits and were, therefore.
subpoenad into court. They were Mrs
Allan r. Sanford. Mrs. W. h. Traughbcr
and Mrs c. II. Allen. Only two Of these
women, however. were called: Mrs, Blake,
for the defense began To question Mrs.
Allen concerning the remarks Of Mr..
! 1cstherwood that the state raised It's OBJ
lection which WAS sustained.
: What Mir, Leatherwood said concerning
the influence of the women on the jury.
as recorded the following morning in Th
Tribune, lOUoNSs
Mr.. leatherwood reviewed the case
against Mrs. Dora Topham tBelie
London), recently convicted OF the al
legged leading astray Of DoGney Gray,
in which Mr. Leatherwood was the
prosecuting attorney.
Mr., LeatEcrwood said he believed
that tho conviction of Mrs Topham
was the FIRST step toward the improve
ment OF moral conditions In Salt Lake,
and that I've thought the presence OF
,,t he
trial had great deal TO do With in
fluepcing the jury decision
Afternoon Papers Report
with respect 10 the matter the Des-
erss Evening News OF the same date
t.. o Leathcrwood district attor-
ney, said that lie had been appalled,
AT conditions of vice made known to
him through the requirements OF his
office. The idea or the segregation
Of vice, he declared. had been proved
lmpractlcable. worse evil than any
ether conditions, and he was In favor
Of eSerting influences at the polls To
secure officials who would stand for
the abolition of the stockade and
other plague spots OF the city He
said that AT the recent trial OF Belle
mUnitv had made efforts TO shield
her, but her conviction proved that
the moral sentiment prevails. He be-
lieved the decision against her was
more or less Influenced by the pres.
cnce of the prominent women OF tho
city al her trial. He approved tho
organized stand taken and believed
that they could count upon enough
men OF moral stamina In the city to
aid them In their struggle.
Information Attacked
Another argument made by the coun-
sci for the defense WAS that the infor-
nation OF the district attorney was not
specific IN It's charges and II did not give
the defendant her constitutional rights OF
knowing just what charge was to be pre-
ferred agains, her in the evidence Judge
Narioneaux declared that the charge OF
inducing person To remain I'm Il house
OF Ill rcpute by promises. threats and
divers other schemes and dev!scs" as
charged In tho Information. was so broad
that the defendant could not have the
iemotest idea o! what kind Of evidence
she must meet. He also argued for n
new trial on The grounds OF variance be-
tween the allegations of the inforula ton |
and the proof. in that the information
charged that Dogney Gray was the girl |
In the case. while, in reality. there was
no such person as Dogney Gray at that
mn cir h,f,,