The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-05-08
Criminal Charge Preferred Against Editor Of
the Idaho Republican and Preliminary Hear
ing Is Given Prisoner Saturday Morning.
Straightforward Story Is Told By Little Nellie
Trego In Recountins Wrongs.
DOES TESTIMONY SHOW
MRS. TRECO'S COCNlZANCE?
Women of Blackfoot Have Taken Up Collection to Fur
nish Injured Victim With Suitable Clothes In
Which to Appear--Prosecutins Witness Un-
der Close Survilience to Prevent Any
Attempt AT Intimidation

IQrC0 years ago 6yTu 4T0SO, 0ulIOI
OF the Idaho Republican, president Of
the Eastern Idaho Press Club, active
member OF the Methodist church, and
who has posed as very religious ma
took from the Home Finding Society
of Boise, Nellie Ray, then thirteen
years old, bringing her to his home in
Blackfoot, where she has since re-
sided. Posing as a Christian man,
Trego made known his sympathy for
the little girls destitute condition, evil
IDENTIFY thereby endeavoring to excite
the admiration Of the residents of
Blackfoot for his charity. According
to the sworn statement Of the child,
as obtained from her by Sheriff Will
liam Jones and the county attorney OF
Ada county, the sad story of her ruin
is as follows:
For the past two years she has beer
subjected to the indignity imposed up
on her by Trego, and growing into
womanhood, about two weeks ago
would not listen to his importuning,
after which she decided to return to
! the Home Finding Society.
The statement published in tbs
Idaho Republican. issue May I. 1913
is as follows:
.Nellie Ray, who has had a home
at Sagehurst the past three years and
who answered to the name Of Nellie
Trego during that time, went to Boise
Monday night in company with field
agent Miss Katherine Hummer. II
was arranged some time ago tha'
the state should again take charge o.
Nellie and find her home on farm
which was considered better for ont
Of her disposition than home il
town.
4 The facts that lead to Trego's ar
rest are that Nellie told disferen
? parties in town the story, and Shern
Jones and County Attorney Good I'm
q mediately started an investigation
t Sheriff Jones and County Attorne
) Good, after an investigation, decide
} that there was sufficient evldenc
. against Trego to warrant the retur
] of the girl to Blackfoot and Snerll
Jones repaired to Boise Wednesda
night, returning Thursday night wit
Nellie. Immediately after the arrlvs
/ of the Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff Fackre
went to the home Of the Trego's an
served the warrant on the man. Tn
usually Illuminated home was in darl
ness save a light in an upstairs room
as though a premonition OF wns
was to come, had penetrated the o
cupants. In response to the deputy
summons, lights were turned on an
Trego answered in person. The wa
rant was read before the man an
his wife, and Mrs. Trego said to Il
officer, "Oh, should have told ByI
days ago. What she should ha'
told him is yet a question in u
minds Of the people.
II Trego covered and gasped as II
officer told him it would be necessal
for him to accompany him to Il
sheriff's office. Some delay was Q
casioned in arraigning him becau
Of the fact that Probate Judge Jens<
| had gone to his home. After abo
| an hour the Judge came to the cou
| house and the complaint was rea
| The Judge placed him under 500
bond. and Trego asked permission
use the phone in the sheriff's Off
In an effort to secure bondsmen. AIT
calling about fifteen men, Charles
/ Fisher and H. B. Curtis came COY
and qualified. During the time tn
Trego was making arrangements !
his bond, it was suggested by sp'
tator in the probate court room, II
a close guard be kept on the prison
when the latter was walking IN
| the probate court room to the sh
| IFS office where the phone is locat'
| it being the opinion of those prese
! that he either might break and 7
= or might attempt suicide if left alol