The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-06-17
District Judge Sets Aside Jury Verdict
in the Father Sa~xe Case In Sterling

District Judge Sets Aside Jury Verdict
in the Father Sa>sr Case In Sterling
The Rev. Father p L. Sasse, pastor
CT ST. Anthony's church of Sterling,
and one of the best known Catholics
in Colorado and Wyoming. was found
guilty by jury in the District Court
of having performed an illegal opera
tion upon young woman several
months ago at the parish house.
The reading of the verdict caused
tremendous sensation in the court
room, for ii was generally expected
that Father Sasse would be promptly
acquitted Judge H.. p Burke, before
whom the case was heard, grew whitc
and indignant when the clerk finished
reading the verdict. He promptly an
nounced that the verdict would be set
aside and, in order 10 prevent the fur
ther humiliation of Father Sasse, he
would do his utmost to have the charg-
es dismissed.
The court declared that he had never
heard Of IA case before. where a guilty
verdict was returned against Il defend
ant upon such tiimsy testimony as that
introduced against Father Sassc He
dissected the evidence against the
priest and tore it to pieces. He /said
the district attorney had refused to
take any part IN the preparation Of the
case and had sat in the court room
during the trial without participating
in the hearing.
District Attorney '
Surpresses Surprise.
Judge Burke's drastic comment caus
ed quite as muchyo sensation as the
verdict of guilty, and District Attor-
ney Van Bradt promptly declared that
he could not conscientiously prose-
!; cute the case and that'he was MS much
surprised at the testzmony introduced.
J. he declared that the story told by
| the prosecuting witness was different
from that the man told him before the
| trial, and that he was now convinced
/ that the witness story on the stand
was frameup.
/ G. l.. Averyof Denver, who acted as
special prosecutor at the request of
District Attorney Van Bradt, asked to
be relieved from further participat ton
in the case. Deputy District Attorney
| John V. Redmond. who was stopped
E! from prosecuting the case because of
legal irregularity, also asked to be
excused from having anything to do
/ with the matter.
All of these requests were granted
by Judge Burke, who said that if the
I case was ever again called in his court
he would asl; some other Judge to pre-
! meet with the approval of all con-
| ccrned he would suggest that q grand
jury be called to Investigate
The prosecuting attorney stated that
that would bring responsibility upon
him again and he preferred that no
action be taken, stating further that
| knowing the facts he did he would not
feel like even calling on IA special
prosecutor to push the matter before
a grand jury.
Father Sasse was arrested and char
ged with the Illegal sale of liquor and
performing criminal operation upon
an unknown" young woman. The pro-
scouting witness was j. S. Dobbs. who
was engaged by the city and county
to collect evidence against bootleggers
Dobbs was told to watch the priest
Tells Of Witnessing
Criminal Operation.
He swore that he entered the parish
house surrep,itiously one Saturday
night and hid in Il closet. when foot
steps approached. Later he declared
Father Sasse produced surgical instrE-
ments and performed the operation
upon the young woman. Dobbs was
compelled to remain hidden in the clos
ct six hours before the priest ANA the
girl left, after which the detective
seized the surgical Instruments and
other alleged evidences of an Illegal
operation which he exhibited to sew
eral persons.
James Dobbs. father of the sleutl,
testified to having seen these exhibits.
The elder Dobbs admitted having OBJ
tanned $500 in cash from Il desk in
District Attorney Rcdmond's office,
which he turned over to a bank which
went on his bond for appearance as
witness. Dohbs refused to say who
left the money on the desk
| ---O------
Bryan Invitation for July Fourth
| RHcalled