The Meeker herald., 1913-09-27
The "J.ck Hill" Case

court house, was crowded last SAtur-
day afternoon to hear the case Of the
People vs. "Jack" Hill. (whose other
and further name was revealed to be
Helen A. Hilsher who was charged
with impersonating man. In the
absence of District Attorney Gentry,
Mr.. Justice Sanderson was in the
dilema of acting as prosecutor ~
we'll as having to decide what should
be done after all the testimony was
heard by him-the defense having
engaged every available lawyer In
the city. Just why r. l.. Chambers,
the principal attorney for the defense
employed Messrs. w. 3. Mont
gomery, J. R. Clark and M. T. Ryan,
local attorneys, to assist him, is not
very clear, as he conducted the case
from his side with apparent marked
ability. Mr.. Chambers only brought
the Meeker attorneys into the case
by way Of consultations.
Justice Sanderson called Victor
Slifka, the complainant, as the first
witness. He testified that he had his
suspicious about Jack" being man
before and after his sister was mar
ried, and q few months ago he was
told that Jack" was q woman.
To find out the true state Of af-
fairs he made the complaint. On
cross-examination he said he har-
bored no especial i'll will against
Jack" but on account of his sister
he thought the matter deserved in
vestigation.
Miss Anna Slifka was next called,
and the sum and substance OF her
testimony was that she had been de-
ceived, and that she did not know
that Jack" was woman until re-
Gently when the case was brought
and then only through hearsay. She
declared that she had no Ill feelings
against her pseudo-husband.
The prosecution then rested its
case. after which Lawyer Chambers
announced that the defendant ad-
mitted that she was woman, and
also asked that the records be
changed so that the defendants
proper name appear, namely, Helen
A. Hilsher. After this preliminary
Miss HiIsher was sworn and ex-
amined. She gave brief history Of
her life, winding up with how she
made love to Miss Slifka and sub
sequent nsrringe. She ciatms TO
have told her sweetheart shortly be-
fore the wedding that "he" was q
woman. She expressed exceeding
sorrow over her actions In the matter
and would gladly do anything to
undo the wrong she had perpetrated
upon Miss Slifka-and that ''she
would never do 1t again."
Floyd Osborne was the next wit
ness. His testimony In the main was
that he knew Miss Hilsher for many
years past and was aware Of her
masquerading as man since leaving
Denver. That he had informed Miss
Slifka Of 1t before the wedding.
DIR. N. P. Jones, 9 lady physician
of Denver, claiming to be foster
mother to Miss Hilsher, gave his
tory OF the latter from infancy up to
the present time.
Attorney Chambers made an APP
peal for his clients escapade, in
which he did not sanction her course
In the least, but he thought there
would be nothing gained in the
further prosecution Of the wayward
miss. His plea WAS piece of oratory
seldom heard in q justice court, rs he
spoke of all the parties In gentle
manly manner with no effort to bring
anyone in disrepute.
Justice Sanderson bound Miss
Hilsher over to the district court in
the sum of $3.50 cash bond, which was
later given by one Of Meeker's prom
inent business men. The defendant,
her principal attorney and foster
mother were soon on an auto headed
for Rifle, and the incident Is now
closed for the present.
District court does not convene
here till the first Tuesday in Septem-
ber next.