Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-14
DISMISSED AMBASSADOR AND
SUITE TAKE BOAT FOR HOME
SENSATIONS CASE
OPENS HERE TO-DAY
JOHN CHtRApElLY, ALLEGED
soMoNAUk DEGENERATE, TO
FIGHT sTEP-DAUGHTER'S AC-
cUsATloNs - INDICTED FOR
RAPE.

CUSATlONS - INDICTED FOR
RAPE.
John Schiradelly, alleged SOmonauk
degenerate. is having his inning in the
circuit court today. Not from where
her accused traducer sits is Martha
Schiradelly. seventeen years old STEP
daughter, upon whose information the
state secured it's grounds to prosecute
Schiradelly on a charge of rape. The
grand jury during its January sitting
indicted the defendant on the strength
Of the girls testimony while county
authorities are confident they will ex-
perience little trouble securing his con-
viction.
Trim Of figure and not bad to look
at the complaining witness is the CEN
ter OF attraction in the crowded court
room. Besides her sits the mother
and Schiradelly's wife, whom he mar
ried few years after Martha was
born. Both appear determined to do
their utmost to drive Schiradelly out
Of their lives by sending him to the
penitentiary.
Hearing Opens This Morning.
The hearing opened before Judge
Eldredge this morning and the task
Of selecting jury was begun. De-
Tending Schiradelly are Frank J. Har-
rison, Of Streator, and Chester r.
Jacobson. States Attorney G. S. Will
ey and his assistant H. c. Wiley are
conducting the prsecution.
That Schiradelly will base his case
upon stories told by him to representa-
tives of the sheriff's Office, is evidenc
ed by questions being put to prospec
tive jurors by the defendants coup
sci. Schiradelly has stoutly maintain
ed the girl willingly submitted herself
to him and that he did not use viol
ance while he attacked her The as
saults, according to the girl and hel
unnatural guardian, occurred between
Sheridan Junction and their home neal
Somonauk.
Attacked While in Buggy.
Schiradelly had come for her to the
farm where she was working and the
attacks occurred while they were driv
ing along lonely country road, not
far from Somonauk. The girl stoutly
maintains that she was subdued by
Schiradelly's superior strength and
she firmly denies his story of "offer
ing herself to him"
In his statements given to county
officials Schiradelly frequently threat
ened to turn Somonauk. the home vii
age, into turmoil should sentiment al
ign itself with the girl. Foul ol
mouth he reiterated stories that wOult
scandalize the village and its sedate
residents If they are repeatd upon thu
witness stand in the hearing that open
ed this morning. The names of prom
inent men were connected with Schir
adelly's History of Marthas Life"
Stories Unbelieved.
None of his accusations were givei
much credence by the state or sheriff
deputates. In his rawlings Schiradell
charged his wife with faithlessnes
and conduct unbecoming woman Q
good moral habits. These recOunting
landed upon unbelieving ears an
Schiradelly was blamed with trying t
clear his own skirts by denling thos
of others. Happenings of unrestrair
ed vulgarity were told by Schiradell
with naturalness that marked him a
pervert
With all the odds against him, how
ever, Schiradelly is not going to go t
Joliet without fighting his way to tn
last trench. He is determined to e.
pose everyone who accuses him ant
il his past is criterion, he will te
the same tales in the circuit cou
as he did before Squire George ko'
mig, when that worthy and hardene
sheriffs were forced to blush at the "
eness of their fellow. Whether or n
the court, state and defense will
able to mulfle him, Is problem that
causing considerable wagering amor
court attaches,
Before his arrest on the more Sci
|. Gus charge preferred against hi
Schiradelly was taken into custody +
, beating his step-daughter and drivil
. her out Of the house. She was foul
=, lying along side the road by party
: automobiles and taken into Somonau
), She told of her experience and W;
:. rants were sworn out against the ste
:, father. Later the charge was drt
!, ped, the girl and her mother bo
claim they did this for fear Of Sch
adelly and what he might do to the
Secure Jury.
: At one.hfty o'clock this afterno