Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-15
JOHN SChIRADELlY PLAYS
IMPORTANT ROLE IN
own CONVICTION
GIRLS 'EX0NERATtD'
UNNATURAL STEP-FATHER TRIES
TO PUT BLAME UPON GIRL, BUT
ATTEMPT WAS MISERABLE
FAlLURE-CASE RECORD FOR
BREvtTY.


Jchn SchiradelIy, convicted Somo
nauk degenerate, besides being La
Sale county's most conspicuous per
vert, Ia aperjuror without sem
blance OF manhood in his entire make
up. The jury who decided his fate
said he must serve fifteen years II
the Joliet penitentiary for assaultins
Martha, his seventeen years old step.
daughter. after one of the most revolt
ing hearings over held in Judge FL
dredge's tribunal
Opening at 1880 yesterday after
noon the case came to close at 8 10.
Smmered down TO facts pertinent to
the trial II was Marthas word against
her unnatural guardian and the jury
did Just as any other twelve men in
Illinois would have Gone. They b.
lieved the girl and refused to place
any credence upon the disgusting reci'
tation In which Sehiradelly charged
Ills accuser with being common
prostitute. They believed Martha
with such flrmncss that In their first
ballot the jurors were all agreed on
Schiradelly's guilt. The term Of servl-
tude on the first try ranged from sew
en- to twenty-five years and from then
on seventeen more attempts were
made to fix the extent Of punishment
to be meted out to the defendant, un-
til the twelve united upon fifteen
years as . suitable period in which to
ponder over the evil Of his ways.
Schiradelly's bra2en attempt TO vent
his spleen upon the girl failed in its
effrontcry. The reaction upon the de-
fcndant was doubled when he re-
counted stories OF his alleged adven-
lures with Martha. The rebound was
all hts way when the jurors retired to
decide what to do with one Of their
fellows Of such mental composition
They we're unanimously determined
that Schiradelly's performance on the
witness stand marked him as man
unfit to mlngle in respectable society.
When Judge Eldredge was called
upon to pass Judgment on the defend
ant he seemed glad to wash his hands
OF the whole affair and proved him.
self one OF The strongest men in the
county when with one waive of III.
hand he sent John to Joliet for fifteen
long, weary years.
Schiradelly took his nu1shmen.
with az good grace as one of his pea
nut brains could. He offered no pro-
tost and on his way to Jail informed
court bailiffs that as long as he had
to 10 he wanted to start right away
and have 1t done with His counsel.
when the jury reported this morlIng,
moved for new trial and this was
denied by the Judge. Immediately al
ter refusing this request the court
ordered Schiradelly to arise and be in
formed OF the penalty inflicted upon
him. BY good behavior he can come
out OF the prison in eight years and
nine, months, the good time earned
in this manner amounting to six years
and three months
TO the deputies who escorted him
to the courtroom at noon before his
tlial opened Schiradelly voiced his
certainty or freedom on the strength
OF a. dream he had had the night be-.
fore.
II saw before me- lie said, "a large
board that extended clear across the
cclE The man who serves thesmeals
stood behind It and all of a sudden
tho board disappeared and / walked
from jailfa free man" Today he Is
putting no stock in dreams and has
joined tho vast army Of non-believers.
AHinpfiis Others Testify. ir,aA
Ed Peckem followed Miss Schira.
deiiy To ftfe stand. The stats endeav.
oretf to bring into the case the eM-
dence Of Schiradellys mistreatmcnt
Of his family olc night IN Septem.
bcr,9 when he drove them from the
house. Judge Eldredge held that the
evidence had not immediate beafih {
on the trial.
John Rupp was the first witness for
tho defense. He merely testified that
Schiradelly called at his home on the
afternoon OF October 22 and asked
him for chew OF tobacco. Charles
Rohrer, OF Worthwhile, testified that he
met the defendant on the road on the
! afternoon Of October 22
N George Guita, who was employed at
tie Schiradelly home, testified that
the girl came home with her step
father on the afternoon Of October 2o.